Deleted Contacts Info Missing - Where Could They Be?

[rcmorales]

OK, I think my post yesterday (Problems with Contact List vs. MS-
ActiveSync) was too complicated for what I wanted to do. Let me try this: when you delete individual Contact Information (that is, the individual Adddress Card) from within Outlook's "Contacts" and they do not show up in Outlook's "Deleted Items" Folder or in the "Recycle Bin," where else could they be? I am tying to reconstruct my Contacts List after a disastrous error.

I could really use some help Thanks, Bob

I am using:
- MS Windows XP Home (SP3)
- MS-Outlook 2003
- A 750 MB hard drive, CD R/W, wireless network card (Wi-FI home network)
- Symantec Endpoint Protection

[unionflag]

You are your own worst enemy I'm afraid, Bob.

You should keep a backup file of your all your contacts and messages, and with Outlook it couldn't be easier. It only needs one file to be 'exported' and saved somewhere, then when disaster strikes all you have to do is 'import' that file back into Outlook.

You could try doing a search for "outlook.pst", and if more than one is found, try importing one and see if your missing contacts return.
Or have a look in Outlook Express, they may be in there if Windows has automatically duplicated them.

I hope you get them back, and in future please keep back ups!
Many people would not need to panic and seek our help if they just realised how simple but how important it is to backup!

[rcmorales]

Appreciate the sentiment. I was thinking my home computer's edited Outlook Contacts List was blissfully isolated from my office computer except for that darn Dell Axim PDA (if you want to you can read see my 26 December post for some background). I will certainly do a backup from now on.

Anyway, I only found one Outlook.pst file on my home computer so I guess I'm SOL on this one. I'm hoping my office computer may be harboring an older version.

One question though, if you will obliged me: where do I find Outlook Express to check on that?
Thanks, Bob