Well you could try that, but if you do, then you want to do it soon.. When a file is deleted all that happens really is that the information about the file being on the disk is erased from the boot sector, so the data is still actually there, but the computer just doesn't reconize it. But when you install or save new things it is likely that they will be saved on the same spot that deleted data is since the boot sector is no longer keeping that spot allocated to that old data.<P>

Thanks Forsaken,<P>The webpage said the same thing...I just don't know HOW he did it!!!

Ok now after reading back again I get the point of your second post on here heh. I went ahead and tried this myself, deleted the temp internet files and so forth. Ok so now IExplorer no longer has any info.. But what I did find..... I went to the folder that the temp files are stored in c:/windows/temporary internet files/ and there they all were.. He didn't have to undelete anything, they were still there, he just had to look for them.<P><BR>All this and I still haven't been able to break ground in a computer career. I have to finish college first heh.<p>[This message has been edited by Forsaken (edited August 17, 2001).]

No, no!!! That's where I deleted them from, by clicking on them all and selecting delete one by one (since then I have learned how to do it all at once). Now I also deleted from history, and I am absolutley sure they were gone!

Well he may have used an undelete function then, given enough time he could have done just about anything. Unfortunantly windows has alot of loopholes in its function of deleting and securing data that you do not want or want seen by others. Your best bet is to just deny him access to the computer itself by password protecting it. Unfortunantly windows creats too many logs in different forms to delete them all with complete accuracy. He could have simply used IExplorers autocomplete function to fill in the websites for him by just starting off with <A HREF="http://www.(and" TARGET=_blank>www.(and</A> a letter), but that should have been cleared out along with the history. <BR>There are a couple of other directors he could have looked in.. for instance. c:/windows/cookies/<P>He also could have looked up your deleted emails (they are in there, saved as a .dbx file that can be viewed as a text file. Theoretically he could have your user id and password to this site, and others that where emailed to you at one time. c:/windows/application data/identities/(product codes)/microsoft/outlook express/<P><BR>I'm sure there are others I can find if I keep looking.<BR>

Oh wow now you've scared me!!!!<P>I could get to the deleted emails, but then it puts the box up asking you to select which program to open them. Any ideas which I should choose?<P>Thanks!

Select Wordpad it should be near or at the bottom of the list in that window. Depending on the size of the file it could slow down your computer a good bit scrolling through it, so if you think you know what key words you would be looking for use the "find" command under the "edit" menu.<p>[This message has been edited by Forsaken (edited August 17, 2001).]

Hi,<P>So I used wordpad, and got some weird little squares in long lines, plus some addresses here and there, no actual text of what was written. Is that okay, does it mean I'm safe or is there another way to transform those squares into text. Also there are a number of boxes there with the big blue e on them, which did nothing when I clicked them. Any ideas??? This is fun...I need fun today!

Normally here would go the obligitory <Burn Microsoft> remark. But really all these functions were made to make using your computer and accessing these functions easier, and more productive. Not to say that Microsoft does not have its problems, there are alot of things it needs to do much better in the future, but unfortunantly these features also make it easier for those with malicous intent to use these features against you. Thus the current wide spread hysteria of email attachments and the rampet use of worm programs to clog internet traffic. Unfortunantly in this new world we live in, one person can effect the lives of hundreds or thousands by using these loopholes to cause important information pathways to be unaccessable.

Well when I opened mine I did have alot of text in it. I could read the email from my wife to the OM that she deleted from my computer a while back. And quite a few others I had.. Its possible all that text information was not saved so you might be safe. But just to be on the safe side you might want to think about changing any passwords that could have been in that lot of deleted messages.

How do I do that?

A couple other things that may be useful:<BR>Outlook puts your deleted e-mails in a "deleted" folder- make sure you delete them from there too.<BR>In Internet Explorer, tools, options, advanced- uncheck the box for "use inline autocomplete".<BR>Here is a good freeware data overwrite tool- <A HREF="http://www.tolvanen.com/eraser/" TARGET=_blank>http://www.tolvanen.com/eraser/</A> <BR>After installation, "erase" will show up on the menu pulldowns, or when you "right mouse click". If you need help, let me know.<BR>There is a variable set for temporary files- its usually c:\temp, or c:\windows\temp, maybe both, maybe spelled tmp. You'll want to delete/erase those too.

Okay thanks so much for all the input. I'll try these things when I get the kids into bed in about two hours...it's really hard to think today...I had a lousy yesterday, so I need quiet so I can concentrate. I'll let you know how it goes.<P>Do you know I have a grad. dip. in computers in education, but we were using apple IIe's...totally useless diploma for today's computers!!!<P>Thanks again!!!

Well, I deleted my express deleted files file, and I'm glad I did. It's all those little squares, but the it has addresses or the subject of the email....too personal; it went outta here. I haven't tried much else yet, I am SO tired, but I am going to play around before Sunday morning cos I don't know if he'll snoop again this week. Stupid game, and he knows I'm not good with these computer thingy's!!!<P>Thanks again everyone! Keep posting those little hints.

As said, I deleted some files from microsoft express. I am now getting a warning message that says "Outlook express could not be started" but is seems to go ahead anyway. I have sent a message, but it wouldn't receive one, blamed it on the virus protector. Is there something wrong and can I fix it?

You may have deleted a needed file, if you haven't already emptied out your recycle bin just restore them. If you have you may need to go to <A HREF="http://www.microsoft.com" TARGET=_blank>www.microsoft.com</A> and reinstall OExpress.

Hi again!<P>I hadn't put them in recycle, so I was worried...but when I re-booted this morning, the computer restored ALL the files I deleted last night by itself...so all my deletions were right back there. Oh well!!!<P>Seems like I'll just have to take risks!!!

Wow, lucky you, but I am shocked that windows did something right for once.<BR>

Okay I blew it this time!!!!<P>I deleted info from files in my email applications, and last time I did this, Windows repaired it. This time it won't. So I went to recover4all, downloaded the test program, and saved one of the files back to a floppy disk. Now HOW do I get that info back where it belongs?<P>HELP!!! My email won't work!!!

HELP!<P>Okay, so I tried to figure it out myself by going to the microsoft site, and to be honest I don't have a clue what I'm looking for....how can I find out what versions of things I've got, what can I upgrade when I have Windows 98, can I download a whole email program, cos it just looks like upgrades to me!!! My outlook express is completely not working....