Where did the MS Outlook Contacts go?

[techs]

Customer is running winXP with Office 2003. She accidentally deleted all her Contacts using the Select All-Delete method.
I can't find the contacts anywhere!!!
We tried System Restore. No go.
Interestingly she had also somehow(?) deleted the Contacts folder also! (that folder came back during the System Restore but was empty)
Is it possible that for security when you delete contacts they are deleted from System Restore?
This is a real head scratcher?
Any ideas?

[3fingersalute]

Not sure what folder you are referring to, but Outlook contacts are usually stored in the Outlook .pst file (usually called outlook.pst)

If she just deleted the contacts, she deleted part of that file, not the entire file, so I'm thinking there may not be a way to recover them.

[3fingersalute]

In Outlook, if you click the "Go" menu, and then choose Contacts, are there any contacts at all that come up?

[techs]

In Outlook, if you click the "Go" menu, and then choose Contacts, are there any contacts at all that come up?

Nope. None at all. I searched for all the *.pst files on the drive and tried importing but they all were missing the Contacts folder!

[hudsonsmith]

If she deleted contacts from within Outlook, they should be in the Outlook Deleted Items folder (unless she emptied it).

[3fingersalute]

So if you go into the control panel, then mail and click data files, what does it show?

[3fingersalute]

You sure she didn't drag the contacts folder into another mail folder by accident?

[kato2274]

I'm with 3fs here. if she deleted them from inside outlook and they aren't in the deleted items folder, then kiss those puppies goodbye. (for all intents and purposes)

it'd have been an easier fix if she had deleted the whole outlook pst file

[Kodiak]

Maybe not. Try to undelete them. I think I may have some software that may recover them. Don't get your hopes up but I will look for it. Google and see if you can find something.

Edit: Oh heck yes. I just google and there is a bunch of software out there to take care of that task.

[techs]

I will do a search for the contacts folder in another folder. Good idea. I have some powerful file recovery software I can use if necessary. It is just really weird that the contacts won't come back with system restore (i have restored to 2 different points)

[Kodiak]

I also had to find these once but I think it was outlook express and I will see if I can remember how to get to them. Seems like they should still be there. Yo might just try a search for a name that was in here contact list and it will take you to them

[Kodiak]

I found my outlook.pst file in, first change to see all files and folders the go to C:\documents and settings\user name here\local settings\application data\microsoft\outlook and it is there. I would try to copy it then import it and see if it will restore your contacts.

[emr]

I will do a search for the contacts folder in another folder. Good idea. I have some powerful file recovery software I can use if necessary. It is just really weird that the contacts won't come back with system restore (i have restored to 2 different points)

System restore only restores system files. It doesn't touch your data. For example, if you save a txt file, create a restore point, delete the file and then perform a system restore the txt file will still remain deleted.

emr