Recovering Deleted Contacts from Full PC backup

  • Thread starter Thread starter GEVan
  • Start date Start date
G

GEVan

All contacts are gone (erroneous syncing error with ActiveSync). I do have a
complete PC backup/image, but I don't know which file(s) to restore or where
they might be found.

Tried poking around my application data under microsoft/outlook, but opening
the outlook.pst file there (dated last year) fails to restore contacts.

Help
 
Yes, running stand alone PC (XP MCE sp2) with MS Office XP. I use Acronis
Backup to create an image of my entire partition about 3 weeks ago.
Yesterday, I attempted to sync my Treo 700w like I have hundreds/thousands of
times before -- with one exception. I had done a hard reset to return it to
factory specs. When connecting for the first time, I created a profile like
normal and allowed it to sync my calendar, contacts, etc.

The Treo 700w was empty, of course, and I expected Outlook to download all
contact information to it. Instead, it went the other way and deleted all
Outlook contacts, calendar, etc. -- even notes.

I've tried restoring a known good configuration several times using Acronis
Restore files/folders option. Put 'original' files for personal folders.pst.
Still no Outlook info.

Then I tried restoring other files/folders as well -- anything that even
remotely looked like it belonged to Outlook (i.e. application
data\microsoft\outlook as well as the \my documents\outlook mail\ folders).
STILL NO DATA.

I'm not that ignorant of computers, but obviously I'm missing something
either in where Outlook is programmed to look for my .pst files or between 3
weeks ago and now Outlook location preferences have changed. Doubtful, but I
just don't know.

I followed all the steps you hotlinked for me, but am still not able to
regain my contacts for my phone/outlook. Sure, I could do a complete
partition restore, but that's a bit overkill, don't you think?

What am I missing???

PS
If you're a MS employee, the link back to this forum using Hotmail does not
work. Returns only a blank, gray page.

Van



Russ Valentine said:
Are we to assume you are using a local data file and not Exchange Server? If
so, the file you need is your 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 or transfer:
http://www.slipstick.com/config/backup.htm
http://www.howto-outlook.com/Howto/backupandrestore.htm
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HA010771141033.aspx


--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
GEVan said:
All contacts are gone (erroneous syncing error with ActiveSync). I do have
a
complete PC backup/image, but I don't know which file(s) to restore or
where
they might be found.

Tried poking around my application data under microsoft/outlook, but
opening
the outlook.pst file there (dated last year) fails to restore contacts.

Help
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
All links work fine.
I don't see how we can help you find your data file. Most people back up
their data files separately rather than relying on an image file. Seems your
question is for Acronis.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
GEVan said:
Yes, running stand alone PC (XP MCE sp2) with MS Office XP. I use Acronis
Backup to create an image of my entire partition about 3 weeks ago.
Yesterday, I attempted to sync my Treo 700w like I have hundreds/thousands
of
times before -- with one exception. I had done a hard reset to return it
to
factory specs. When connecting for the first time, I created a profile
like
normal and allowed it to sync my calendar, contacts, etc.

The Treo 700w was empty, of course, and I expected Outlook to download all
contact information to it. Instead, it went the other way and deleted all
Outlook contacts, calendar, etc. -- even notes.

I've tried restoring a known good configuration several times using
Acronis
Restore files/folders option. Put 'original' files for personal
folders.pst.
Still no Outlook info.

Then I tried restoring other files/folders as well -- anything that even
remotely looked like it belonged to Outlook (i.e. application
data\microsoft\outlook as well as the \my documents\outlook mail\
folders).
STILL NO DATA.

I'm not that ignorant of computers, but obviously I'm missing something
either in where Outlook is programmed to look for my .pst files or between
3
weeks ago and now Outlook location preferences have changed. Doubtful, but
I
just don't know.

I followed all the steps you hotlinked for me, but am still not able to
regain my contacts for my phone/outlook. Sure, I could do a complete
partition restore, but that's a bit overkill, don't you think?

What am I missing???

PS
If you're a MS employee, the link back to this forum using Hotmail does
not
work. Returns only a blank, gray page.

Van



Russ Valentine said:
Are we to assume you are using a local data file and not Exchange Server?
If
so, the file you need is your 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 or transfer:
http://www.slipstick.com/config/backup.htm
http://www.howto-outlook.com/Howto/backupandrestore.htm
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HA010771141033.aspx


--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
GEVan said:
All contacts are gone (erroneous syncing error with ActiveSync). I do
have
a
complete PC backup/image, but I don't know which file(s) to restore or
where
they might be found.

Tried poking around my application data under microsoft/outlook, but
opening
the outlook.pst file there (dated last year) fails to restore contacts.

Help
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
1. if I tell you the link doesn't work, it doesn't work.

2. what an attitude for an MVP! You're copping out. This has nothing to do
with Acronis and you know it! An image is an image is an image -- ALL data is
preserved in file structure, security settings, et al.

3. Don't bother retorting. Your lack of expertise and desire to help has
already displayed itself.

PS
I'd say when I made my image that the files were already blank if it weren't
for that I synced daily since then.

But you don't care about that, do you.

