How to Recover Deleted Emails in an Exchange Server

It is one thing if you delete an email from the inbox in Microsoft Outlook and decide you still need it. All you have to do is go to the "Deleted Items" folder and retrieve it. However, if you emptied the "Deleted Items" folder or held down the "Shift" key while pressing "Delete," you will not find the item in the "Deleted Items" folder. If you are using Outlook on Microsoft Exchange Server, though, there is a way to retrieve deleted emails.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Check for a "Recover Deleted Items" options, which may already be available. Open the "Deleted" folder, go to the "Tools" menu and see if "Recover Deleted Items" is present. If it is, select this option and recover all deleted emails on Exchange Server.

2. Close Outlook and go to the "Start" menu if "Recover Deleted Items" is not present. Click "Run" and type in "regedit." Press "Enter" and the "Registry Editor" will open.

3. Expand the "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE" folder by clicking the arrow next to it. Expand the "Software" folder, then the "Microsoft" folder, then the "Exchange" folder, then the "Client" folder and finally the "Options" folder.

4. Right-click a blank area in the "Options" folder. Point to "New" and then click on "DWord." Right-click "DWord" and select "Rename." Type in "DumpsterAlwaysOn." Double-click this item. The "Properties" window will open. Change the value to "1" and click "OK." Close the Registry Editor.

5. Start Outlook again and open "Deleted Items." Select "Recover Deleted Items" from the "Tools" menu.

Tips & Warnings

• The amount of time emails are kept on Exchange Server is determined by your system administrator.

• Be very careful when editing the Windows Registry, as changing or deleting items in the Registry can cause damage to or even disable the computer.

References

• Microsoft Help and Support