Outlook 365 - Empty Inbox

[hlewton]

I leave my Outlook 365 open all day long until I turn off my computer. I replied to an email from a streaming service. I still have that reply in my sent file. That is all I did, I did no deleting of anything, yet when I returned my attention to the Inbox there was a message that there was nothing to display. At least 80 Inbox items had disappeared. I restarted Outlook and then restarted the computer, all to no avail. I have managed to retrieve almost all my Inbox messages which I found in the deleted folder, plus I backup my Outlook PST file on a weekly basis in case something like this happens. I know someone is going to think that I accidentally deleted my entire Inbox without me realizing it but, I assure you that is not the case. So I can avoid anything like this happening in the future, does anyone have any idea what happened this time to delete my entire Inbox? Thanks.

[excelseverything]

Hello, any updates? were you able to get it back? sort of going through a similar situation with a clients email box, just needed to know if you found a solution
edit: only this video on youtube about it and a complete joke no actual info in there smh
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=de8K2321bCg

[hlewton]

Hello, any updates? were you able to get it back? sort of going through a similar situation with a clients email box, just needed to know if you found a solution
edit: only this video on youtube about it and a complete joke no actual info in there smh
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=de8K2321bCg

I got everything back but a few files from the week prior to me losing emails. I even managed to get a few of them back by using 2 computers and by retrieving the ones, I could remember, from the deleted files, and putting them in my inbox. I did this on a secondary computer forcing it to use the messed up *.pst file from my main computer.

First, let me say, I backup Outlook's *.pst files on a weekly basis so the most information I would ever lose would be a week's worth. So, now using my main computer I placed the prior week's *.pst file into the folder that Outlooks looks in and opened that *.pst file.

If you're following me, my Outlook is now a week behind on my main computer. So, from the first computer where I retrieved some on the current week's email, I forwarded them to myself. Now I have almost everything back, but with some of the emails I wanted to keep, showing they were from me. After a day and making sure all was well once again, I immediately backed up Outlook's new *.pst file. So, I lost very little data.

Note: I'm not entirely certain if this is important or not but I think it is. I have my Outlook set so that it can download my email to any of my computers and the emails stay on the ISP's server until I download them using, what I consider, my main computer.

[JoeP]

Have you double checked the settings on each machine for data retention and auto-archive?

[hlewton]

Have you double checked the settings on each machine for data retention and auto-archive?

I seriously doubt it because I don't recall hearing anything about those. Not sure where those settings would be or where auto-archive would be. If it is in the cloud, I don't use the cloud for anything other than a backup for my iPhone and that one is iCloud, which I assume is Apple.

[hlewton]

Have you double checked the settings on each machine for data retention and auto-archive?

OK, since I looked up the definitions, and am still a little bleary on data retention setting, I can try to answer you better. I believe all my emails in my webmail account are kept for 14 days except deleted emails, which are kept for only 3 days. As I say that, I'm not sure if any of my emails would be deleted until I reached the limit of my account allocated space, which I believe is 5 GB. I don't think I ever need to worry about that since it is cleared every day.

As far as auto-archive, I do not have my Outlook set to do that since I keep my messages the way I want within Outlook folders and backup Outlook's *.pst files on a weekly basis.

I hope I have answered your question. If not, I may not be understanding it correctly.

[JoeP]

Did you check the settings on all the PCs where you run Outlook?

[hlewton]

Did you check the settings on all the PCs where you run Outlook?

Yes

[JoeP]

Sorry. I'm out of ideas if your settings haven't changed. I haven't used .pst files in quite a few years.

[hlewton]

Sorry. I'm out of ideas if your settings haven't changed. I haven't used .pst files in quite a few years.

Thanks Joe but if you don't mind me asking; do you use Outlook? If so, how do you use it without using *.pst files?

[HansV]

Most users nowadays use IMAP instead of POP3. IMAP stores local copies of messages in a .ost file.

(I still use .pst files for archiving)

[hlewton]

Thank you. I tried once with my ISP to use IMAP but since they considere3d me a legacy customer I could not do that. I don't understand it all and I am hoping they never stop supporting the POP3 server because, as I said, I know nothing about it. I'd hate to lose all my Outlook folders and my calendar appointments and, I assume, have to start all over.

[JoeP]

I have used Outlook for over 20 years. Several years ago, I switched to using Exchange based accounts which use .OST files in a manner similar to IMAP. My phone and PC are always in sync with email, calendar, and contacts over multiple accounts. I've never had a problem losing information or synchronization. Like Hans, I do use a .PST file for archiving (which I almost never reference).

[hlewton]

I have used Outlook for over 20 years. Several years ago, I switched to using Exchange based accounts which use .OST files in a manner similar to IMAP. My phone and PC are always in sync with email, calendar, and contacts over multiple accounts. I've never had a problem losing information or synchronization. Like Hans, I do use a .PST file for archiving (which I almost never reference).

OK,I still don't understand IMAP but I do have a question. A couple years ago there was a problem with me getting my emails so I contacted my ISP Internet support. Spectrum is my ISP and they do not support Outlook but they do try to help if three is a problem. So, this support technician was going to set me up with IMAP service, using my Outlook, I believe. He was trying to do something on his end to set me up for IMAP service when he came back on the phone and told me my account would not allow me to use IMAP instead of a POP3 server. Not that this may make any sense but for years I had used my email account and paid my monthly charge to Time Warner Cable. They sold out to Spectrum around 5 or 6 years ago. Spectrum's is just as shoddy as TWC's was so I gained nothing. However, since I was originally a TWC's customer, or a legacy customer, I could not be converted to Spectrum's IMAP servers.

I don't know what IMAP would have done for me, but that support technician convinced me it would be better and I would not lose anything. So, any idea why I could not be converted just because I had been a customer long before Spectrum bought out Time Warner Cable?

Here's another thing, Spectrum easily converted me to their TV guide and I immediately lost the ability to record 6 shows at once on one DVR. I had to order another DVR and pay and extra monthly fee for it in order to record all that I needed to and could with one TWC DVR. So, if they could convert my TV service with basically a turn of a switch, why not the Internet service to get me an IMAP account?

[JoeP]

So, does your email address end with spectrum.net or twc.com now?

[hlewton]

So, does your email address end with spectrum.net or twc.com now?

with Time Warner Cable it was *.neo.rr.com which under Time Warner Cable meant North Eat Ohio.Road Runner.com.

[JoeP]

What is it now? Spectrum provides directions on configuring email for IMAP at Windows 10 email connection.

[hlewton]

What is it now? Spectrum provides directions on configuring email for IMAP at Windows 10 email connection.

They do have IMAP but not for their legacy customers, like I apparently am.

[JoeP]

I can't see what you mean on any Spectrum support page. This page, Email setup, has directions for all twc domains including rr.com.

[hlewton]

I can't see what you mean on any Spectrum support page. This page, Email setup, has directions for all twc domains including rr.com.

I'll call them again and ask. It may well be that I am not able to keep my email address. It's been a few years ago and I don't remember all the details except they got so far in setting me up when he said I couldn't use IMAP. I'll ask them and post back here.