Deleted Incredimail Emails?

[pilotbob]

Rather rashly I deleted all of my emails, received and sent etc. from Incredimail using "Shift Delete". There were a number of them which I woud dearly like to recover if possible. Any ideas please.

[Plastic Nev]

Hi Bob, I run incredimail for my sins LOL, I assume you mean you deleted these from your deleted folder?

 

I haven't needed to try this myself, but have you thought about a system restore? that might just bring them back.

 

But If not I am afraid there isn't much can be done. Your only possible hope would be one of the file recovery programs available, but if some have been overwritten by new stuff then they have gone.

Nev.

[pilotbob]

Hi Bob, I run incredimail for my sins LOL, I assume you mean you deleted these from your deleted folder?

 

I haven't needed to try this myself, but have you thought about a system restore? that might just bring them back.

 

But If not I am afraid there isn't much can be done. Your only possible hope would be one of the file recovery programs available, but if some have been overwritten by new stuff then they have gone.

Nev.

 

Thanks Nev, I did try a program called "Quick recovery for Incredimail" which Google found for me but after a 3 hour scan it found nothing. Guess they've gone for good :(

[Plastic Nev]

Hi again, I found a general file and data recovery software list, there are several to choose from and most offer at least a trial version of fully paid for, and maybe there could be a free one there. If the data can be recovered one of these may help, have a look here-

NTFS Data Recovery Software. BootDisk, Freeware NTFS DOS and more...

[Tootech]

Incredimail uses its own storage system for email, but if it is anything like Outlook Express, once you have emptied the Deleted folder or compacted your mail, you have next to no chance of recovery.

 

Thats because the actual database file that stores the mail has been changed, ie emptied.

 

I'd be surprised if there was anything out there that is available for general use that could rebuild the contents of a emptied database.

 

It's not the same as recovering deleted files - they are often still available, just hidden. Your Incredimail database will be a file that is continually used, but the contents changed.

[pilotbob]

Thought I was there for a brief moment then, So far I have mangaed to recover some files using "PC Tools" Quick recovery, Including

Inbox.imm 253kb

Inbox.imh 3kb

Sent items.imm 5125kb

Sent items.imh 9kb

Deleted items.imh 14kb

M.imm 1454kb

M.imh 4kb

 

The last 2 relate to a folder created labeled "M"

 

However copying these into the normal directory for Incredimail still does not show anything. Any further suggestions?

[RandyL]

As Tootech noted it's unlikely.

 

The keys you used permantly deleted them from the server as well as changed the data base file not just deleted or renamed the file as Tootech said. Plastic Nev tried an experiment on this too. As such I doubt that even a System Restore will help in this case although I had hoped it would.

 

You did find the Incredimail nessage store but at Deleted items.imh 14kb it appears empty or gone.

 

The only thing I can suggest is for future use.

 

Never use or depend on any email client for saving importantant information. Move data to a folder or file. Back it up to external media too.

 

Depending on the email client you may be able to back it up as email outside of the message store by using file>SaveAs etc. like in OE or Windows mail but even then it's not absolute.

 

I think you lost it bob. Sorry.

[pilotbob]

 

I think you lost it bob. Sorry.

 

You cannot imagine just how true that is ;) sometimes you just can't have back what you once had

 

Many thanks to all for trying though.