Data recovery

[Guest]

My Windows XP packed it in when Service Pack 2 installed itself and I had to
reistall. I had my entire "Documents and Settings" folder backed up before
it was done. I hadn't thought of the hundreds of contact files that I had
entered into Outlook over the summer, complete with attached maps, logos and
company descriptions. When it occurred to me later I hoped that the
information was saved in my user profile, safely within the Documents and
Settings folder. I've since heard that it's saved in a WAB file that
information can't be retreived from other than exported from Outlook itself;
apparently it can't even be copied to a fresh install of Outlook for exort
extraction. (I hope this makes sense...)

I found a file called Outlook.pst and one called Archive.pst in my
"Documents and Settings" folder (more precisely: Cocuments and Settings\New
User\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook). Are they of any
consequence?

I haven't installed much software on the computer since it was reformatted
(not even Office), in hopes that if there was something I need to extract
from the drive it may be retrievable.

Am I out of luck?

Ray K.

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

Outlook.pst is the most likely candidate. What size is it.
All Outlook data is stored in a Personal Folders file (*.pst) It's where all
the mail, calendar, contacts etc are stored.

Take a look at these pages for info on Outlook data backup:
http://www.slipstick.com/config/backup.htm
http://www.howto-outlook.com/Howto/backupandrestore.htm