contacts backup for Outlook 2003

[Korine]

I followed the Office online instructions to "create a backup copy of my
Contacts" The backup file is visible in My Documents. But when I try to open
the file I"m told that "Windows is attemping to open a file of type " office
data file" (.pst) I then select "open with" and several prompts later reach
"Windows needs to know what program created it" and I am asked to select
"the program that created it" from a list. The first four selections are:
Microsoft Office Excel, Office Publisher , Office Word and Office Document
Reader. I have tried all four of these and am unable to view the backup
file. With Excel data is visible but not is a readable format. With Word
all I see are geometric shapes! I also tried 3 or 4 other programs in a
secondary list and they did not open the file either.
What program created the backup file and how do I open my backup file? My
goal is to save the back up file to a CD.

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

You never open PST files from Windows Explorer.
You open them in Outlook.
File > Open > Outlook Data File.

 

[Brian Tillman]

I followed the Office online instructions to "create a backup copy of
my Contacts"

I'm curious - why would you want to make a backup that includes only your
Contacts? Isn't the rest of your Outlook data important as well?

 

[Korine]

Thank you. Ignorance is not bliss! I did the following: open
Outlook>File>Open>Outlook data file>my documents>dbl L click on the contacts
backup icon>a new view pops up with a folder list on it's L side> My Contact
Backup>Contacts. I'm embarrased to say how long the last few steps took but
success is success. I then tried opening the CD I thought I had loaded the
backup contacts onto with Outlook open but run into my previous problem of
bieng asked to choose the program I want to open this file and not being
successful with any of the options. Any suggestions? Korine

You never open PST files from Windows Explorer.
You open them in Outlook.
File > Open > Outlook Data File.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

I followed the Office online instructions to "create a backup copy of my
Contacts" The backup file is visible in My Documents. But when I try to
open
the file I"m told that "Windows is attemping to open a file of type "
office
data file" (.pst) I then select "open with" and several prompts later
reach
"Windows needs to know what program created it" and I am asked to select
"the program that created it" from a list. The first four selections are:
Microsoft Office Excel, Office Publisher , Office Word and Office Document
Reader. I have tried all four of these and am unable to view the backup
file. With Excel data is visible but not is a readable format. With Word
all I see are geometric shapes! I also tried 3 or 4 other programs in a
secondary list and they did not open the file either.
What program created the backup file and how do I open my backup file? My
goal is to save the back up file to a CD.

 

[Korine]

Simple, I don't want to lose it again!

I recently "lost" 300 contacts when my old computer quit functioning. The
info could not be retrieved! I just completed entering those 300 contacts
into my new computer from an the old fashioned paper copy of the contacts and
don't wish to do it again any time soon.

I honestly don't use many of the other Outlook functions. I am not a savy
computer user and have difficulty finding the time for the learning curve!!
It should be very simple to backup the contacts on the hard drive and to a
CD! But of course it's not simple or there wouldn't be so may online
questions!

My ultimate goal is to get the contacts loaded onto a CD so that I can put
it in the safe AND have a CD I can use in a computer in another location.

I thought I had burned the contacts backup to a CD but now cannot open it.
I end up eith the "choose the program you want to open this file" I described
earlier.

 

[Korine]

Mr Valentine,
After reading other posts I've tried again to write a CD. I closed Outlook
and went to My Documents>Contacts Backup file>file & folder tasks>Copy this
file> a ballon from my task bar indicates I have "files waiting to be copied"
and they are the contacts backup file. I follow the prompt to click the
balloon and the CD writing wizard begins to work. It appears to write the
CD. The CD drive door opens when the process is complete. But I cannot open
the CD with or with out Outlook open! I again get all of the prompts about
needing to know which "program created it".

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

You can't open PST files on a CD. Outlook must have read/write access to PST
files.
Move the file to your hard drive and remove its read only attribute. Then
open it the way I told you to.

 

[Korine]

Thank you for bearing with me. Do I move the file from the CD to the hard
drive or am I moving the file from My Documents to the CD or from the backup
in Outlook? I attempted to move the file from the CD to the hard drive but
the computer will not do this. It gave me NO prompt to remove the read only
attribute.

You can't open PST files on a CD. Outlook must have read/write access to PST
files.
Move the file to your hard drive and remove its read only attribute. Then
open it the way I told you to.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Mr Valentine,
After reading other posts I've tried again to write a CD. I closed
Outlook
and went to My Documents>Contacts Backup file>file & folder tasks>Copy
this
file> a ballon from my task bar indicates I have "files waiting to be
copied"
and they are the contacts backup file. I follow the prompt to click the
balloon and the CD writing wizard begins to work. It appears to write the
CD. The CD drive door opens when the process is complete. But I cannot
open
the CD with or with out Outlook open! I again get all of the prompts
about
needing to know which "program created it".

