>Currently I'm the "de-facto" network admin (mainly because I'm the only one that knows enough about the network). I was noticing that a number of workstations were running low on disc space so I initiated a purge of the Trash folders on the workstations and servers last night to clear up disc space. Next morning I got complaints from a number of users because several *years* worth of E-mail have disappeared! Apparently their practice was to move old E-mail into Trash for storage (i.e. so that it won't clutter their IN box).
>
>I was most likely neglectful on the following points:
>* I failed to train users on usage of E-mail and other software to prevent this scenario.
>* I purged Trash folders without warning.
>* I did not check with users on their general practice to assure data loss would not occur (i.e. check to make sure that they weren't doing something like store data in Trash folders)
>* I did not explictly state in any way the general policy that Trash folders are subject to purging.
>* I failed to perform a backup *before* initiating a purge.
>
>Just wondering about your opinion on this situation I got myself into.

If it is Exchange you likely can recover their deleted messages.

As for users saving mail in the trash folder, too bad. That is their fault.