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Accidental deletion of Exchange server mailbox items can be an unfortunate situation that Exchange Administrators may encounter from time to time. Users may inadvertently delete important messages, only to realize the gravity of the situation later on. Fortunately, Microsoft has anticipated such scenarios and has implemented a range of robust features for recovering deleted items. One such feature is the Recoverable Items folder, formerly referred to as the Dumpster, which serves as the designated location for retrieving accidentally deleted items.
When observing a mailbox, it becomes evident that it follows a hierarchical tree structure. However, the Exchange Server employs a more nuanced organization for user mailboxes, consisting of two distinct subtrees: the IPM (Interpersonal Messaging) subtree and the Non-IPM Subtree.
Within the IPM subtree, you will find all the readily visible folders, including Inbox, Outbox, Contacts, Sent Items, and more. These folders serve as familiar access points for users.
In contrast, the Non-IPM subtree serves as a discreet repository for hidden internal data, user-specific information, preferences, and various system-related items. Among the concealed elements stored in this subtree is the Dumpster, also known as the Recoverable Items folder. It remains unseen by the user and cannot be managed through the Exchange Admin Center, making it a vital component of behind-the-scenes mailbox maintenance.
Numerous features make use of the dumpster folder, including:
All of these functionalities rely on the ‘dumpster’ folder to store various types of subfolders, including:
In this section, we will explore the process of recovering a hard-deleted item from a user’s mailbox. Since hard-deleted items remain hidden from the user, you will need to employ the Exchange Management Shell to execute the recovery procedure effectively. Before initiating the method, it is essential to address the following prerequisites:
After fulfilling the prerequisites, apply the following steps –
After running the command, you can go to the target folder and see the item there. If the command runs perfectly, then the item would be there.
After running the command, the item will be saved to the destination folder and deleted from the source mailbox.
Once you’ve gained a thorough understanding of the retrieval process for deleted items from the Exchange dumpster, you’ll discover that the Exchange Admin Center lacks the capability to recover these items. Instead, your recourse is to employ the Exchange Management Shell, where you’ll need to possess specific details such as the mailbox in question, the item’s name, and a particular keyword to successfully locate the desired item. However, it’s important to note that this method may not always yield effortless results, making it advisable to consider utilizing a third-party application for more reliable and efficient item recovery.
Kernel for Exchange Server is an exceptionally efficient Exchange Recovery software meticulously designed to recover deleted and previously inaccessible items from your Exchange database. This powerful tool not only repairs corrupt exchange database but also grants you access to data concealed within obscure folders, such as the dumpster, and empowers you to securely save it.