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

You copy the PST file from the CD to your hard drive (you can't move files
from a CD).
Then you R click it and use the Context menu to remove its read only
attribute.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Thank you for bearing with me. Do I move the file from the CD to the hard
drive or am I moving the file from My Documents to the CD or from the
backup
in Outlook? I attempted to move the file from the CD to the hard drive
but
the computer will not do this. It gave me NO prompt to remove the read
only
attribute.

You can't open PST files on a CD. Outlook must have read/write access to
PST
files.
Move the file to your hard drive and remove its read only attribute. Then
open it the way I told you to.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Mr Valentine,
After reading other posts I've tried again to write a CD. I closed
Outlook
and went to My Documents>Contacts Backup file>file & folder tasks>Copy
this
file> a ballon from my task bar indicates I have "files waiting to be
copied"
and they are the contacts backup file. I follow the prompt to click
the
balloon and the CD writing wizard begins to work. It appears to write
the
CD. The CD drive door opens when the process is complete. But I cannot
open
the CD with or with out Outlook open! I again get all of the prompts
about
needing to know which "program created it".

:

I followed the Office online instructions to "create a backup copy of
my
Contacts" The backup file is visible in My Documents. But when I try
to
open
the file I"m told that "Windows is attemping to open a file of type "
office
data file" (.pst) I then select "open with" and several prompts
later
reach
"Windows needs to know what program created it" and I am asked to
select
"the program that created it" from a list. The first four selections
are:
Microsoft Office Excel, Office Publisher , Office Word and Office
Document
Reader. I have tried all four of these and am unable to view the
backup
file. With Excel data is visible but not is a readable format. With
Word
all I see are geometric shapes! I also tried 3 or 4 other programs
in a
secondary list and they did not open the file either.
What program created the backup file and how do I open my backup file?
My
goal is to save the back up file to a CD.

 

[Korine]

Mr. Valentine, I've done as you've instructed many times. However. when I
do: Contact backup properties.General>Attributes>read only is NOT
checked>apply>OK I am UNABLE to view the file when I doulbe click it. I
continue to get the "Windows cannot open this file">select the program from a
list>none on the list allow me to view the file. But it just dawns on
me-will I never be able to view the file? Will I use the CD to re-load
Outlook on my home or away computer? And expecting to view the data when
outside of Outlook is impossible?

You copy the PST file from the CD to your hard drive (you can't move files
from a CD).
Then you R click it and use the Context menu to remove its read only
attribute.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Thank you for bearing with me. Do I move the file from the CD to the hard
drive or am I moving the file from My Documents to the CD or from the
backup
in Outlook? I attempted to move the file from the CD to the hard drive
but
the computer will not do this. It gave me NO prompt to remove the read
only
attribute.

You can't open PST files on a CD. Outlook must have read/write access to
PST
files.
Move the file to your hard drive and remove its read only attribute. Then
open it the way I told you to.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Mr Valentine,
After reading other posts I've tried again to write a CD. I closed
Outlook
and went to My Documents>Contacts Backup file>file & folder tasks>Copy
this
file> a ballon from my task bar indicates I have "files waiting to be
copied"
and they are the contacts backup file. I follow the prompt to click
the
balloon and the CD writing wizard begins to work. It appears to write
the
CD. The CD drive door opens when the process is complete. But I cannot
open
the CD with or with out Outlook open! I again get all of the prompts
about
needing to know which "program created it".

:

I followed the Office online instructions to "create a backup copy of
my
Contacts" The backup file is visible in My Documents. But when I try
to
open
the file I"m told that "Windows is attemping to open a file of type "
office
data file" (.pst) I then select "open with" and several prompts
later
reach
"Windows needs to know what program created it" and I am asked to
select
"the program that created it" from a list. The first four selections
are:
Microsoft Office Excel, Office Publisher , Office Word and Office
Document
Reader. I have tried all four of these and am unable to view the
backup
file. With Excel data is visible but not is a readable format. With
Word
all I see are geometric shapes! I also tried 3 or 4 other programs
in a
secondary list and they did not open the file either.
What program created the backup file and how do I open my backup file?
My
goal is to save the back up file to a CD.

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

Of course. That's what I said in my first post. Remember?
"You never open PST files from Windows Explorer.
You open them in Outlook.
File > Open > Outlook Data File."

Why would you be trying to open the file outside of Outlook?
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Mr. Valentine, I've done as you've instructed many times. However. when I
do: Contact backup properties.General>Attributes>read only is NOT
checked>apply>OK I am UNABLE to view the file when I doulbe click it. I
continue to get the "Windows cannot open this file">select the program
from a
list>none on the list allow me to view the file. But it just dawns on
me-will I never be able to view the file? Will I use the CD to re-load
Outlook on my home or away computer? And expecting to view the data when
outside of Outlook is impossible?

You copy the PST file from the CD to your hard drive (you can't move
files
from a CD).
Then you R click it and use the Context menu to remove its read only
attribute.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Thank you for bearing with me. Do I move the file from the CD to the
hard
drive or am I moving the file from My Documents to the CD or from the
backup
in Outlook? I attempted to move the file from the CD to the hard drive
but
the computer will not do this. It gave me NO prompt to remove the read
only
attribute.

