Search your various hard drives for all .PST files -- these are the files
that hold your data (actually you should have one that you were using as
your main file most recently; look for a file with a very recent
modification date and a size that seems compatible with the amount of data
you had in your folders). Since you're using Windows XP, the .PST files
will likely be in hidden folders, so make sure you search there.

Once you find the file, you can open it in Outlook using File | Open |
Outlook Data File. It will open in your Folder List. Once you're satisfied
that this is the right file, make it your default -- go to Tools | E-mail
Accounts | View or change existing e-mail accounts, click Next, and select
your preferred .PST file as the default in the dropdown on that page.

Your "address book" is actually just a different view of your Contacts
folder(s) and is actually called the Outlook Address Book. Once you have
your data file back in Outlook, let me know and I'll post the instructions
for reconnecting the OAB and the Contacts folder(s).

--
Jocelyn Fiorello
MVP - Outlook

*** Messages sent to my e-mail address will NOT be answered -- please
reply only to the newsgroup to preserve the message thread. ***


In ,
Tony wrote:

Hi

Last week I got a screen message about inserting my OEM disc to
upgrade Windows XP, which I duly did, and from there it seemed to
completely screwed things up. Fortunately, I had a recent full back
up, and a number of other incremental back-ups, so no problem thought
I! Wrong!!

My general data is held on a second hard drive, so if I have problems
with the system disk, I can disconnect it and know everything is
safe. (Has proved useful a number of times already!) This time I had
to format and re-install Windows, Office and all my printer / program
disks - very pee'd off about that, as Dell didn't want to help unless
I coughed up money first!!

Having re-loaded everything, I went for my back-ups, and put
everything back, then re-commected the second hard drive.

All was OK exc ept there was nothing in my Outlook folders. (I have
many personal folders and drag messages I want to keep into them asap
to keep the inbox down.) Also, my address book is completely empty.

Could any kind person tell me where I should be looking in my
back-ups to get my messages and addresses back, as I have some
important mail outstanding, and have spent three days so far in
trying to get myself back up and 'running' (theoretically ONLY, that
is!). If there's anything else I should know about putting these
files back I should be grateful for that info too.