Need help with recovering .pst files in Outlook 2000

[1sharpguy]

"Inherited" my pc (HP Omnibook Xe3) from my former employer. Previously
loaded with Outlook 2000 and Windows NT (2000). Decided to upgrade to
Windows XP for Home. Backed up my data to an external hard drive.
Reformatted my pc's hard drive (very small only 20G). Installed Windows XP.
Purchased a copy of Outlook 2000 (didn't have original disks from employer).
Loaded Outlook 2000 from disk and restored data from backup external drive
image. Can't get contacts or emails to open in Outlook. Went online and
found a .pst recovery utility from Kernel Recovery Tools. It was able to
open my address book and stored emails. They want $49 to convert and save it
to my system. Before I go paying for this tool, can anyone tell me if there
is away using Windows XP or Outlook to get these .pst files to open in
Outlook. Are there any shareware or freeware utilities that will handle
this. Why doesn't Microsoft provide a tool to fix this. Anyone? Anyone?

Thanks.

Jay

 

[DL]

Depends how or what you used to backup.
Assuming you have a pst on the backup, if you copy it to your Documents
folder, then in Outlook use File>Open>Personal Folders .....browse to this
pst, what happens?

 

[Hal Hostetler [MVP-P/I]]

Microsoft DOES provide a tool to fix damaged .PST files. It's called the
Inbox Repair Tool, the actual file name is scanpst.exe, and here some nice
pages that talk about it:

http://www.slipstick.com/problems/scanpst.asp
To repair a damaged Personal Folders PST file
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=272227
How to find and run the Inbox Repair tool in Outlook

Hal
--
Hal Hostetler, CPBE -- (e-mail address removed)
Senior Engineer/MIS -- MS MVP-Print/Imaging -- WA7BGX
http://www.kvoa.com -- "When News breaks, we fix it!"
KVOA Television, Tucson, AZ. NBC Channel 4
Still Cadillacin' - www.badnewsbluesband.com

 

[1sharpguy]

Have tried to open the .pst file stored on my computers hard drive and the
backup stored on my external drive. Nothing happens. Neither open. Is
there some corruption? I also ran MS scan and repair, but that didn't do it
either. MS repair message said the file was O.K. Is there a file repair
tool you recommend? Other suggestions? Any idea what Kernel software is
doing to make these files open and work?

 

[DL]

Presumably you had within outlook, the folder tree view pane opened, and you
checked within this for a new set of Personal Folders, or Archive?

 

[1sharpguy]

Ahhhh...awesome, awesome. That was it. I'm embarassed to say I did not
check the folder tree for the new Personal Folder. Thank you sooooo much.
That did it. All my data is there. I knew something wasn't adding up, but
couldn't put my finger on it. Thanks for setting me straight.

Jay

 

[1sharpguy]

Hey Hal,

Thanks for your advice. I finally did find the Inbox Repair Tool. Turns
out my problem was simpler to fix. See DLs thread above. Not entirely a
waste. I did figure out how to run and use the Repair Tool and learned
something about my system and Outlook. Thanks to all.

Jay