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How can we access NSF file without the ID file?


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The legal department of our company has asked us to restore a particular users email from backup from 2 years ago.  We were able to find a couple of NSF files from the requested time period, but no ID files and we have since migrated from Notes to Exchange.  So is there a way to recover the email from NSF file without the ID file and without the Domino server?  We think the files were generated with Lotus Notes version 7.

 

 

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Hey Antonin

 

If you think that the files were generated with Lotus Version 7 then you can recover the ID file.

 

For Recovering an ID file, you should take following steps

Recovering a lost or corrupted ID file is the same as resetting the password for an existing ID file, with one addition. Before the process can begin, ask a Notes administrator to send you the latest encrypted backup copy of your ID file (from the ID Recovery database).

Since you are locked out of your Notes workstation, the administrator cannot simply send the ID to you by e-mail. You will need to retrieve the backup ID file either by going to the administrator's office, using a co-worker's e-mail account or by getting the file put on a diskette or CD and having it sent to you by snail mail.

Once you have the backup ID file, install it into the Notes\ Data directory on your computer. If the file comes to you with a temporary name, such as ~~tmpid.ide, you should rename it to something more meaningful, such asfirstname_lastname.id.

(If all IDs are stored in a shared network folder, the administrator may do some of these steps for you, by placing the ID file directly in the network folder. In some cases, administrators can put the ID file directly onto your C drive.)

Password reset can now proceed just as outlined above, as if you had forgotten the password for the ID.

Backup IDs in recovery database

When an administrator makes changes to recovery information in a certifier, that information is pushed out to each user's ID file. In turn, a new encrypted backup copy of the ID file is sent from each user to the ID Recovery database on the server. Both of these operations happen silently and automatically. In some instances, however, administrators have reported that Notes takes a long time to send users' backup ID files to the ID Recovery database. If this is the case, here are some tricks that may move things along.

·         Each user's client location document must be set up correctly, pointing to their correct home/mail server, with correct settings on the Mail tab of the location document.

·         In order for the backup ID to be sent to the server, Each user's Notes client must be idle for 10 minutes, after connecting to their home server, with no dialogs open.

·         Each user's ID file must be stored on a local drive and must be writable. (There is conflicting information about whether the backup ID process supports ID files stored on shared network folders. I would assume that network folders are supported, but you should be aware of this question in the event you have unexplained problems.)

·         If a user has left their workstation on for many days without the backup ID process completing, they should restart it.

·         As a last resort, users can manually change their password, which may bump Notes to send their backup ID to the server.

Notes/Domino R7 contains two useful additions to the password recovery feature. The first is that the length of the recovery password is configurable, so it can be less than 16 characters. This is helpful if the users in your organization often forget their passwords, and if you are willing to sacrifice some security for convenience. The second enhancement is that there is better logging of Notes client operations during the silent process of sending new recovery information to user ID files, and the transmission of new backup IDs to the server. These log entries are found in the local log.nsf on each user's workstation.

Source: http://searchdomino.techtarget.com/tip/Resetting-a-Lotus-Notes-password

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  • 2 weeks later...

So you didn't back up the ID-file of every user or the server?? Oh dear me...

NSF databases are in a special format, and the easiest way to read them is with Lotus Notes, so you won't see anything readable when you try with Notepad or so. If the database is not encrypted, you might be able to read it with Notes client, provided that the user left the door open (the ACL in this case).
Another easy way to check the file using the demo version of the program Notes Recovery Toolbox. There is a possibility that the file be able to recover it. http://www.oemailrecovery.com/lotusnotes_recovery.html
By the way, was the migration successful, and did it save you money (talking TCO)? No need to answer that...

 

 

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