Lost emails from inbox after IMAP sync on new computer

[Mike52]

I've moved to New PC after Yeats using an old one that was turning into a brick. I used Outlook 2010. And had thousands of emails both present on my desktop outlook and always on webmail. After installing outlook on new PC I linked fine to the server....IMAP... but the old emails never synced to new inbox. All my Sent eventually synced but nothing for inbox and when I logged onto webmail it's been emptied of all emails in inbox older than Nov. 11 2024. What happened to my emails?????? I can't go on old ma Hine it's dead. I always relied on Bells server to old my emails as a fallback! Is there some hidden file in webmail that is holding all my stuff?

[dks]

Thank you for your question. When you use the IMAP protocol for mail, mail is synched between the host, the Bell mail server, and your computer. You should find your old e-mails in an Outlook .pst file on your old computer, but you may need the help of a computer technician to access that computer's hard drive. 

[WelshTerrier · Accepted solution]

Good Day.

Sorry, but there is no method to recover deleted messages from Bell webmail.

"What happened to my emails??????" I will only surmise that the following took place. Your old computer was using Outlook 2010 & your mail account was set up using POP3 settings instead of IMAP.

POP3 downloads emails from a server to a single computer, making those emails only accessible on that specific computer. IMAP stores emails on a server and then syncs them across multiple devices. IMAP is more advanced than POP3 and allows you to access your email from anywhere, and on any device.

POP3 account mail settings include the following options:

1. Leave a copy of the email on the server.
2. Remove from the server: # days.
3. Remove from server when deleted from Deleted items.

In your situation, I believe that your POP3 mail account was set to use option 2 or 3. This is why your emails did not sync. Your emails were removed from the server & stored on your computer in your PST file.

A PST file can never be converted into an OST file. However, you can transfer a PST file into OST or Offline Storage files by importing a PST to OST.

I can offer up to a slim alternative that may allow you to recover your old email messages. If you can answer yes to all of the following:

1. Is your old computer still operational?
2. If so, are you able to access Outlook 2010?
3. Are you able you view your email folders & messages?
4. If so, then you may be able to export the pst file.

Using the built-in Import and Export feature, you can manually transfer Outlook folders in PST format.

1. Open Outlook and click File > Open & Export > Import/Export > Export to File > Next > Outlook Data File (.pst) > Next.
2. Select the folder you want to move. Check the Include subfolders box, if necessary. Click the Next button.
3. Enter the name and path for the PST file. Choose what to do with duplicates and click Finish.
4. Copy the resulting file to the disk or cloud storage and transfer the file to your new computer.

Next, you will find a number of workarounds to transfer emails from the Outlook PST file you exported from your old computer to OST format on your new computer. Please select the version of Outlook that you have installed on your new computer & follow the included instructions below.

How to Import PST to OST with Complete Data Manually? - Solved

After completing all of the the above steps, simply delete the PST account from Outlook in your new computer.

Thank you posting your question.

Take care.

[Mike52]

Thanks for thebdetailed explanation. It might not be the result I wanted but at least I know now what has happened. You've pretty much explained the scenario jow it played out. Since old pc is no longer accessible I at least know now what is inevitable and will deal with it going forward. The only odd twist to this whole situation is that the Sent folder did rebuild itself from the server even though no inbox mail came through during the resync process. Regardless it was a good reply and I'll live with it.

[WelshTerrier · Accepted solution]

Good Day.

That is correct. The sent folder was not downloaded to your old computer. When you compose an outgoing email it is sent from your computer to the web server as out mail & remains on the computer. If you composed and send a message on webmail, it is not deleted as well. Keep in mind the settings I mentioned earlier are specific to POP3 mail settings on your old computer & the options chosen to leave downloaded mail on the serve or stored in your computer & removed from the server

Take care.