RSSHelp me RESCUE data from CRASHED MS BCM! My computer with BCM installed (and full of my accounts) crashed. I had to pull the data off the drive, then reformat WINXP and go from there. I have reinstalled BCM, but am now LOST as to how/and where to find my accounts. (And nope,- I did not get to back them up.) I just want the data, the interlinks are not important.
Rule #1 – Back up your data often! BCM includes a backup utility that makes it easy – use it. While the following is not a supported method, if you can access the database files, you may be able to swap database files, but keep in mind this method is for emergency use only and should not be relied on in place of a regular backup routine.
BCM uses MSDE as the database engine. BCM stores the BCM database in two files with the extensions LDF and MDF, by default, the files are named MSBusinessContactManager.* and are located in the hidden C:\Documents and Settings\username\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Business Contact Manager directory. If you can get those two files from the hard drive, you may be able to recover your BCM database.
Unfortunately, it’s not as easy as dropping the two database files into the Business Contact Manager directory and telling BCM to use them. You need to create a database then replace the files with your old ones.
- Create a new database in BCM, using the File, Data File Management menu and choose Add, then choose Business Contact Manager Database. Name it the same as your old database.
- Once the database is created, close Outlook and go to Administrator Tools, Services and stop the MSSQL$MICROSOFTBCM service.
- Replace the new database files with your old ones, making sure the file names are identical.
- Restart the BCM service (stopped in step ) then restart Outlook.
Using BCM’s Backup and Restore is the only supported method of recovering your databases, so before you do anything else, make a backup of the database using File, Business Database, Backup. Remember to do it on a regular basis. Because swapping database files isn’t supported, if this method doesn’t work or causes database corruption, you’ll need to recreate the database from your last backup.
