Microsoft Exchange server is used by organisations to manage emails sent within the organisations. Microsoft Outlook is the client which allows enterprise users to read and manage their emails while the Exchange server is the back-end which assures the smooth working of the client and allows users to store emails for offline access.
The Microsoft Exchange server manages a massive number of emails that are exchanged between a large number of employees. As a single server is responsible for managing and storing emails from the whole organisation, some times users have the need of recovering files that have been deliberately or accidentally deleted by them. A server manages the Outlook client used by a common group, allowing them to receive and send emails, store their email files offline, create calenders, create contact list and share them with their group members. One of the most important and useful features at come with Microsoft Exchange server is the ability to recover exchange files or deleted OST files from within the server if the DumpsterAlwaysOn registry key has been activated. It is advisable to activate the registry key when the server is used by multiple users, as the chances of some one accidentally deleting vital files increases. The registry key can be activated by IT administrator in a few simple steps, by accessing the control panel of the Outlook application. In order to start recovering deleted files, first one would have to procure the administrator rights, which can be granted by accessing the application via the administrator account. Before proceeding, the IT administrator must ensure that the Microsoft Outlook software is synced to the Exchange server before the process of recovering the deleted items. After that, click on the ‘Start’ button and select the ‘Run’ function. When it opens, type ‘regedit’ on the ‘Open’ space and click ‘OK’. Next, the IT admin would be required to click on the plus sign that is available right next to the “HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE” option and then select the ‘Software’ option. The next step in order to recover exchange files, involves IT admin selecting the ‘Microsoft’ option and then simply click on the ‘Exchange’ option. Select the ‘Client’ option on the window which appears next and then access the ‘Options’ option. Next, move the cursor to the ‘New’ option on the ‘Edit’ menu and select the ‘DWORD Value’ option. Now, this is where the ‘Dumpster Always On’ function comes in. If the function has been enabled by the IT admin, then users will be able to enter the option and press ‘Enter’ button on the keyboard. IT admins would then have to double-click on the Dumpster Always On option and would have to enter ‘1’ in the ‘Value Date’ box on the window. After that, IT admins can exit the registry after clicking on the ‘Decimal’ option and then ‘OK’ option. After exiting the registry, IT admins would need to open the Microsoft Outlook software and access the ‘Deleted Items’ folder. The folder temporarily stores the items deleted on Microsoft Outlook on the Exchange server. Click on the ‘Tools’ menu bar and select the ‘Recover Deleted Data’ option. From the new window that opens, admins would have to search the locate the file they want to recover and then click on the ‘Recover Selected Data’ option. Apart from the tools provided by Microsoft, users can also use third party software like DataNumen Exchange Recovery in order to recover exchange files.