Way to retrieve Deleted PMs?

When you delete a PM the database drops that entry completely. The same goes for posts, although I don't believe non-staff have the ability to fully remove posts (they are set to a "deleted" state and made invisible to all but staff when a member deletes a post/thread). Is it possible to modify the forum so that deleted things aren't actually deleted? Certainly. Would it be a bugger to implement? Yes indeed. 500 PMs isn't enough space for ya to save what you need?

I suggest a different solution:
1. Go to your User CP and, under "Private Messages", click "Edit Folders".
2. Add a new folder called "Trash".
3. From now on, instead of deleting PMs, move them to the Trash folder.
4. Empty every week or so.

This way you will have all the PMs you "deleted" and can reconsider if you happen to need them later. I personally use the download options for PMs (available in the lower right of any PM folder display). Simply check the PMs you want to save and choose a format to download them in. XML looks the best to me.

also, a lot of people don't know that you can download your pm's, by scrolling to the bottom of the pm page.

Sounds like something that can be mentioned on some other medium...that people listen too.

Hmmmm.

I'm sure one of us will get on this.

Rob