SP2 wiped out adress book, emails, can't restore

[Val]

I downloaded the SP2 and when I went to check my emails (Oulook express) all
the emails I had are gone and my adress book is empty. I tried to do a
system restore and it comes up that the restore is incomplete and my computer
has not been changed. I went to the help section and it tells me to uninstall
the SP2 then I can do a system restore, but it still will not do it. I have
tried at least half dozen different restore points and none of them will
complete. I still have the SP2 uninstalled on my computer. This is making
me NUTS!! I am a computer idiot, so if comeone can help me I would sure
appreciate the advice. My stuff has got to be in my computer SOMEWHERE
shouldn't it? Thanks so much!!


Windows XP Pro
RAM 512MB
CPU 2.60 GHZ

[Andy]

There is something called backup that actually backs up your data as you are
advised to do before attempting any major system changes!

"Val" > wrote in message
...
>I downloaded the SP2 and when I went to check my emails (Oulook express)
>all
> the emails I had are gone and my adress book is empty. I tried to do a
> system restore and it comes up that the restore is incomplete and my
> computer
> has not been changed. I went to the help section and it tells me to
> uninstall
> the SP2 then I can do a system restore, but it still will not do it. I
> have
> tried at least half dozen different restore points and none of them will
> complete. I still have the SP2 uninstalled on my computer. This is
> making
> me NUTS!! I am a computer idiot, so if comeone can help me I would sure
> appreciate the advice. My stuff has got to be in my computer SOMEWHERE
> shouldn't it? Thanks so much!!
>
>
> Windows XP Pro
> RAM 512MB
> CPU 2.60 GHZ

[t.cruise]

First see if the old Outlook Express folders containing the pre-SP2 email are still on
your drive. Search for *.dbx files (.dbx is the extension for the Outlook Express email
folders, e.g. Inbox.dbx, Sent Items.dbx). Make sure by the date and size of the .dbx
files that they are not new Outlook Express files, and that they are the ones you're
looking for. Once you've found them, take note of the path. Then open Outlook Express.

In Outlook Express click File menu/Import/Messages. When the wizard opens,
select Microsoft Outlook Express 6, click the Next button, select the option
to Import mail from an OE6 Store Directory, click the OK button, then use
the Browse button to give the path to the folder that has
the Outlook Express *.dbx files for the identity that you want to import
messages from.
--

T.C.

Remove [NoSpam] to reply


"Val" > wrote in message
...
> I downloaded the SP2 and when I went to check my emails (Oulook express) all
> the emails I had are gone and my adress book is empty. I tried to do a
> system restore and it comes up that the restore is incomplete and my computer
> has not been changed. I went to the help section and it tells me to uninstall
> the SP2 then I can do a system restore, but it still will not do it. I have
> tried at least half dozen different restore points and none of them will
> complete. I still have the SP2 uninstalled on my computer. This is making
> me NUTS!! I am a computer idiot, so if comeone can help me I would sure
> appreciate the advice. My stuff has got to be in my computer SOMEWHERE
> shouldn't it? Thanks so much!!
>
>
> Windows XP Pro
> RAM 512MB
> CPU 2.60 GHZ


---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.754 / Virus Database: 504 - Release Date: 9/6/2004

[Val]

I created a resore point... is that the same thing? If it isn't, am I just
SOL with all my informstion lost?

"Andy" wrote:

> There is something called backup that actually backs up your data as you are
> advised to do before attempting any major system changes!
>
> "Val" > wrote in message
> ...
> >I downloaded the SP2 and when I went to check my emails (Oulook express)
> >all
> > the emails I had are gone and my adress book is empty. I tried to do a
> > system restore and it comes up that the restore is incomplete and my
> > computer
> > has not been changed. I went to the help section and it tells me to
> > uninstall
> > the SP2 then I can do a system restore, but it still will not do it. I
> > have
> > tried at least half dozen different restore points and none of them will
> > complete. I still have the SP2 uninstalled on my computer. This is
> > making
> > me NUTS!! I am a computer idiot, so if comeone can help me I would sure
> > appreciate the advice. My stuff has got to be in my computer SOMEWHERE
> > shouldn't it? Thanks so much!!
> >
> >
> > Windows XP Pro
> > RAM 512MB
> > CPU 2.60 GHZ
>
>
>

I just want to let you know the same happenned to me. I
also lost my pictures which were on my hard drive and had
to instruct my PC to load the Excel and Word programs
(though thankfully, their documents files were still in
the PC). Finally, I had to re-configure IE to get my email
program back, though those emails disappearred with the
address book. I am awaiting someone who can help us.
>-----Original Message-----
>I downloaded the SP2 and when I went to check my emails
(Oulook express) all
>the emails I had are gone and my adress book is empty. I
tried to do a
>system restore and it comes up that the restore is
incomplete and my computer
>has not been changed. I went to the help section and it
tells me to uninstall
>the SP2 then I can do a system restore, but it still will
not do it. I have
>tried at least half dozen different restore points and
none of them will
>complete. I still have the SP2 uninstalled on my
computer. This is making
>me NUTS!! I am a computer idiot, so if comeone can help
me I would sure
>appreciate the advice. My stuff has got to be in my
computer SOMEWHERE
>shouldn't it? Thanks so much!!
>
>
>Windows XP Pro
>RAM 512MB
>CPU 2.60 GHZ
>.
>

[Frank Jelenko]

Outlook Express messages are stored in C:\Documents and Settings\[Your user
name]\Local Settings\Applications\Identities\[long alpha - numeric character
string]\Microsoft\Outlook Express.
Hopefully, there's at least two long alpha - numeric character strings. One
for the current config and one for your previous config.

