2 Methods to Recover Lost or Deleted Outlook Files

When you delete Outlook files by mistake or the files disappear by no reasons, how can you recover them? This article will introduce 2 quick methods to retrieve them.

I’ve ever encountered the same problem. One day, when I started Outlook, I got the error that my PST file is missing and Outlook could not start. Then I checked my backups but found that they cannot make senses due to lacks of multiple new data. But finally I solved this issue after asking my fellow for help. The followings are his measures.

Method 1: Recover via Previous Versions

Windows 7 as well as Business, Enterprises and ultimate versions of Windows Vista provides users with “Previous Versions” feature, which is equal to making regular backups to protect system disk data. Therefore, you can utilize this feature to restore the previous files and folders where your Outlook files position.

1. At the very outset, you should browse to the folder where your missing Outlook file is located.
2. Then right click the folder and select “Restore previous versions” from the popup menu.
3. A new dialog box will pop up. You can see the recent versions of this folder are listed under “Previous versions” tab.
4. You can double click the most recent folder among the list to check if your desired Outlook file is included.
5. After finding your missing file, you can opt to click “Restore” button directly. You will receive a prompt message. Just choose “Restore”.
6. Optionally, if you don’t wish the previous version to replace the current one, which may destroy the recently revised data, you can click “Copy” button to store the previous version to other place.

Pros: This method is completely free of charge. You can carry out this recovery process by Windows without needs to fall back on other tools.

Cons: However, like backups, sometimes due to lacks of new data, the previous versions may not be a lot of help. Besides, “Previous Versions” feature is enabled by default for system drive where Windows is installed. In other words, if you stored your Outlook files in other data drives, this feature isn’t available.

Enable “Previous Versions” Feature for Other Data Drives

In order to protect your data more strictly, you can activate “Previous Versions” feature for other data drives manually.

1. For a start, in “Start Menu”, right click “Computer” and select “Properties”.
2. Then you will come into the window of computer system. In the left pane, click on “System protection”.
3. In the new dialog box, select the data drive that you tend to enable “Previous versions”, and click “Configure” button.
4. Next in another popup dialog box, select “Only restore previous versions of files”. And later set the max disk space usage for previous versions.
5. Finally click a series of “OK”.

Method 2: Resort to External Tools

If the above methods cannot help you recover the latest Outlook file, you can use the following method, which will resort to two external tools. Here we will introduce a bit about this means. For more information, you can refer to another article in our blog – “How to Recover Your Outlook Data from a Formatted Disk”.

1. Firstly, you can use DataNumen Disk Image to convert the whole drive where the Outlook file is located previously to an image file.
2. Then utilize another tool DataNumen Outlook Repair to repair the image file and transfer it into a PST file.

Pros: It can get back maximum data for you.

Cons: The second tool may demand you to buy its complete version at first.

Author Introduction:

Shirley Zhang is a data recovery expert in DataNumen, Inc., which is the world leader in data recovery technologies, including sql recovery and outlook repair software products. For more information visit www.datanumen.com