Easiest way to switch to new computer

[MDriggers]

I'm replacing my work computer and need to know the simplest (and best) way
to migrate all of my outlook data from the old (WinXP pro ... Outlook 2003)
to the new (WinXP pro ... Outlook 2007). My preference would be just to
copy the Mailbox.pst and Archive.pst files to an identical location on the
new computer and try to point Outlook 2007 to those files on first startup.
That would seem easiest to me ... but ...

I think I remember reading several years ago (probably when trying to do the
same thing with my current OLD computer) that there is a better way ...
importing the data to a new *.pst file rather than trying to point a new
Outlook to an old *.pst file. I tried to use this method close to a year
ago on a co-worker's computer (she changed desks and responsibilities). We
ended up with multiple "personal folders" parent folders in the tree under
"all mail folders". What I did there was copy the *.pst file from here
former desk computer to a USB drive, plug it in at her new desk, and use the
import/export from another file. When I did that we had trouble getting her
to her address book and old emails. We finally succeeded, but I can't
remember what we had to do to get it done. I think we ended up copying both
from one place to another in Outlook on her new computer.

I know I've read on this newsgroup how to make the transition. The simplest
and most effective way is what I need ... I can't afford a lot of down-time
making this switch.

Thanks in advance for the help.

 

[Tim]

You are on the right track in your first paragraph. Just copy the two pst
files to the new PC and point Outlook to them. You do *not* want to import a
pst...that can cause coruption. If you copy the pst files via a CD, make
sure to remove the "Read-Only" attribute prior to opening.

Tim

 

[MDriggers]

Bottom posted (see below)

You are on the right track in your first paragraph. Just copy the two pst
files to the new PC and point Outlook to them. You do *not* want to import
a pst...that can cause coruption. If you copy the pst files via a CD, make
sure to remove the "Read-Only" attribute prior to opening.

Tim

Thanks Tim. I'm trying to apply the solution, but can't find a similar
location for *.pst files in the new computer (Office 2007 installed at
build). I have set everything to show hidden folders, etc., but can't find
an Outlook folder where I expected to. This raises questions:

1. Has the default location changed for Outlook 2007 data files? Location
in old computer was: \Documents and Settings\UserName\Local
Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook. Actually the Mailbox.pst file
had ended up in another ...\Microsoft\Outlook file inside the previous one,
so it looked like ...\Microsoft\Outlook\Microsoft\Outlook\mailbox.pst.

2. If not, should I create that folder or would Outlook 2007 create the
folder on first startup? I would assume that if Outlook creates the folder
it would also create a *.pst folder as well.

Again, thanks for the help.

 

[Tim]

I'm using Vista along with Outlook 2007 and the pst file is located in a
different folder by default. But that could be because of Vista (since there
is no longer a "My Documents" folder). I have not run Outlook 2007 on an XP
machine so I can't say for sure. Regardless, you can find out where the
default location is from Outlook 2007. Go to Tools - Account Settings - Data
Files. There you should see the location of the pst file as well as the name
of the pst file. Outlook will create an empty pst file when it runs for the
first time. That's OK. Just add your pst file (use the "Add..." button). You
can locate your pst file just about anywhere you want (not a CD, of course).
Then you set your pst file as the "default" (highlight it and click on "Set
as Default" in the "Data Files" window) and you can remove the original pst
file.

Tim