----------------------------------

Russ Valentine said:
All links work fine.
I don't see how we can help you find your data file. Most people back up
their data files separately rather than relying on an image file. Seems your
question is for Acronis.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
GEVan said:
Yes, running stand alone PC (XP MCE sp2) with MS Office XP. I use Acronis
Backup to create an image of my entire partition about 3 weeks ago.
Yesterday, I attempted to sync my Treo 700w like I have hundreds/thousands
of
times before -- with one exception. I had done a hard reset to return it
to
factory specs. When connecting for the first time, I created a profile
like
normal and allowed it to sync my calendar, contacts, etc.

The Treo 700w was empty, of course, and I expected Outlook to download all
contact information to it. Instead, it went the other way and deleted all
Outlook contacts, calendar, etc. -- even notes.

I've tried restoring a known good configuration several times using
Acronis
Restore files/folders option. Put 'original' files for personal
folders.pst.
Still no Outlook info.

Then I tried restoring other files/folders as well -- anything that even
remotely looked like it belonged to Outlook (i.e. application
data\microsoft\outlook as well as the \my documents\outlook mail\
folders).
STILL NO DATA.

I'm not that ignorant of computers, but obviously I'm missing something
either in where Outlook is programmed to look for my .pst files or between
3
weeks ago and now Outlook location preferences have changed. Doubtful, but
I
just don't know.

I followed all the steps you hotlinked for me, but am still not able to
regain my contacts for my phone/outlook. Sure, I could do a complete
partition restore, but that's a bit overkill, don't you think?

What am I missing???

PS
If you're a MS employee, the link back to this forum using Hotmail does
not
work. Returns only a blank, gray page.

Van



Russ Valentine said:
Are we to assume you are using a local data file and not Exchange Server?
If
so, the file you need is your 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 or transfer:
http://www.slipstick.com/config/backup.htm
http://www.howto-outlook.com/Howto/backupandrestore.htm
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HA010771141033.aspx


--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
All contacts are gone (erroneous syncing error with ActiveSync). I do
have
a
complete PC backup/image, but I don't know which file(s) to restore or
where
they might be found.

Tried poking around my application data under microsoft/outlook, but
opening
the outlook.pst file there (dated last year) fails to restore contacts.

Help
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Your post is far too vague. What exactly is the Outlook question here? How
are we supposed to know how you found and restored your Outlook data file
from your image, what happened when you did, and why you would reasonably
expect that data file not to have been affected by your sync?
One thing is certain: you should never try to restore Outlook data by simply
overwriting a newer file with an older one. That will corrupt your Outlook
profile every time. You must open the backup file in Outlook to connect to
it properly.
All the links still work fine here. Not sure how I'm supposed to know why
they don't work for you.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
GEVan said:
1. if I tell you the link doesn't work, it doesn't work.

2. what an attitude for an MVP! You're copping out. This has nothing to do
with Acronis and you know it! An image is an image is an image -- ALL data
is
preserved in file structure, security settings, et al.

3. Don't bother retorting. Your lack of expertise and desire to help has
already displayed itself.

PS
I'd say when I made my image that the files were already blank if it
weren't
for that I synced daily since then.

But you don't care about that, do you.

----------------------------------

Russ Valentine said:
All links work fine.
I don't see how we can help you find your data file. Most people back up
their data files separately rather than relying on an image file. Seems
your
question is for Acronis.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
GEVan said:
Yes, running stand alone PC (XP MCE sp2) with MS Office XP. I use
Acronis
Backup to create an image of my entire partition about 3 weeks ago.
Yesterday, I attempted to sync my Treo 700w like I have
hundreds/thousands
of
times before -- with one exception. I had done a hard reset to return
it
to
factory specs. When connecting for the first time, I created a profile
like
normal and allowed it to sync my calendar, contacts, etc.

The Treo 700w was empty, of course, and I expected Outlook to download
all
contact information to it. Instead, it went the other way and deleted
all
Outlook contacts, calendar, etc. -- even notes.

I've tried restoring a known good configuration several times using
Acronis
Restore files/folders option. Put 'original' files for personal
folders.pst.
Still no Outlook info.

Then I tried restoring other files/folders as well -- anything that
even
remotely looked like it belonged to Outlook (i.e. application
data\microsoft\outlook as well as the \my documents\outlook mail\
folders).
STILL NO DATA.

I'm not that ignorant of computers, but obviously I'm missing something
either in where Outlook is programmed to look for my .pst files or
between
3
weeks ago and now Outlook location preferences have changed. Doubtful,
but
I
just don't know.

I followed all the steps you hotlinked for me, but am still not able to
regain my contacts for my phone/outlook. Sure, I could do a complete
partition restore, but that's a bit overkill, don't you think?

What am I missing???

PS
If you're a MS employee, the link back to this forum using Hotmail does
not
work. Returns only a blank, gray page.

Van



:

Are we to assume you are using a local data file and not Exchange
Server?
If
so, the file you need is your 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 or
transfer:
http://www.slipstick.com/config/backup.htm
http://www.howto-outlook.com/Howto/backupandrestore.htm
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HA010771141033.aspx


--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
All contacts are gone (erroneous syncing error with ActiveSync). I
do
have
a
complete PC backup/image, but I don't know which file(s) to restore
or
where
they might be found.

Tried poking around my application data under microsoft/outlook, but
opening
the outlook.pst file there (dated last year) fails to restore
contacts.

Help
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
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