Windows Update Deleted All My Email!

  • Thread starter Thread starter Rick Raisley
  • Start date Start date
R

Rick Raisley

Okay, I know that isn't /quite/ correct. But it's pretty darn close. I
did a number of Windows updates this morning, and after a reboot, one of
the messages I saw, several times, was about Reindexing Email (or
something like that). It tried several times, and then said it couldn't
find the emails, and after a couple more tries, ended up with Windows
Mail and an empty Inbox. (I have my Documents on another drive, if that
helps.)

Now, some mails eventually appeared, under Recovered Messages, most
under the date and time of the restart. In fact, pretty much all of my
Inbox mail appeared. But dozens of thousands of organized emails, which
were in separate folders I'd made, are not there at all. Some VERY
important ones, like all the keys to software I'd bought, orders I'd
gotten in my business, etc.

I wasn't too concerned; I thought I "knew" that unlike Outlook Express,
the messages should still be there, in folders, and it was just the
database that got mixed up. So, I started Searching, for messages and
folders I know should exist. Searching all non-indexed, hidden and
system files, etc.

They aren't there! NOW I'm getting concerned! I tried a Reindex Email
utility, but know that's only for when there's a discrepancy between the
files and the database. So, WHERE are the messages actually /kept/? So I
can look manually (I know I did this before, but am having trouble
finding it now).

Any ideas about how to go about finding my lost emails? Oh, I tried
System Restore to yesterday, but that didn't do it.
 
BTW, I've made backups using Acronis True Image 10, and may be able to
restore these files, if I can find where they were.
 
The data for Windows Mail is stored in C:\Users\(Your
Name)\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Mail.
 
Thanks for your response. I found that, but see no /messages/ in it. I
thought Windows Mail saved messages individually, and all I see in each
subfolder there is winmail.fol files. I do see all my /folders/ that I
am missing, but no messages.

So, where are the messages??
 
Yes, the email files (.eml) are individual, with alphanumeric names, and
should be located in the folders reflecting the names of the folders that
you have set up in Mail.

Can you access the folder corresponding to C:\Users\(Your
Name)\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Mail in your backup, and replace the
Windows Mail folder with your backed up one?
 
What's pretty weird is that I /do/ have .eml messages in my Inbox, Sent
Items, the standard folders. But almost all my messages, located in
/other/ local folders, are gone. Apparently Windows did really delete
them. All that's in them are winmail.fol files.

And even more weird, the Restore I just did using Acronis, in a
different location, also has only the winmail.fol files.

To top things off, Vista Search is taking many minutes, and finds on 19!
emails! While Total Command search finds 24,000 in seconds.
Unfortunately, they're mostly duplicates from a previous Recovered
emails, when importing from OE.

I am really getting disgusted with this. The better part of a day
wasted, just because of updating Windows, and all I have to show for it
are thousands of lost emails! :-(

Rick
 
Things are going South even further: While I /thought/ I had all my
email, and moved them, from Windows Mail, back to the appropriate
folders, whenever I go to view them, I view like one, certain email in
the folder, no matter which I try to view. That is, despite the email
titles and dates, they appear to be all the SAME email (in a given
folder). Or, WM is just screwing up in viewing them, I'm not sure.

So, I searched for EMLs, And finding the messages, right-click and click
Reply, to view the messages, and now find they are indeed the same
message, but the messages they are, are not even related to the folder.
So it apepars WM has completely scrambled my messages, and lost most of
them, while duplicating most of them.

BTW, my "basic" folders, like Inbox, Sent Items and Deleted items are
okay; it's just the rest, which are considered Local Folders.

In addition, every, single time I start WM, it creates MORE Recivered
messages, but no matter where I look in them, there are no MESSAGES,
just empty folders, all the same as the other group of recovered messages.

I've tried cleaning up some of the "extra" Recovered folders, the ones
with nothing in them, which might have caused some of this. I've used
Reindex Mail many times, with no change.

This is REALLY disturbing!

So, where to now, with this screwed up mess???

Regards,

Rick
 
I little more info. While Windows Mail does not read these Local
messages correctly, it does appear they are there. Using Total
Commander, I viewed the contents of the files. And they seem intact and
correct, and, of course, different from others in the same folder. But
Windows Mail, both in Preview as well as Reply, etc., always shows the
same, incorrect message.

So how do I clear WM up, and make it read things correctly?

Regards,

Rick
 
vt_catamount said:
Seriously, these people are paid to say stupid, mean, derogatory things
about you, instead of doing actually answering the question.

First off, get a Mac.

Second, to all those still struggling with this problem, who happened
to stumble upon these ridiculous, self-righteous answers (thanks
Google), here's some sweet relief:

You are not alone.

'Where those files are hiding NOW' (http://tinyurl.com/yhpskqf)
'In someone else's words' (http://tinyurl.com/ygge2jx)
'.Bak profiles, and how to bring them home'
(http://tinyurl.com/yg9blhp)
'Win to Vista shell issues' (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/930890)
'More profile & regedit info' (http://tinyurl.com/yls8nh2)

And, drum-roll please:
'Seems to solve everyone's problems! My personal favorite.'
(http://tinyurl.com/332olw)

Duh, scroll to the answers that work. And forget these d----es, they
can s my t.

<3
J

PS~ For further proof, an 80-something year old client of mine shared
your problem. He couldn't cause this mess, you didn't either.
Click to expand...

Who on earth are you talking to?
Please QUOTE the post you are replying to.

Thank you.
 
Get a Mac?
So Get out of this Windows forum then!
Go GET a MAC, and mov eon to Apple forums
 
Gordon said:
Who on earth are you talking to?
Click to expand...

Err - He is talking to mother space ship. <sigh> Err. Maybe Umm, you
should join him. Err.

Please QUOTE the post you are replying to.
Click to expand...

Err - Not a big deal <sigh> Umm. err.

Did I say Err?
 
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