Windows Address Book is stored at C:\Documents and Settings\[Your user
name]\Applications\Microsoft\Address Book

"Val" > wrote in message
...
>I downloaded the SP2 and when I went to check my emails (Oulook express)
>all
> the emails I had are gone and my adress book is empty. I tried to do a
> system restore and it comes up that the restore is incomplete and my
> computer
> has not been changed. I went to the help section and it tells me to
> uninstall
> the SP2 then I can do a system restore, but it still will not do it. I
> have
> tried at least half dozen different restore points and none of them will
> complete. I still have the SP2 uninstalled on my computer. This is
> making
> me NUTS!! I am a computer idiot, so if comeone can help me I would sure
> appreciate the advice. My stuff has got to be in my computer SOMEWHERE
> shouldn't it? Thanks so much!!
>
>
> Windows XP Pro
> RAM 512MB
> CPU 2.60 GHZ

[NoNoBadDog!]

First of all, system restore is not a backup program It will restore
designated system state files and drivers, but will not restore most user
generated data files.
I take it you did not follow the Installation Instructions that Microsoft
provided with the download...the instructions stated not to proceed with
installation until you had backed up important data. This is true with any
Service Pack.
the methods used to recover your files is different depending upon whether
you are using Outlook or Outlook Express, and you did not specify this in
your original post.

You may or may not be able to get your original files back. I hope
everything goes well. In the future, please be sure to back up your
personal files prior to installing ANY changes to Windows.

I would also recommend that you do a little research (using Google) and
educate yourself on what System Restore is used for. You cannot depend on
it to bad up your personal files.

Bobby

"Val" > wrote in message
...
>I downloaded the SP2 and when I went to check my emails (Oulook express)
>all
> the emails I had are gone and my adress book is empty. I tried to do a
> system restore and it comes up that the restore is incomplete and my
> computer
> has not been changed. I went to the help section and it tells me to
> uninstall
> the SP2 then I can do a system restore, but it still will not do it. I
> have
> tried at least half dozen different restore points and none of them will
> complete. I still have the SP2 uninstalled on my computer. This is
> making
> me NUTS!! I am a computer idiot, so if comeone can help me I would sure
> appreciate the advice. My stuff has got to be in my computer SOMEWHERE
> shouldn't it? Thanks so much!!
>
>
> Windows XP Pro
> RAM 512MB
> CPU 2.60 GHZ

[Val]

I FOUND THEM!!! Whoo hoo! I followed the advice of t.cruise and imported
the data that was in the exact locations posted by Frank Jelenko. I browsed
the c: going exactly where Frank directed me and I was so happy to see all my
files still there. I just did the import in address book then the messages
using browse and ta-dah! Super help guys... smooches!!

"Val" wrote:

> I downloaded the SP2 and when I went to check my emails (Oulook express) all
> the emails I had are gone and my adress book is empty. I tried to do a
> system restore and it comes up that the restore is incomplete and my computer
> has not been changed. I went to the help section and it tells me to uninstall
> the SP2 then I can do a system restore, but it still will not do it. I have
> tried at least half dozen different restore points and none of them will
> complete. I still have the SP2 uninstalled on my computer. This is making
> me NUTS!! I am a computer idiot, so if comeone can help me I would sure
> appreciate the advice. My stuff has got to be in my computer SOMEWHERE
> shouldn't it? Thanks so much!!
>
>
> Windows XP Pro
> RAM 512MB
> CPU 2.60 GHZ

>-----Original Message-----
>I FOUND THEM!!! Whoo hoo!

Now back em up! :-)

[John A]

System Restore does not back up your data - only system files

John Allen

On Tue, 7 Sep 2004 14:57:02 -0700, Val >
wrote:

>I created a resore point... is that the same thing? If it isn't, am I just
>SOL with all my informstion lost?
>
>"Andy" wrote:
>
>> There is something called backup that actually backs up your data as you are
>> advised to do before attempting any major system changes!
>>
>> "Val" > wrote in message
>> ...
>> >I downloaded the SP2 and when I went to check my emails (Oulook express)
>> >all
>> > the emails I had are gone and my adress book is empty. I tried to do a
>> > system restore and it comes up that the restore is incomplete and my
>> > computer
>> > has not been changed. I went to the help section and it tells me to
>> > uninstall
>> > the SP2 then I can do a system restore, but it still will not do it. I
>> > have
>> > tried at least half dozen different restore points and none of them will
>> > complete. I still have the SP2 uninstalled on my computer. This is
>> > making
>> > me NUTS!! I am a computer idiot, so if comeone can help me I would sure
>> > appreciate the advice. My stuff has got to be in my computer SOMEWHERE
>> > shouldn't it? Thanks so much!!
>> >
>> >
>> > Windows XP Pro
>> > RAM 512MB
>> > CPU 2.60 GHZ
>>
>>
>>