Outlook 2003 Outlook.ost file finally works!

L

Lampjefe

Our Exchange Server went down and I lost my messages. All this time my
account was set up to use "Cached Mode" but it did not work. I have followed
the instructions to set up the offline file but I could not select File>Work
Offline as the instructions state because the option did not exist.

I tried creating a new file but was not able to since the Tools>E-mail
Accounts>View or change...>Change>More Settings>Advanced>Offline Folder
Settings would not let me change the path or browse (the button was grayed
out).

I tried a variety of setting changes and ultimately what worked was to purge
the Cached Mode settings and *.ost files:
- Exit Outlook 2003
- Control Panels>Mail
- E-mail Accounts
- View or change...
- Highlight my Exchange account>Change
- De-select "Use Cached Exchange Mode"
- Press the "More Settings..." button
- General tab: select "Manually control connection type", "Choose the
connection type when starting", and "Connect with the network" under the
Default connection type
- Advanced tab: De-select "Use Cached Exchange Mode" and press "Offline
Folder File Settings..." button
- Press "Disable Offline Use)
- OK>OK back to the Exchange Server Settings window then "Next" and finished
the setup.

From the Tools>E-mail Accounts>View or change...>Change>More
Settings>Advanced>Offline Folder Settings window I found the path to the
Outlook.ost file and navigated to it. I had 2 *.ost.old files along with the
active one. I deleted all 3 of them.

I opened Outlook and was not asked what type of connection I wanted so the
settings made a change. I then went to File>Work Offline (it showed up this
time) and selected it. A window popped up asking if i wanted my data stored
for offline use and that an offline file would be created. I selected "Yes"
and a Send/Receive was completed.

I was taken offline and my data was still there! I exited and launced again
and was asked if I wanted to connecto or work offline. I selected offline
and my data was there! It looks like it worked.

I exited and launched again and selected Connect. I reviwed the account
settings and the "Use Cached Exchange Mode" buttons are not selected. I am
leaving them alone since Outlook created the new file by itself and it is
working.

Puzzling but it at least works now.
 

Ask a Question

Want to reply to this thread or ask your own question?

You'll need to choose a username for the site, which only take a couple of moments. After that, you can post your question and our members will help you out.

Ask a Question

Top