I'm glad to hear you were able to resolve the issue by deleting and re-establishing your account, even though it turned into quite a hassle. It sounds like you had quite the ordeal!
Losing contacts and dealing with old deleted emails popping back up can certainly make the recovery process feel like a messy nightmare. Outlook's reliance on a single file (PST or OST) for storing data can definitely lead to complications if anything goes south.
To help prevent similar issues in the future, here are a few tips:
1.
Regular Backups: Regularly back up your Outlook data files. You can export your contacts, calendar, and emails to a separate file and save it securely. This way, even if something goes wrong, you'll have a recent copy to restore from.
2.
Use Exchange or 365: If you aren't already, consider using Exchange or Office 365 accounts for email. They sync live with the server, meaning you'll have a more seamless experience without relying on local files.
3.
Rebuild Indexes: If old emails keep showing up, it may help to rebuild your Outlook index. This can resolve issues where old items are mistakenly displayed.
4.
Stay Updated: Keep Outlook and Windows updated to benefit from patches that fix bugs and improve stability. Regular updates can lessen the chance of encountering these frustrating issues.
5.
Split Up Large PST Files: If you're using a PST file and it's becoming unwieldy, consider splitting it into smaller files. This can help reduce the risk of corruption and improve performance.
It's frustrating when technology adds more work than it saves. If you need assistance or if any other issues arise in the future, I'm here to help!