Outlook 2003 problems - help!

[Swany]

I am using Windows XP and Outlook 2003 for mail. I logged in a few days ago
and got the message "Cannot start Mocrosoft Outlook. Unable to oped the
Outlook Window. The set of folders could not be opened" I've paid good
money for this to be sorted out by a pc wizz but he couldn't resolve it. He
tried to re-load Outlook but still the same. If anyone can offer me some
advice I'd be grateful (keep it simple please, I'm new to this). I've lost
all my emails, contacts and diary.

 

[Tim]

Do you get the same result with a new (i.e. empty) profile/pst file?

Tim

 

[Swany]

Hi Tim

The pc wizz set up a second profile and loaded Outlook 2003 for me. It
worked for about a day but then reverted to the same message. I still
couldn't retrieve any of my lost mail etc. Everything was checked - viruses
etc - all fine. I'm using Outlook Express at the moment and it seems to be
ok but I would like to know where everything has disappeared to. Thanks!

 

[Tim]

Did the second profile include a new (empty) pst file? Did the "wizz" run
"scanpst" on your old pst file? It's hard to tell from your posts if you are
continually using your old pst file...it could be corrupted.

 

[Swany]

He did create a file which he said was some kind of a back-up file as I
didn't have one previously. I've done a search and nothing has come up for
a .pst file. I'm not sure if he ran scanpst. I don't think so.

 

[Tim]

That was probably an "archive" file. It's an OK thing to have but not a
solution to your problem. By the way, once you get Outlook back running
properly, you need to make sure you regularly backup your pst file (the
archive file is not a substitute for that). Microsoft has a utility you can
download ind install for free to do that. You can get it here:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...3a-b7d0-4b16-b8af-5a6322f4fd01&displaylang=en
There are also other free pst repair utilities available for download. One
that comes to mind is OLfix. You can get it here:
http://www.olfolders.de/Lang/English/OLfix/index.htm

I think you need to eliminate the possibility of a corrupted pst file.
Trying other things prior to this could be a waste of time, in my opinion. I
don't know what kind of agreement you had with your "wizz" but it should
have included scanning your pst file to check for curruption. That's e-mail
101 stuff. He should have also tried a new pst file because if Outlook works
fine with a new pst file, then you have identified the old one as the source
of the problem. Did he search MS' knowledgebase for a solution? If he didn't
or won't do any of this, you need to find a better, more reputable wizz.

 

[Swany]

I'm grateful for your suggestions, time and advice. I think, you're right, I
need to find another wizz to help me. I'm sure he knew the hardware side of
things ok but not so hot on software. I don't want to fiddle too much myself
otherwise I could end up in a worse mess. Thanks again!