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I am using Outlook 2007 on Windows XP SP3.

I am having a problem with my Outlook datafile: Its completely disapeared!

Last night I used Outlook, everything ok, this morning I used Outlook again, everything OK, then I started a Full System Virus scan (Kaspersky Internet Security 2010) whcih ran for 4 hours before I went again into Outlook (scan had not yet finished) when Outlook popped up a message telling me that "The file C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook\Outlook.pst cannot be found".

I started a full system search (including system and hidden files/folders), which turned up nothing. I went to the C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook\ folder and checked: nothing there. I checked the Scan log, it showed no record of a file being a deleted.

I then tried 6 File Recovery Programs all of which turned up nothing.

I tried some of these Outlook Datafile Recovery Programs whcih turned up nothing.

Typically, I had not bothered to backup the Datafile since April... :-(

I am at my wits end.

Does anyone know how I can recover the Datafile?

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Have you searched for all PST files on your hard drive, making sure that Hidden and System files are included? – Randolph West Oct 22 '09 at 11:02
Yes, I say so in my question. – Kryten Oct 22 '09 at 11:07
Have you looked at your Anti virus's folder ? It could be in a different name – TuxGeek Oct 22 '09 at 11:53
No, there is nothing. There is not even a entry in the log. – Kryten Oct 22 '09 at 12:06
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If your antivirus was parametered to isolate infected files, I would look in its file vault.

If not, you might also try some file recovery product such as PC INSPECTOR File Recovery or Recuva.

EDIT
Some more free file-recovery tools can be found here :
Free Data, Hard Drive, Disk, Deleted File Recovery Software Programs Reviews

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As I said above, there is nothing in vault. I tried Recuva (in both normal and deep scan modes). I will try PC INSPECTOR File Recovery, though. – Kryten Oct 22 '09 at 12:08
Tried PC INSPECTOR File Recovery, but it only allows the recovery of certain file types. This does not include .pst files. – Kryten Oct 22 '09 at 12:29
Tried EVERY ONE OF THOSE PROGRAMS AND NOTHING! Wish I had made more backups... – Kryten Oct 23 '09 at 6:19
It seems like Kaspersky did a very good job of erasing Outlook.pst, or you've overwritten it. Antivirus scans should always be parametered to work only on infectable files (exe, dll etc.), or they do weird things. – harrymc Oct 23 '09 at 6:30
But thats the funny thing, Kaspersky is confirgued using the default settings which specifies that it ignores .pst files. – Kryten Oct 23 '09 at 9:19
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Thanks everyone for the answer and comments!

I sent the machine into a PC Repair shop and 1 day later, they had recovered the data!

Something (maybe Kaspersky, they don't know) DID delete the PST file and the shop user what they call "Trade-Secrets" to get the file back.

Will back up reguarly now!

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