[VM] Problem with recovery

[Jonathan]

Hi everyone.
I'm currently using VM version 8.1.0 with emacs 23.2.1 (the one shipped
with debian squeeze), and I had a crash the other day, and I had to kill
(-9) my emacs session. After that, I tried restoring the inbox folder
(vm-recover-folder) and it couldn't restore them.

Now, when I open VM, it only shows my new mails, but not the old ones.
When I check the folder, I can see the mails, but VM doesn't recognize them
(no labels, or anything like that?). I tried googling, but haven't found
anything useful yet. Any clues on what might be happening?

Many thanks.

[Uday Reddy]

Post by Jonathan
Hi everyone.
I'm currently using VM version 8.1.0 with emacs 23.2.1 (the one shipped with
debian squeeze), and I had a crash the other day, and I had to kill (-9) my
emacs session.  After that, I tried restoring the inbox folder
(vm-recover-folder) and it couldn't restore them. 
Now, when I open VM, it only shows my new mails, but not the old ones.  When I
check the folder, I can see the mails, but VM doesn't recognize them (no
labels, or anything like that?).  I tried googling, but haven't found anything
useful yet.  Any clues on what might be happening?

You haven't said what kind of mail folders you are using. I will assume you
are using local folders on disk, and they are the only copies of your mail.

I think you are in a critical situation here. So, please calm down and take
every step slowly so that you don't lose whatever mail you still have left.

1. Do you have a file backup? If so, how old is it? You may need to go
back to it in the worst case.

2. The first thing to do would be to make a copy of all your mail folders
right away, using Unix 'cp'.

3. Make sure that you understand all the failsafe mechanisms of Emacs and
VM, in particular what the INBOX, INBOX~ and #INBOX# files are.

4. Write down all the steps you take, so that you are clear what you are
doing. Also write down what messages you get from VM. (For instance, I
wasn't clear what you meant by "it couldn't restore them".)

If the problems you mentioned are with the recovered folder, i.e., #INBOX#
file, it is probably damaged, and you should rename it to something else,
and go back to using INBOX. That file will have *all* your email, except
that the changes you have made in crashed session won't be in it. Small
price to pay. If INBOX is also damaged, then you can go back to the INBOX~
file. If that is also damaged, then you are out of luck.

Cheers,
Uday

[Jonathan]

Many thanks for the detailed response. Sadly, I'm out of luck..., my
backup is a little old (a month or so), and the other files aren't right.

Thanks again, I'll try to make backup more often.

Post by Jonathan

Post by Jonathan
Hi everyone.
I'm currently using VM version 8.1.0 with emacs 23.2.1 (the one shipped

with

Post by Jonathan
debian squeeze), and I had a crash the other day, and I had to kill (-9)

my

Post by Jonathan
emacs session. After that, I tried restoring the inbox folder
(vm-recover-folder) and it couldn't restore them.
Now, when I open VM, it only shows my new mails, but not the old ones.

When I

Post by Jonathan
check the folder, I can see the mails, but VM doesn't recognize them (no
labels, or anything like that?). I tried googling, but haven't found

anything

Post by Jonathan
useful yet. Any clues on what might be happening?

You haven't said what kind of mail folders you are using. I will assume you
are using local folders on disk, and they are the only copies of your mail.
I think you are in a critical situation here. So, please calm down and take
every step slowly so that you don't lose whatever mail you still have left.
1. Do you have a file backup? If so, how old is it? You may need to go
back to it in the worst case.
2. The first thing to do would be to make a copy of all your mail folders
right away, using Unix 'cp'.
3. Make sure that you understand all the failsafe mechanisms of Emacs and
VM, in particular what the INBOX, INBOX~ and #INBOX# files are.
4. Write down all the steps you take, so that you are clear what you are
doing. Also write down what messages you get from VM. (For instance, I
wasn't clear what you meant by "it couldn't restore them".)
If the problems you mentioned are with the recovered folder, i.e., #INBOX#
file, it is probably damaged, and you should rename it to something else,
and go back to using INBOX. That file will have *all* your email, except
that the changes you have made in crashed session won't be in it. Small
price to pay. If INBOX is also damaged, then you can go back to the INBOX~
file. If that is also damaged, then you are out of luck.
Cheers,
Uday