:

You can't open PST files on a CD. Outlook must have read/write access
to
PST
files.
Move the file to your hard drive and remove its read only attribute.
Then
open it the way I told you to.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Mr Valentine,
After reading other posts I've tried again to write a CD. I closed
Outlook
and went to My Documents>Contacts Backup file>file & folder
tasks>Copy
this
file> a ballon from my task bar indicates I have "files waiting to
be
copied"
and they are the contacts backup file. I follow the prompt to click
the
balloon and the CD writing wizard begins to work. It appears to
write
the
CD. The CD drive door opens when the process is complete. But I
cannot
open
the CD with or with out Outlook open! I again get all of the
prompts
about
needing to know which "program created it".

:

I followed the Office online instructions to "create a backup copy
of
my
Contacts" The backup file is visible in My Documents. But when I
try
to
open
the file I"m told that "Windows is attemping to open a file of type
"
office
data file" (.pst) I then select "open with" and several prompts
later
reach
"Windows needs to know what program created it" and I am asked to
select
"the program that created it" from a list. The first four
selections
are:
Microsoft Office Excel, Office Publisher , Office Word and Office
Document
Reader. I have tried all four of these and am unable to view the
backup
file. With Excel data is visible but not is a readable format.
With
Word
all I see are geometric shapes! I also tried 3 or 4 other
programs
in a
secondary list and they did not open the file either.
What program created the backup file and how do I open my backup
file?
My
goal is to save the back up file to a CD.

 

[Brian Tillman]

Simple, I don't want to lose it again!

I recently "lost" 300 contacts when my old computer quit functioning.
The info could not be retrieved! I just completed entering those 300
contacts into my new computer from an the old fashioned paper copy of
the contacts and don't wish to do it again any time soon.

I honestly don't use many of the other Outlook functions.

Not even e-mail? OK. You know best what you need.

I am not a
savy computer user and have difficulty finding the time for the
learning curve!! It should be very simple to backup the contacts on
the hard drive and to a CD! But of course it's not simple or there
wouldn't be so may online questions!

I find it very simple. With Outlook closed, I simply drag my PST to the CD
burner icon and let it go. Windows takes care of the rest.

I thought I had burned the contacts backup to a CD but now cannot
open it.
I end up eith the "choose the program you want to open this file" I
described earlier.

That's because you were trying to use Windows Explorer to open the file. As
pointed out, you use Outlook's FIle>Open>Outlook Data File to open a PST
Moreover, the PST must be on the hard drive and have the read-only attribute
removed before Outlook will be able to open it.

 

[Korine]

Mr. Valentine,
Thanks for all of the help. As I said before you're dealing with a computer
illerate! Why would I want to open the file outside of Outlook?
Because I move between three houses and having a CD with my address book on
it would be a compact way to carry an extensive address book. I assumed I
could pop it in the CD drive and easliy view addresses. Not such a quirky
idea! A simple idea made complex by the operating system! And having just
entered the 300 contacts after losing them on the previous computer I wa
looking to "save them" from another technoloby glitch.
Thanks again.

Of course. That's what I said in my first post. Remember?
"You never open PST files from Windows Explorer.
You open them in Outlook.
File > Open > Outlook Data File."

Why would you be trying to open the file outside of Outlook?
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Mr. Valentine, I've done as you've instructed many times. However. when I
do: Contact backup properties.General>Attributes>read only is NOT
checked>apply>OK I am UNABLE to view the file when I doulbe click it. I
continue to get the "Windows cannot open this file">select the program
from a
list>none on the list allow me to view the file. But it just dawns on
me-will I never be able to view the file? Will I use the CD to re-load
Outlook on my home or away computer? And expecting to view the data when
outside of Outlook is impossible?

You copy the PST file from the CD to your hard drive (you can't move
files
from a CD).
Then you R click it and use the Context menu to remove its read only
attribute.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Thank you for bearing with me. Do I move the file from the CD to the
hard
drive or am I moving the file from My Documents to the CD or from the
backup
in Outlook? I attempted to move the file from the CD to the hard drive
but
the computer will not do this. It gave me NO prompt to remove the read
only
attribute.

:

You can't open PST files on a CD. Outlook must have read/write access
to
PST
files.
Move the file to your hard drive and remove its read only attribute.
Then
open it the way I told you to.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Mr Valentine,
After reading other posts I've tried again to write a CD. I closed
Outlook
and went to My Documents>Contacts Backup file>file & folder
tasks>Copy
this
file> a ballon from my task bar indicates I have "files waiting to
be
copied"
and they are the contacts backup file. I follow the prompt to click
the
balloon and the CD writing wizard begins to work. It appears to
write
the
CD. The CD drive door opens when the process is complete. But I
cannot
open
the CD with or with out Outlook open! I again get all of the
prompts
about
needing to know which "program created it".

