How can I export files without a 'Microsoft Outlook 2000 disk'?

[padrenurgle]

I have Microsoft Outlook 2000 on my Toshiba laptop that is 3 years old. It
contains all of my personal and professional contact information (many
hundreds of contacts) that I MUST be able to transfer in order to purchase a
new computer.

The problem is that there is no way for me to save any of the information to
a file. When I try to "export," I am told that the feature is not installed,
and prompted to install it. When I try to install it, I am told it is on a
CD-ROM called 'Microsoft Outlook 2000' disk, which I do not (and never did)
have...this program came STOCK on my computer, and I was not given a disk.

What can I do? I need to replace my computer but it would be impossible to
re-type the address, personal and notation information for over a thousand
contacts into a new program.

VERSION: Microsoft Outlook 2000 9.0.0.2711

 

[Peter Marchert]

Search for files on your computer with *.pst.

In this files all your emails and contacts are stored.

Please use the option for hidden files or folders in the winows
explorer to see pst-files.

Best Regards
Peter

 

[Gordon]

I have Microsoft Outlook 2000 on my Toshiba laptop that is 3 years old. It
contains all of my personal and professional contact information (many
hundreds of contacts) that I MUST be able to transfer in order to purchase
a
new computer.

To add to Peter's post, when you've found the pst files, with Outlook
CLOSED, just copy the file to your new computer. Then on the new machine,
you have two options. You can either set the copied file as the default
delivery location (easiest if you have a large file with many folders) or in
Outlook, go to File-Open-Outlook Data File, open the copied file (you will
have to check that the Read-Only Attribute has been removed in both cases)
and drag all the data to your new pst file.

HTH

 

[Brian Tillman]

I am having the same problem. I want to save my Outlook 2003 Contacts
to a file in order to save them to a CD.

Then just close Outlook and burn the PST to a CD. No exporting needed.

I have tried everything including what is written here and all the search
links I can find.

Obviously not "everything".

I followed all the help links and all I get is a Back Up File with
wierd characters.

What is the file extension of that file?

Windows XP Pro can not read the file so I have to
delete it and here I am with no contact back up.

Naturally Windows can't read it. Only Outlook can open an Outlook data
file.

 

[Irwin]

Thanks for the reply but I'm not sure what you mean. What is PST? I have read
you musr export. Like I said, I have tried everything except the thing that
will be able to save my outlook files and I have not been able to do that so
far.

Irwin

 

[Gordon]

Thanks for the reply but I'm not sure what you mean. What is PST?

Personal Folders File. Do a search (enabling hidden and system files) for
*.pst

I have read
you musr export.

Where? Not here.
The Export function is NOT recommended for Outlook-to-Outlook data transfer.
It's primary use is transferring data to other applications.

 

[Gordon]

Irwin wrote:

I did a search for *.pst and got nothing.

Did you enable Hidden and System Files in your search?

 

[Brian Tillman]

I enabled Hidden & System files and the search came up with the
following 3 files; ARCHIVE, BACKUP & OUTLOOK. When I opened these
files all 3 were gibberish. All unknown characters you can't read in
each. Thanx

You must open them in Outlook with its FIle>Open>Outlook Data File item.
You cannot open them from Windows Explorer.

 

[Brian Tillman]

How do you open them in Outlook?

I already told you that.

The only option I have with Outlook is Outlook Express.

Outlook is part of Microsoft Office. Outlook Express is part of
WIndows/Internet Explorer. They're completely distinct programs. If you
have an Outlook Express question, ask in an Outlook Express newsgroup.

Now you've really confused me.

 

[Irwin]

I never wanted to confuse anyone. And yes, Outlook Express is a part of
Windows. Microsoft Outlook is a totally different program.

My question is; How do you save your contacts and message folders from
Microsoft Outlook 2003 if you want to get a new computer? Or just save stuff
in the event of a crash.

It appears that you may be able to import/export your contacts and message
folders FROM Microsoft Outlook TO Outlook Express. If this is possible, it
APPEARS to me you would be able to "Backup" to a Personal File FROM Outlook
Express. The unknown is; is it possible to import/export everything from
Outlook to Outlook Express?

