If, when using your client for the exchange of instant messages, the function of saving history was activated, it can be viewed in the form of a special log file that is automatically created by the program on your hard disk.
Instructions
Step 1
Enable the display of hidden files and folders on your operating system. To do this, open the "Folder Options" menu in the control panel and in the window that opens, select the appearance settings tab. Scroll the list of positions to the end, check the box "Show contents of hidden folders on your computer" and uncheck the box "Hide extensions for registered file types". Apply the changes and click OK.
Step 2
Open your local drive. To view the log file of the ICQ program, open the Document and Settings folder, having previously selected a username, if the program was installed to allow only one user to enter it. If the program could run from any account on the computer, open the All Users folder.
Step 3
Find the message history log, which is located in a folder with a name that matches the name and version of the messenger. The data in it can also be divided by ICQ accounts, and the records of message histories can be different for each of the contacts, in this case they will be in the folder corresponding to his name specified by the program. It all depends on the version installed and the type of operating system. Log files can be opened using any text editor.
Step 4
If you need to view the log files of other clients, use the same sequence, with the difference that the folders will be named according to the name of the program used. Also, if you don't find the entries you want, browse the application's system folders under Program Files, Documents and Settings, All Programs, User Documents. Many programs use plain text format to create system records.