:

I followed the Office online instructions to "create a backup copy
of
my
Contacts" The backup file is visible in My Documents. But when I
try
to
open
the file I"m told that "Windows is attemping to open a file of type
"
office
data file" (.pst) I then select "open with" and several prompts
later
reach
"Windows needs to know what program created it" and I am asked to
select
"the program that created it" from a list. The first four
selections
are:
Microsoft Office Excel, Office Publisher , Office Word and Office
Document
Reader. I have tried all four of these and am unable to view the
backup
file. With Excel data is visible but not is a readable format.
With
Word
all I see are geometric shapes! I also tried 3 or 4 other
programs
in a
secondary list and they did not open the file either.
What program created the backup file and how do I open my backup
file?
My
goal is to save the back up file to a CD.

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

I understand that. I was asking why you were still trying to open an Outlook
data file without Outlook after I already told you it could not be done. I
was afraid you were not reading or understanding my replies.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Mr. Valentine,
Thanks for all of the help. As I said before you're dealing with a
computer
illerate! Why would I want to open the file outside of Outlook?
Because I move between three houses and having a CD with my address book
on
it would be a compact way to carry an extensive address book. I assumed I
could pop it in the CD drive and easliy view addresses. Not such a quirky
idea! A simple idea made complex by the operating system! And having
just
entered the 300 contacts after losing them on the previous computer I wa
looking to "save them" from another technoloby glitch.
Thanks again.

Of course. That's what I said in my first post. Remember?
"You never open PST files from Windows Explorer.
You open them in Outlook.
File > Open > Outlook Data File."

Why would you be trying to open the file outside of Outlook?
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Mr. Valentine, I've done as you've instructed many times. However.
when I
do: Contact backup properties.General>Attributes>read only is NOT
checked>apply>OK I am UNABLE to view the file when I doulbe click it.
I
continue to get the "Windows cannot open this file">select the program
from a
list>none on the list allow me to view the file. But it just dawns on
me-will I never be able to view the file? Will I use the CD to re-load
Outlook on my home or away computer? And expecting to view the data
when
outside of Outlook is impossible?

:

You copy the PST file from the CD to your hard drive (you can't move
files
from a CD).
Then you R click it and use the Context menu to remove its read only
attribute.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Thank you for bearing with me. Do I move the file from the CD to
the
hard
drive or am I moving the file from My Documents to the CD or from
the
backup
in Outlook? I attempted to move the file from the CD to the hard
drive
but
the computer will not do this. It gave me NO prompt to remove the
read
only
attribute.

:

You can't open PST files on a CD. Outlook must have read/write
access
to
PST
files.
Move the file to your hard drive and remove its read only
attribute.
Then
open it the way I told you to.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Mr Valentine,
After reading other posts I've tried again to write a CD. I
closed
Outlook
and went to My Documents>Contacts Backup file>file & folder
tasks>Copy
this
file> a ballon from my task bar indicates I have "files waiting
to
be
copied"
and they are the contacts backup file. I follow the prompt to
click
the
balloon and the CD writing wizard begins to work. It appears to
write
the
CD. The CD drive door opens when the process is complete. But I
cannot
open
the CD with or with out Outlook open! I again get all of the
prompts
about
needing to know which "program created it".

:

I followed the Office online instructions to "create a backup
copy
of
my
Contacts" The backup file is visible in My Documents. But when
I
try
to
open
the file I"m told that "Windows is attemping to open a file of
type
"
office
data file" (.pst) I then select "open with" and several
prompts
later
reach
"Windows needs to know what program created it" and I am asked
to
select
"the program that created it" from a list. The first four
selections
are:
Microsoft Office Excel, Office Publisher , Office Word and
Office
Document
Reader. I have tried all four of these and am unable to view
the
backup
file. With Excel data is visible but not is a readable format.
With
Word
all I see are geometric shapes! I also tried 3 or 4 other
programs
in a
secondary list and they did not open the file either.
What program created the backup file and how do I open my backup
file?
My
goal is to save the back up file to a CD.

 

[JosieM]

Korine,
Please don't feel like an illerate! I am having the same problem NOW
(6/06). I have researched the MS site for hours. Please tell me if you ever
found a way to achieve your goal of copying your contacts. I also have tried
burning CD, but cannot open the files, and I DO have OUtlook on my computer.
I just don't understand exactly what R Valentine was trying to say either.
Thanks for any help you can give me in this similar delimma.

Josie M

Mr. Valentine,
Thanks for all of the help. As I said before you're dealing with a computer
illerate! Why would I want to open the file outside of Outlook?
Because I move between three houses and having a CD with my address book on
it would be a compact way to carry an extensive address book. I assumed I
could pop it in the CD drive and easliy view addresses. Not such a quirky
idea! A simple idea made complex by the operating system! And having just
entered the 300 contacts after losing them on the previous computer I wa
looking to "save them" from another technoloby glitch.
Thanks again.

