Restore pointers to deleted email in PST

[Dave O]

I deleted email in a PST file, and also deleted them from the "Deleted
Items" folder. Searched this group and found a post that said "Fill
the first 0x140 bytes in your PST with zeros, then start scanpst".

How do I fill the first 0x140 bytes with zeros?

Thanks!

 

[Vince Averello [MVP-Outlook]]

I've never seen that advice before (but I've never looked for it). To do it,
I'd download a hex editor from your favorite shareware site. Sounds
dangerous so I'd definitely only play with a backup copy of your PST

 

[Dave O]

Thanks, Vince. Here's the post I found:
http://groups.google.com/group/micr...sages+within+pst+file&rnum=1#514173984b547f5d

Sounds like it worked for the poster in that thread.

 

[Dave O]

BTW, Vince, do you know of another way to recover deleted email?
Everything I've read seems to indicate it can't be done, but I'm
willing to consider all options.

 

[Vince Averello [MVP-Outlook]]

No, I don't know of any.

 

[Brian Tillman]

I deleted email in a PST file, and also deleted them from the "Deleted
Items" folder. Searched this group and found a post that said "Fill
the first 0x140 bytes in your PST with zeros, then start scanpst".

How do I fill the first 0x140 bytes with zeros?

Here's a more complete description:
http://www.howto-outlook.com/howto/restoredeleteditemsfromanoutlookpst.htm

 

[Dave O]

Thanks again, Brian and Vince- both techniques worked.

The process:
1. As soon as possible after the erroneous deletion, close email,
locate your PST file, and MAKE A BACKUP COPY. DO NOT risk permanent
damage to your remaining email by performing this technique on your
active PST file.

2. Open the BACKUP COPY of your PST file with a hexadecimal editor.

3. In the hex editor, replace the characters in columns 7 through 13
(inclusive) with a "20" (no quotes). Save the file.

4. Locate a file called Scanpst.exe on your hard drive. This is a
Microsoft utility that ships with MS Outlook. Double-click this file
to run it; and scan the PST file that you just saved. Follow on-screen
instructions. On a large PST file processing time is 5 - 10 minutes.
When you get the "Repair complete" message, you should be able to
view the deleted email from MS Outlook.

Alternatively, you can replace step 3 above with this one:
3. In the hex editor, replace the first 320 characters with "00"
(no quotes). Save the file.

 

[Dave O]

Change to step 3:
3. In the hex editor, replace the characters in columns 7 through 13
on the first line
(inclusive) with a "20" (no quotes). Save the file.