OUtlook could not open the file used to send and receive email

[GaryS]

Hi,

Using Outlook 2000, when trying to launch Outlook I am getting the following
error message:

"Outlook could not open the file used to send and receive e-mail messages,
create appointments, and open the address book. Please select from one of
the following options. 1 Create a new personal folders file. 2 Open an
existing personal folders file."

This happened to me several months ago, and I ended up creating a new PST
file and lost all my old email and addresses and folder configurations. Is
there something I can do to avoid that situation this time, and also prevent
this from happening again? Thank you for your help.

 

[K. Orland]

What size are these PST's? Outlook 2000 has a maximum PST size of 2 GB but
they can start misbehaving around 1.5 GB.
PST's can also corrupt or have errors. Have you tried scanning them for
errors using ScanPST.exe? You can do a file/folder search for ScanPST,
double-click it, then follow the instructions.

 

[GaryS]

Hi Kathleen,

Well the PST file is 2 Gig, so that must be why it failed. You would think
Outlook would have warned me. Is there anyway I can salvage all my setting
and address book and so on when I create a new PST? Thanks!

 

[DL]

You can try this tool
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=296088
After using run scanpst.exe if still unusable run the tool again
repeat until scanpst reports no errors
May help, some

 

[Brian Tillman]

Well the PST file is 2 Gig, so that must be why it failed. You would
think Outlook would have warned me. Is there anyway I can salvage
all my setting and address book and so on when I create a new PST?

See if this helps: http://www.slipstick.com/problems/repair2gbpst.htm