Of course. That's what I said in my first post. Remember?
"You never open PST files from Windows Explorer.
You open them in Outlook.
File > Open > Outlook Data File."

Why would you be trying to open the file outside of Outlook?
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Mr. Valentine, I've done as you've instructed many times. However. when I
do: Contact backup properties.General>Attributes>read only is NOT
checked>apply>OK I am UNABLE to view the file when I doulbe click it. I
continue to get the "Windows cannot open this file">select the program
from a
list>none on the list allow me to view the file. But it just dawns on
me-will I never be able to view the file? Will I use the CD to re-load
Outlook on my home or away computer? And expecting to view the data when
outside of Outlook is impossible?

:

You copy the PST file from the CD to your hard drive (you can't move
files
from a CD).
Then you R click it and use the Context menu to remove its read only
attribute.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Thank you for bearing with me. Do I move the file from the CD to the
hard
drive or am I moving the file from My Documents to the CD or from the
backup
in Outlook? I attempted to move the file from the CD to the hard drive
but
the computer will not do this. It gave me NO prompt to remove the read
only
attribute.

:

You can't open PST files on a CD. Outlook must have read/write access
to
PST
files.
Move the file to your hard drive and remove its read only attribute.
Then
open it the way I told you to.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Mr Valentine,
After reading other posts I've tried again to write a CD. I closed
Outlook
and went to My Documents>Contacts Backup file>file & folder
tasks>Copy
this
file> a ballon from my task bar indicates I have "files waiting to
be
copied"
and they are the contacts backup file. I follow the prompt to click
the
balloon and the CD writing wizard begins to work. It appears to
write
the
CD. The CD drive door opens when the process is complete. But I
cannot
open
the CD with or with out Outlook open! I again get all of the
prompts
about
needing to know which "program created it".

:

I followed the Office online instructions to "create a backup copy
of
my
Contacts" The backup file is visible in My Documents. But when I
try
to
open
the file I"m told that "Windows is attemping to open a file of type
"
office
data file" (.pst) I then select "open with" and several prompts
later
reach
"Windows needs to know what program created it" and I am asked to
select
"the program that created it" from a list. The first four
selections
are:
Microsoft Office Excel, Office Publisher , Office Word and Office
Document
Reader. I have tried all four of these and am unable to view the
backup
file. With Excel data is visible but not is a readable format.
With
Word
all I see are geometric shapes! I also tried 3 or 4 other
programs
in a
secondary list and they did not open the file either.
What program created the backup file and how do I open my backup
file?
My
goal is to save the back up file to a CD.

 

[Karl Timmermans]

#1 - If you copy the PST file to a CD - it needs to be copied to a hard
drive and the "Read Only" attribute removed
a) right click the PST file after it's been copied to the hard
drive
b) select properties
c) uncheck "Read Only" under attributes
d) open the pst file in Outlook
(*** above assumes you are using "R" CD/DVD media and not "R/W" with
software (Roxio/Nero/NTI etc ) that enables you to treat
your CD/DVD drive like any other in which case you don't have
to worry about the "Read Only" attribute setting)

#2 - A PST file is an application specific Outlook file which needs to be
opened via Outlook - ergo - there is no "generic" way to simply view the
"address list" (unless you use some other specialized software which in
99.99999% cases - is not applicable)

Karl
--
_____________________________________________________________
Karl Timmermans - The Claxton Group
ContactGenie - Importer 1.3 / DataPorter 2.0 / Exporter
"Power contact importers/exporters for MS Outlook '2000/2003"
http://www.contactgenie.com

Korine,
Please don't feel like an illerate! I am having the same problem NOW
(6/06). I have researched the MS site for hours. Please tell me if you
ever
found a way to achieve your goal of copying your contacts. I also have
tried
burning CD, but cannot open the files, and I DO have OUtlook on my
computer.
I just don't understand exactly what R Valentine was trying to say either.
Thanks for any help you can give me in this similar delimma.

Josie M

Mr. Valentine,
Thanks for all of the help. As I said before you're dealing with a
computer
illerate! Why would I want to open the file outside of Outlook?
Because I move between three houses and having a CD with my address book
on
it would be a compact way to carry an extensive address book. I assumed
I
could pop it in the CD drive and easliy view addresses. Not such a
quirky
idea! A simple idea made complex by the operating system! And having
just
entered the 300 contacts after losing them on the previous computer I wa
looking to "save them" from another technoloby glitch.
Thanks again.

Of course. That's what I said in my first post. Remember?
"You never open PST files from Windows Explorer.
You open them in Outlook.
File > Open > Outlook Data File."

