| Author | Message | ||
     Pdg Citizen Username: Pdg Post Number: 1254 Registered: 5-2004  |
Long story short, all my Outlook contacts were recently wiped out during a recent Activesync with my Motorola Q. Have spent hours on the phone with Verizon Wireless, Motorola and finally Microsoft. Can't get the contacts back w/over the phone help. Microsoft guy said to hire a hardware expert to use a third-party software to retrieve the contacts from my hard drive. Do we have any of those types locally that anyone could recommend? This has been quite devastating and has at a minimum put a damper on my family vacation this week! Will be back Monday 9/4 and hope to begin fixing this nightmare asap! | ||
| Pdg Citizen Username: Pdg Post Number: 1255 Registered: 5-2004 |
If it matters, our computer is an IBM Thinkpad and it has Outlook 2002 on it. There is a backup at home that has been done sometime in the last year, but unfortunately we stupidly don't backup too regularly. It is not an optimal solution but is better than nothing. | ||
| Politicalmon Citizen Username: Politicalmon Post Number: 268 Registered: 9-2005  |
This is what you'll need, I've used it in the past with good fortune. http://www.diskeeper.com/undelete/undelete.asp?ad=go14&apid=PPS0001066&rid=10315 &gclid=CPDDn6fXj4cCFRskUAodXjvopw | ||
| Pdg Citizen Username: Pdg Post Number: 1256 Registered: 5-2004 |
Thanks Politicalmon, any idea if the trial version will work for my purpose, or should I just go ahead and buy it? Also, is the software idiot-proof, or do you need substantial tech-knowledge to use it well? (i.e., if I weren't technologicalloy challenged this probably wouldn't have happened in the first place!) | ||
| Politicalmon Citizen Username: Politicalmon Post Number: 269 Registered: 9-2005 |
Not sure about the trial version, application seems pretty straght forward - you will need to know the name of the original deleted file - file is still on your computer assumming you have available disk space and haven't copied tons of data to the machine since the incident. When you delete a file the data is not erased but a header bit is switched which designates the area for a write command (copy) - it typically will not be written to quickly since it's at the bottom of the 'available hard disk space heap'. Therefore this application merely switches the bit back so you can see all files that were deleted or lost. If the file was corrupted by a virus you will require a different strategy. | ||
| Pdg Citizen Username: Pdg Post Number: 1257 Registered: 5-2004 |
It didn't work for me. Anyone out there know someone good with PC's? I think there is a time-constrained window of opportunity for my computer to have secretly saved this info before being truly deleted, and I'd really like to pay someone to get my data back!! | ||
| Steven Brier Citizen Username: Steven_brier Post Number: 5 Registered: 11-2005 |
If Activesync decided the items have been deleted on one platform, it will delete them on both platforms. If you are using Microsoft's free PST backup tool, you can grab a backup file and recover them. Otherwise you are probably out of luck. Cordially, Steven | ||
| Pdg Citizen Username: Pdg Post Number: 1266 Registered: 5-2004 |
Steven - How do I know if I'm using Microsoft's free PST backup tool? (although it sounds like I'd probably know it if I were...) Can you point me to it so that if I ever do get my Contacts back I can make sure I use it forever more? Thanks! | ||
| Pdg Citizen Username: Pdg Post Number: 1271 Registered: 5-2004 |
My husband is my hero and I'll be worshiping the ground he treads for at least a couple of days...  He somehow retrieved my contacts. Now my Motorola Q phone has died, which is just as well since I'm too terrified to try to sync the stupid phone again! Thanks to everyone who tried to help!!!  | ||
| Hillsider Supporter Username: Hillsider Post Number: 100 Registered: 3-2004 |
you may also want to back up your contacts on something like Plaxo... this way, you can sync up anytime you want... But most corporate firewalls block plaxo... | ||
| Steven Brier Citizen Username: Steven_brier Post Number: 6 Registered: 11-2005 |
congrats on getting your data back. this should take you to the personal folders backup tool. http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=8B081F3A-B7D0-4B16-B8AF -5A6322F4FD01&displaylang=en Cordially, Steven | ||
| Pdg Citizen Username: Pdg Post Number: 1272 Registered: 5-2004 |
Thanks Steven!  (Now to hunt down our original software disk so I can install the backup tool ...) | ||
| Steven Brier Citizen Username: Steven_brier Post Number: 7 Registered: 11-2005 |
You shouldn't need the original software disk to install the backup tool. Just download the executable and run it to install the tool. Since the pst file contains not just your contacts but the calendar and email as well, I highly recommend making a backup to a second drive or an online service. Cordially, Steven |
