Getting pst files from old computer to work in Outlook 2003

[FAP]

I posted earlier about moving all my Outlook settings from an older computer
running Outlook 2000 to another machine running Outlook 2003. Thanks for the
guidence I received.

I was able to find and copy the old pst file to a cd and then copy it to a
location on the new machine. I then checked properties to see if the
read-only box was checked. I was surprised to find it wasn't checked. I
left it unchecked.

I then copied this pst file to the location Outlook looks for the current
pst file.

I couldn't find where you would replace the old pst file with the new pst
file.

I then did .....file.........open...... Outlook data file...and selected the
new file. This seemed to combine the old and new pst files. I now have two
folders labeled Personal folders, the first being the default folders and the
second being my custom folders.

I then tried......file.........new..........Outlook data file and used both
choices of files, both the old type and thye newer type that allows for more
storage.

No matter pst file I try to use or open I still get the "combined" file.

I still have the original version copied to another area on the hard disk,
as well as the file on the cd. I think I should start over.

Your help is appreciated.

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

Never copy a PST file to Outlook's default location. The odds are you will
overwrite another PST file and corrupt your profile or file.
Put it somewhere else, then open it.

 

[FAP]

I forgot to mention that the old pst file was named outlook2.pst, not
outlok.pst as the program's default. Therefore, it woulnd't overwrite the
pst file in use by Outlook. It was renamed because a year or two ago I
reformatted my old drive. I successfully kept the pst file then, but I had
to rename it. I can't remember exactly what I did in that instance.

Russ, in this case, does your advice still apply if the pst files have
different names? It would seem that I got the file to the right location.
It's what I did with it after I got it there that got messed up.

As I said before, I should probably start over by copying the pst file from
my cd to the new computer. Can someone help me with exactly what to do after
that.

Again, your assistance is greatly appreciated.

Never copy a PST file to Outlook's default location. The odds are you will
overwrite another PST file and corrupt your profile or file.
Put it somewhere else, then open it.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

I posted earlier about moving all my Outlook settings from an older
computer
running Outlook 2000 to another machine running Outlook 2003. Thanks for
the
guidence I received.

I was able to find and copy the old pst file to a cd and then copy it to a
location on the new machine. I then checked properties to see if the
read-only box was checked. I was surprised to find it wasn't checked. I
left it unchecked.

I then copied this pst file to the location Outlook looks for the current
pst file.

I couldn't find where you would replace the old pst file with the new pst
file.

I then did .....file.........open...... Outlook data file...and selected
the
new file. This seemed to combine the old and new pst files. I now have
two
folders labeled Personal folders, the first being the default folders and
the
second being my custom folders.

I then tried......file.........new..........Outlook data file and used
both
choices of files, both the old type and thye newer type that allows for
more
storage.

No matter pst file I try to use or open I still get the "combined" file.

I still have the original version copied to another area on the hard disk,
as well as the file on the cd. I think I should start over.

Your help is appreciated.

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

The safest rule is never to copy an Outlook Data File to the default
location. The default location is a litter box for PST files which Outlook
creates behind the scenes frequently, for no good reason, and without your
knowledge. The longer you use Outlook, the greater the chances you will
overwrite another file there. You should always place your default PST file
where you store your other valuable data and in a location you back up
frequently.

First, never create a PST file by exporting. Use Windows Explorer to copy
the PST file you want to transfer after you are certain Outlook has closed
and dropped its connection to it. If you put it on a CD, move it back to a
hard drive and remove any read only attribute it may have acquired. Then
simply open it in Outlook using File > Open > Outlook Data File...
Take a look at these pages for info on Outlook data backup or transfer:
http://www.slipstick.com/config/backup.htm
http://www.howto-outlook.com/Howto/backupandrestore.htm
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HA010771141033.aspx

--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

I forgot to mention that the old pst file was named outlook2.pst, not
outlok.pst as the program's default. Therefore, it woulnd't overwrite the
pst file in use by Outlook. It was renamed because a year or two ago I
reformatted my old drive. I successfully kept the pst file then, but I
had
to rename it. I can't remember exactly what I did in that instance.

Russ, in this case, does your advice still apply if the pst files have
different names? It would seem that I got the file to the right location.
It's what I did with it after I got it there that got messed up.

As I said before, I should probably start over by copying the pst file
from
my cd to the new computer. Can someone help me with exactly what to do
after
that.

Again, your assistance is greatly appreciated.

Never copy a PST file to Outlook's default location. The odds are you
will
overwrite another PST file and corrupt your profile or file.
Put it somewhere else, then open it.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

I posted earlier about moving all my Outlook settings from an older
computer
running Outlook 2000 to another machine running Outlook 2003. Thanks
for
the
guidence I received.

I was able to find and copy the old pst file to a cd and then copy it
to a
location on the new machine. I then checked properties to see if the
read-only box was checked. I was surprised to find it wasn't checked.
I
left it unchecked.

I then copied this pst file to the location Outlook looks for the
current
pst file.

I couldn't find where you would replace the old pst file with the new
pst
file.

I then did .....file.........open...... Outlook data file...and
selected
the
new file. This seemed to combine the old and new pst files. I now
have
two
folders labeled Personal folders, the first being the default folders
and
the
second being my custom folders.

I then tried......file.........new..........Outlook data file and used
both
choices of files, both the old type and thye newer type that allows for
more
storage.

No matter pst file I try to use or open I still get the "combined"
file.

I still have the original version copied to another area on the hard
disk,
as well as the file on the cd. I think I should start over.

Your help is appreciated.