Why would you be trying to open the file outside of Outlook?
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Mr. Valentine, I've done as you've instructed many times. However.
when I
do: Contact backup properties.General>Attributes>read only is NOT
checked>apply>OK I am UNABLE to view the file when I doulbe click it.
I
continue to get the "Windows cannot open this file">select the
program
from a
list>none on the list allow me to view the file. But it just dawns
on
me-will I never be able to view the file? Will I use the CD to
re-load
Outlook on my home or away computer? And expecting to view the data
when
outside of Outlook is impossible?

:

You copy the PST file from the CD to your hard drive (you can't move
files
from a CD).
Then you R click it and use the Context menu to remove its read only
attribute.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Thank you for bearing with me. Do I move the file from the CD to
the
hard
drive or am I moving the file from My Documents to the CD or from
the
backup
in Outlook? I attempted to move the file from the CD to the hard
drive
but
the computer will not do this. It gave me NO prompt to remove the
read
only
attribute.

:

You can't open PST files on a CD. Outlook must have read/write
access
to
PST
files.
Move the file to your hard drive and remove its read only
attribute.
Then
open it the way I told you to.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Mr Valentine,
After reading other posts I've tried again to write a CD. I
closed
Outlook
and went to My Documents>Contacts Backup file>file & folder
tasks>Copy
this
file> a ballon from my task bar indicates I have "files waiting
to
be
copied"
and they are the contacts backup file. I follow the prompt to
click
the
balloon and the CD writing wizard begins to work. It appears
to
write
the
CD. The CD drive door opens when the process is complete. But
I
cannot
open
the CD with or with out Outlook open! I again get all of the
prompts
about
needing to know which "program created it".

:

I followed the Office online instructions to "create a backup
copy
of
my
Contacts" The backup file is visible in My Documents. But
when I
try
to
open
the file I"m told that "Windows is attemping to open a file of
type
"
office
data file" (.pst) I then select "open with" and several
prompts
later
reach
"Windows needs to know what program created it" and I am
asked to
select
"the program that created it" from a list. The first four
selections
are:
Microsoft Office Excel, Office Publisher , Office Word and
Office
Document
Reader. I have tried all four of these and am unable to view
the
backup
file. With Excel data is visible but not is a readable
format.
With
Word
all I see are geometric shapes! I also tried 3 or 4 other
programs
in a
secondary list and they did not open the file either.
What program created the backup file and how do I open my
backup
file?
My
goal is to save the back up file to a CD.

 

[Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]]

Russ was very clear - what don't you understand?

--
Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]

Post all replies to the group to keep the discussion intact. All
unsolicited mail sent to my personal account will be deleted without
reading.

After furious head scratching, JosieM asked:

