Lost all inbox and contacts etc when removed server

[Pam]

I recently changed from receiveing emails from a remote
exchange server to a pop3 account. I had left the
original server listed amoung server tho each time I hit
send / receive I would get an error for the disconnected
exchange server. I finally decided to choose the option
to remove that server. Immediately all my Outlook data
was gone. Inbox, calendar, contacts etc. I cant even
work with outlook anymore as a dialog box indicates that
there are no personal data files. Any thougths how I can
(a) retrieve all those emails and contacts? (b) reenable
outlook? Many thanks for any help. Pam

 

[Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

Where were you storing your data when you connected to Exchange? If you had
your profile set up to deliver all mail to the Exchange mailbox (this would
be true by default) it's in the mailbox - and was perhaps synchronized to a
local OST (offline) file on your computer. If you've removed the Exchange
server from your profile, you probably can't use the offline file now even
if you a) had one and b) can find it, as it's just a synced copy of your
Exchange mailbox and can't be used once it's orphaned.

If you can add the Exchange server service back to your profile, and then
export to a PST file, you'll have it for use in a non-Exchange profile. Or,
if all you have is the OST file (search your hard drive for *.ost and make
sure to search hidden/system folders as well) you might want to check out
www.exchangerecovery.com - it isn't cheap but it does work.

 

[jake]

hi Pam,
I think that Exchange has to be present as an account in
order for you to access material that you created when
Exchange was present. Try simply reinstating the Exchange
account & set the seconds to until server time out to a
couple of seconds to avoid lengthy connection delays
before you access your pop3 account.

 

[pAM]

i'll look for the *.ost file. But I dont get why I was
able to access the contacts emails etc after I
disconnected the exchange server BUT only after I removed
the exchange server did it all disappear. If I can find
the *.ost, will I be able to "reimport" it? Can i set it
up as the "personal data files" that the outlook data file
requests?

Thanks for any further thoughts.

Pam

 

[Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

i'll look for the *.ost file. But I dont get why I was
able to access the contacts emails etc after I
disconnected the exchange server BUT only after I removed
the exchange server did it all disappear.

Because you were syncing to an OST file and syncing offline, I suspect. When
you removed the Exchange server from your profile, it lost its connection to
the OST file, which is normal.

If I can find
the *.ost, will I be able to "reimport" it? Can i set it
up as the "personal data files" that the outlook data file
requests?

Try adding the Exchange server back to your profile and see whether you can
point it at the OST file (in the advanced properties of the Exchange server
service- methods vary by version of Outlook, which you haven't mentioned.
If you can do this and work offline with that file, you can export to a PST
file - do so immediately, and then use the PST file.

If not, you will need to see www.exchangerecovery.com

 

[Brian Tillman]

Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]

Try adding the Exchange server back to your profile and see whether
you can point it at the OST file (in the advanced properties of the
Exchange server service- methods vary by version of Outlook, which
you haven't mentioned. If you can do this and work offline with that
file, you can export to a PST file - do so immediately, and then use
the PST file.

If not, you will need to see www.exchangerecovery.com

Or Google for "ost2pst"

 

[Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]

Try adding the Exchange server back to your profile and see whether
you can point it at the OST file (in the advanced properties of the
Exchange server service- methods vary by version of Outlook, which
you haven't mentioned. If you can do this and work offline with that
file, you can export to a PST file - do so immediately, and then use
the PST file.

If not, you will need to see www.exchangerecovery.com

Or Google for "ost2pst"

IIRC OST2PST was purchased by ExchangeRecovery - any copy out there is
likely old or pirated. Alas. :-(

 

[Brian Tillman]

Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]

IIRC OST2PST was purchased by ExchangeRecovery - any copy out there is
likely old or pirated. Alas. :-(

AT one time, ost2pst was a free product. The version that was free still
exists in various places on the net and ExchangeRecovery can simply make
them not-free by fiat.