Synched with Exchange server, now all contacts are gone - anyway to get back?

[alchemyst]

I tried synching with my work exchange server and unticked all boxes bar email (i.e. contacts, tasks etc), as that was all I wanted. Although this worked, it decided to delete all the contacts I had on my phone!

Unfortunately I didnt have any backups, is there anyway to get this back? Ive had a search around, and people mention there may be artifacts left in the pim.vol file. Ive found the file (its aorund 700kb, so Im hoping there is something in it), is there anyway to extract/view the info in there?

This phone/WM6 is really beginning to seem like more trouble than its worth :(

[Bulldog]

I tried synching with my work exchange server and unticked all boxes bar email (i.e. contacts, tasks etc), as that was all I wanted. Although this worked, it decided to delete all the contacts I had on my phone!

Unfortunately I didnt have any backups, is there anyway to get this back? Ive had a search around, and people mention there may be artifacts left in the pim.vol file. Ive found the file (its aorund 700kb, so Im hoping there is something in it), is there anyway to extract/view the info in there?

This phone/WM6 is really beginning to seem like more trouble than its worth :(

I am not sure I understand you correctly.. So you unticked (NOT SYNC) with your exchange the contacts, task,mails etc. Right???

Then you delete all contacts on your phone which are now completely gone.. And as my knowledge there is no way to undo the delete.

The only way that you can get that back is to have a previous backup(which you don’t have) or to sync. With the exchange again to get it in your phone!!!

[alchemyst]

I had contacts on my phone already (that I put in by hand as and when I met people for example). I then tried to sync with exchange to get my emails, but because I didnt want contacts I unticked that box. After this sync, all my contacts were gone.

The numbers that I lost were never on the Exchange server.

I'm beginning to think my mistake was to use this as both a personal and work phone, it doesnt seem to want to do things by half. I cant comprehend the thinking that goes into deleting personal contacts if you sync with your work server.

[Bulldog]

Well first it is strange and it should be not happen to lose your existent contacts when you not choose to sync with exchange.
If you had already sync. With exchange for contacts then later you would choose to unticked then the contact would be cleaned up on the device.

Anyhow have you checked your exchange account whether you have exidently sync contacts and then later unchecked??
just to double confirm I would check the contact in the exchange account and as well in the deleted items folder

[alchemyst]

Well first it is strange and it should be not happen to lose your existent contacts when you not choose to sync with exchange.
If you had already sync. With exchange for contacts then later you would choose to unticked then the contact would be cleaned up on the device.

Anyhow have you checked your exchange account whether you have exidently sync contacts and then later unchecked??
just to double confirm I would check the contact in the exchange account and as well in the deleted items folder

Mate, you are a genius! Just checked my Outlook contacts and they've all ended up there! Thanks a lot, I really appreciate it. :)

I think I shall leave the synching be for now anyway...

[Bulldog]

Thats great!!! First thing I would suggest you now is to make a backup of your PIM. save one copy in your memory card and one copy in your desktop.. You never know when you might need it :0)

Look in development section there are some good PIM backup software

cheers

[alchemyst]

Will do, thanks again.