| Korine,
| Please don't feel like an illerate! I am having the same problem NOW
| (6/06). I have researched the MS site for hours. Please tell me if
| you ever found a way to achieve your goal of copying your contacts.
| I also have tried burning CD, but cannot open the files, and I DO
| have OUtlook on my computer. I just don't understand exactly what R
| Valentine was trying to say either. Thanks for any help you can give
| me in this similar delimma.
|
| Josie M
|
| "Korine" wrote:
|
|| Mr. Valentine,
|| Thanks for all of the help. As I said before you're dealing with a
|| computer illerate! Why would I want to open the file outside of
|| Outlook?
|| Because I move between three houses and having a CD with my address
|| book on it would be a compact way to carry an extensive address
|| book. I assumed I could pop it in the CD drive and easliy view
|| addresses. Not such a quirky idea! A simple idea made complex by
|| the operating system! And having just entered the 300 contacts
|| after losing them on the previous computer I wa looking to "save
|| them" from another technoloby glitch.
|| Thanks again.
||
||
|| "Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]" wrote:
||
||| Of course. That's what I said in my first post. Remember?
||| "You never open PST files from Windows Explorer.
||| You open them in Outlook.
||| File > Open > Outlook Data File."
|||
||| Why would you be trying to open the file outside of Outlook?
||| --
||| Russ Valentine
||| [MVP-Outlook]
||| |||| Mr. Valentine, I've done as you've instructed many times.
|||| However. when I do: Contact backup
|||| properties.General>Attributes>read only is NOT checked>apply>OK I
|||| am UNABLE to view the file when I doulbe click it. I continue to
|||| get the "Windows cannot open this file">select the program from a
|||| list>none on the list allow me to view the file. But it just
|||| dawns on me-will I never be able to view the file? Will I use the
|||| CD to re-load Outlook on my home or away computer? And expecting
|||| to view the data when outside of Outlook is impossible?
||||
|||| "Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]" wrote:
||||
||||| You copy the PST file from the CD to your hard drive (you can't
||||| move files
||||| from a CD).
||||| Then you R click it and use the Context menu to remove its read
||||| only attribute.
||||| --
||||| Russ Valentine
||||| [MVP-Outlook]
||||| |||||| Thank you for bearing with me. Do I move the file from the CD
|||||| to the hard
|||||| drive or am I moving the file from My Documents to the CD or
|||||| from the backup
|||||| in Outlook? I attempted to move the file from the CD to the
|||||| hard drive but
|||||| the computer will not do this. It gave me NO prompt to remove
|||||| the read only
|||||| attribute.
||||||
|||||| "Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]" wrote:
||||||
||||||| You can't open PST files on a CD. Outlook must have read/write
||||||| access to
||||||| PST
||||||| files.
||||||| Move the file to your hard drive and remove its read only
||||||| attribute. Then
||||||| open it the way I told you to.
||||||| --
||||||| Russ Valentine
||||||| [MVP-Outlook]
||||||| |||||||| Mr Valentine,
|||||||| After reading other posts I've tried again to write a CD. I
|||||||| closed Outlook
|||||||| and went to My Documents>Contacts Backup file>file & folder
|||||||| tasks>Copy
|||||||| this
|||||||| file> a ballon from my task bar indicates I have "files
|||||||| waiting to be
|||||||| copied"
|||||||| and they are the contacts backup file. I follow the prompt to
|||||||| click the
|||||||| balloon and the CD writing wizard begins to work. It appears
|||||||| to write
|||||||| the
|||||||| CD. The CD drive door opens when the process is complete. But
|||||||| I cannot
|||||||| open
|||||||| the CD with or with out Outlook open! I again get all of the
|||||||| prompts
|||||||| about
|||||||| needing to know which "program created it".
||||||||
|||||||| "Korine" wrote:
||||||||
||||||||| I followed the Office online instructions to "create a backup
||||||||| copy of
||||||||| my
||||||||| Contacts" The backup file is visible in My Documents. But
||||||||| when I try
||||||||| to
||||||||| open
||||||||| the file I"m told that "Windows is attemping to open a file
||||||||| of type "
||||||||| office
||||||||| data file" (.pst) I then select "open with" and several
||||||||| prompts later
||||||||| reach
||||||||| "Windows needs to know what program created it" and I am
||||||||| asked to select
||||||||| "the program that created it" from a list. The first four
||||||||| selections
||||||||| are:
||||||||| Microsoft Office Excel, Office Publisher , Office Word and
||||||||| Office Document
||||||||| Reader. I have tried all four of these and am unable to view
||||||||| the backup
||||||||| file. With Excel data is visible but not is a readable
||||||||| format. With
||||||||| Word
||||||||| all I see are geometric shapes! I also tried 3 or 4 other
||||||||| programs
||||||||| in a
||||||||| secondary list and they did not open the file either.
||||||||| What program created the backup file and how do I open my
||||||||| backup file?
||||||||| My
||||||||| goal is to save the back up file to a CD.

 

[Maria T]

Hello Korine,
I understand clearly what you mean. What you need to do is follow the
instructions to writte the data in a cd, the same way you would do it with
any documents you want to save in a cd. But let me clarify this for you.
When you want to backup your data (contacts, messages, calendar, etc) from
outlook, the way it works excellent for me is to export your data to a .pst
file. Go to File, Import and Export and then follow the instructions in the
wizard, for example, select "export to a file", then "personal folder file
(.pst) (there you select what you want, but if you choose Personal Folders it
includes messages, calendar, tasks and contacts", then check the box "include
subfolders" and then choose where you want the file to be saved, like your
documents. Then you copy that file to a cd and to view everything again, from
a cd, copy the file to your documents and then start the process again, but
instead of "exporting a file" you import your file.

Hope it helps....

Sorry

Russ was very clear - what don't you understand?

--Â
Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]

Post all replies to the group to keep the discussion intact. All
unsolicited mail sent to my personal account will be deleted without
reading.

After furious head scratching, JosieM asked:

