If you've done the standard searches, and checked your deleted items, then I'd recommend doing an Advanced Search for all Outlook items. Doing a search on all Outlook items will include checking Outlook Today, located in the top of the Information Store folder.

The search
To search for the emails, select Advanced Find from Tools->Find. The Advanced Search dialog box will appear, then select Any Type of Outlook Item in the Look For field. You'll want to provide as much detail about the email itself to help narrow down the search and give you the best chance of locating the missing message.

Once the email is found in the Information Store, or other location, you can move it back to your Inbox by selecting Move to Folder on the Edit menu, then selecting Inbox.

An alternate method
Outlook Today is a mail folder just like the Inbox, with one exception, it has a home page. A quick way to check Outlook Today for lost emails is to remove the homepage and view it as an actual folder.

By using the easy to follow instructions below, you can remove that homepage and see what lies beneath.

• Select Properties by right-clicking on Outlook Today
• Select Home Page
• Deselect Show Home Page By Default for this folder
• Select Okay

Once this is done, you should be able see your mail items. Now simply move them where you want them.

To put it all back again, select Properties, as stated above. Then select Show Home Page By Default for this folder. If the address is empty, select Restore Defaults.

So now you see, just because something is lost doesn't mean it can't be found. Using the techniques I've outlined above, you just might be able to track down those hidden emails in Outlook Today.

Francine Otterson is the President of the San Outlook User Group and has been in the IT industry for over 10 years, providing technical support, software customization solutions and training in corporate settings, and as a consultant. She balances her work around her daughter and husband in sunny San Diego, California.