Thanx

 

[Gordon]

I never wanted to confuse anyone. And yes, Outlook Express is a part of
Windows. Microsoft Outlook is a totally different program.

My question is; How do you save your contacts and message folders from
Microsoft Outlook 2003 if you want to get a new computer? Or just save
stuff in the event of a crash.

Just save and/or copy your pst files as you have been told.

It appears that you may be able to import/export your contacts and message
folders FROM Microsoft Outlook TO Outlook Express. If this is possible, it
APPEARS to me you would be able to "Backup" to a Personal File FROM
Outlook Express. The unknown is; is it possible to import/export
everything from Outlook to Outlook Express?

I don't know why you have brought up the subject of Outlook Express. the
two, as you have been told, are two entirely different programs. Yes you
can import data (email, contacts) in OE from Outlook, and vice versa, but
how is that relevant to your original question of how to backup Outlook
(not Outlook EXPRESS) data and move it to a new computer?

Please explain to us EXACTLY what is on the old computer (whether Outlook
2000 is actually installed) or what.

 

[Brian Tillman]

My question is; How do you save your contacts and message folders from
Microsoft Outlook 2003 if you want to get a new computer? Or just
save stuff in the event of a crash.

See this: http://www.howto-outlook.com/howto/backupandrestore.htm

 

[Brian Tillman]

When I open the backup file to see what it
is, it is all gibberish characters. No matter how I save the file in
any form I get the same thing, a file with gibberish characters.

Describe EXACTLY how you are trying to open this file.

DId you read this? http://www.howto-outlook.com/howto/backupandrestore.htm

 

[Brian Tillman]

From MS Outlook 2003; File, inport/export - export to a file -
personal folder file(.pst) then select any folder - replace
duplicates with items exported. In the browse window it says; program
files\outlookexpress\backup.pst - then I click finish. I get a file
in my documents that is entitled "Backup". I open that with word or
exell and it's all weird characters. The file size is around 260K.

First, NEVER export to a PST. There's no need and doing so loses data.
Second, as I already said, you CAN'T open a PST in any program other than
Outlook. Why would you even try? You can't open a Word document with any
other program than Word (or Open Office) and have it make sense, so why
would you open an Outlook file with Word or Excel?

Also, I have been at the link you sent and nothing works. I am doing
something wrong but I wish I knew what.

Describe EXACTLY what you did and someone will be able to tell you what you
did wrong.

 

[Irwin]

Brian,

With all do respect, you have told me what not to do but not what to do. I
have found out what not to do by trial and error on my own but I am still
stumped on how to save my address book and other files from MS Outlook 2003.
I would appreciate any help I could get.

Thanx

 

[Brian Tillman]

With all do respect, you have told me what not to do but not what to
do. I have found out what not to do by trial and error on my own but
I am still stumped on how to save my address book and other files
from MS Outlook 2003. I would appreciate any help I could get.

The link I sent you that you said you followed contains EXACTLY what you
should do. To open an Outlook data file in Outlook, click File>Open>Outlook
Data File, browse to the file, select it, and click OK. You now have access
to all the data it contains.

Outlook contains NO address book. Instead, the Contacts folder is used for
storing all your contacts. The Outlook Address Book is just a view of all
the Contacts folder entries that contain an electronic address. It doesn't
contain any information itself. The link to the web site gave you explains
in clear detail exactly how to save your Outlook data. What you'll see if
you read it is that you don't have to use Outlook at all to back your data
up, any more that you use Word to back up your Word documents. If you want
to back up your Word documents, you use Windows Explorer (or some backup
program) to make a copy of your .doc files. In a similar manner. just make
a copy of Outlook's PST with Windows Exporer (but don't try to open it in
Window, as I said). Instant backup. All your Outlook data (i.e., Contacts,
Calendar, Inbox, Outbox, Sent Items, Tasks, Notes, etc.) is in that same
file. I really don't know why you are finding the concepts so difficult.
Perhaps if you'll explain what you're having a hard time wrapping your mind
around, someone can explain it in other words.

 

[Irwin]

Thank you very much for your expert help. I will do exactly what you said and
I will get back to you on the results. Again, thank you so very much for your
time and efforts.

Irwin