| Korine,
| Please don't feel like an illerate! I am having the same problem NOW
| (6/06). I have researched the MS site for hours. Please tell me if
| you ever found a way to achieve your goal of copying your contacts.
| I also have tried burning CD, but cannot open the files, and I DO
| have OUtlook on my computer. I just don't understand exactly what R
| Valentine was trying to say either. Thanks for any help you can give
| me in this similar delimma.
|
| Josie M
|
| "Korine" wrote:
|
|| Mr. Valentine,
|| Thanks for all of the help. As I said before you're dealing with a
|| computer illerate! Why would I want to open the file outside of
|| Outlook?
|| Because I move between three houses and having a CD with my address
|| book on it would be a compact way to carry an extensive address
|| book. I assumed I could pop it in the CD drive and easliy view
|| addresses. Not such a quirky idea! A simple idea made complex by
|| the operating system! And having just entered the 300 contacts
|| after losing them on the previous computer I wa looking to "save
|| them" from another technoloby glitch.
|| Thanks again.
||
||
|| "Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]" wrote:
||
||| Of course. That's what I said in my first post. Remember?
||| "You never open PST files from Windows Explorer.
||| You open them in Outlook.
||| File > Open > Outlook Data File."
|||
||| Why would you be trying to open the file outside of Outlook?
||| --
||| Russ Valentine
||| [MVP-Outlook]
||| |||| Mr. Valentine, I've done as you've instructed many times.
|||| However. when I do: Contact backup
|||| properties.General>Attributes>read only is NOT checked>apply>OK I
|||| am UNABLE to view the file when I doulbe click it. I continue to
|||| get the "Windows cannot open this file">select the program from a
|||| list>none on the list allow me to view the file. But it just
|||| dawns on me-will I never be able to view the file? Will I use the
|||| CD to re-load Outlook on my home or away computer? And expecting
|||| to view the data when outside of Outlook is impossible?
||||
|||| "Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]" wrote:
||||
||||| You copy the PST file from the CD to your hard drive (you can't
||||| move files
||||| from a CD).
||||| Then you R click it and use the Context menu to remove its read
||||| only attribute.
||||| --
||||| Russ Valentine
||||| [MVP-Outlook]
||||| |||||| Thank you for bearing with me. Do I move the file from the CD
|||||| to the hard
|||||| drive or am I moving the file from My Documents to the CD or
|||||| from the backup
|||||| in Outlook? I attempted to move the file from the CD to the
|||||| hard drive but
|||||| the computer will not do this. It gave me NO prompt to remove
|||||| the read only
|||||| attribute.
||||||
|||||| "Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]" wrote:
||||||
||||||| You can't open PST files on a CD. Outlook must have read/write
||||||| access to
||||||| PST
||||||| files.
||||||| Move the file to your hard drive and remove its read only
||||||| attribute. Then
||||||| open it the way I told you to.
||||||| --
||||||| Russ Valentine
||||||| [MVP-Outlook]
||||||| |||||||| Mr Valentine,
|||||||| After reading other posts I've tried again to write a CD. I
|||||||| closed Outlook
|||||||| and went to My Documents>Contacts Backup file>file & folder
|||||||| tasks>Copy
|||||||| this
|||||||| file> a ballon from my task bar indicates I have "files
|||||||| waiting to be
|||||||| copied"
|||||||| and they are the contacts backup file. I follow the prompt to
|||||||| click the
|||||||| balloon and the CD writing wizard begins to work. It appears
|||||||| to write
|||||||| the
|||||||| CD. The CD drive door opens when the process is complete. But
|||||||| I cannot
|||||||| open
|||||||| the CD with or with out Outlook open! I again get all of the
|||||||| prompts
|||||||| about
|||||||| needing to know which "program created it".
||||||||
|||||||| "Korine" wrote:
||||||||
||||||||| I followed the Office online instructions to "create a backup
||||||||| copy of
||||||||| my
||||||||| Contacts" The backup file is visible in My Documents. But
||||||||| when I try
||||||||| to
||||||||| open
||||||||| the file I"m told that "Windows is attemping to open a file
||||||||| of type "
||||||||| office
||||||||| data file" (.pst) I then select "open with" and several
||||||||| prompts later
||||||||| reach
||||||||| "Windows needs to know what program created it" and I am
||||||||| asked to select
||||||||| "the program that created it" from a list. The first four
||||||||| selections
||||||||| are:
||||||||| Microsoft Office Excel, Office Publisher , Office Word and
||||||||| Office Document
||||||||| Reader. I have tried all four of these and am unable to view
||||||||| the backup
||||||||| file. With Excel data is visible but not is a readable
||||||||| format. With
||||||||| Word
||||||||| all I see are geometric shapes! I also tried 3 or 4 other
||||||||| programs
||||||||| in a
||||||||| secondary list and they did not open the file either.
||||||||| What program created the backup file and how do I open my
||||||||| backup file?
||||||||| My
||||||||| goal is to save the back up file to a CD.

 

[Jean]

You never open PST files from Windows Explorer.
You open them in Outlook.
File > Open > Outlook Data File.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

I followed the Office online instructions to "create a backup copy of my
Contacts" The backup file is visible in My Documents. But when I try to
open
the file I"m told that "Windows is attemping to open a file of type "
office
data file" (.pst) I then select "open with" and several prompts later
reach
"Windows needs to know what program created it" and I am asked to select
"the program that created it" from a list. The first four selections are:
Microsoft Office Excel, Office Publisher , Office Word and Office Document
Reader. I have tried all four of these and am unable to view the backup
file. With Excel data is visible but not is a readable format. With Word
all I see are geometric shapes! I also tried 3 or 4 other programs in a
secondary list and they did not open the file either.
What program created the backup file and how do I open my backup file? My
goal is to save the back up file to a CD.

 

[Jo Foster]

i have struggled with this for years! Why is it so difficult? I live in fear
of losing everything. After trying for ages, I now just about manage to save
a backup of my outlook called .pst in "my documents", but how can I save it
(eg. onto a data stick or CD or someone else's computer or an external drive)
and then open it when I'm away from my laptop, which I live in fear of losing
or breaking if I drag it around everywhere. Korine, you and I are surely not
alone! I had the same problem: how can we be reassured everything is there so
at least we could pay local geek to open it. That should not be necessary.