Retrieving "deleted" emails and IMs

[WolverineGirl]

Please forgive me if this is the most ridiculous question that is posted but I am just one step above computer illiterate.

Is there a way to retrieve emails that have been deleted from "trash" and past instant messages?

[WolverineGirl]

In the even this makes a difference, I have Windows XP

[dl65]

WolverineGirl.....

Please forgive me if this is the most ridiculous question that is posted but I am just one step above computer illiterate.

It isn't and I don't think you are ...lol

Well , in theory , when something is deleted , it really hasn't been........it is probably still residing in the pc .....unless it was deleted by a secure scrubbing app. There are services available to possibly recover these items , however it is expensive.
Is it possible that your Email server was set up to retain a copy ?
Unless you keep a logfile of your IM's ......I think they are gone . There may be another member who may be able to shed more light on your issue.

dl65  

[Raptor]

You can restore files using this program.

Your logs might be retrieveable, but the file used to store E-mail might be completely overwritten by now. I do not think that E-mail programs store every E-mail seperatly.

[R0SS]

i think its 30 times, if you save emails over 30 times ontop of what you have deleted you wont be able to retreve them.

maby 20 times

[Raptor]

Depends entirely on the sector the computer is writing to. There's no specific number of times.

[WolverineGirl]

Thank you so very much for your help.  I guess I just need to not be so quick to delete things in the future.  Thanks again!