Outlook Unable To Open Default E-mail Folders

[bobried]

Hi,

I run Windows XP Home Edition. Today, Outlook 2003 hung up on me.
had to manually restart my computer. When it came up, and I starte
using Outlook, I noticed that the data from the Sent Folders File wa
unviewable.

I was instructed to run scanpst to help correct the problem.
searched for the path to get to Outlook data...

C:\Documents and Settings\bobried\local settings\applicatio
data\microsoft\outlook\outlook.pst

I opened scanpst, tried to follow the above path, only to find that
hit a dead end at local settings.

I tried to reopen Outlook, and now it will not open at all. The splas
screen comes up but then I get a message saying

"Unable to open your default e-mail folders. The file

C:\Documents and Settings\bobried\local settings\applicatio
data\microsoft\outlook\outlook.pst is not a personal folders file.

It then shuts down.

I tried doing a system restore to a week ago which worked fine, but
still get the message stated above.

Can anyone help me fix this?

HELP!!!

 

[K. Orland]

Many of the folders and files are hidden, you should go into Windows Explorer
and unhide them first. (Tools > Folder Options > Show hidden files and
folders & uncheck the box that hides file extensions for known file types).
Then try again.
Please post back and let us know what happens.

 

[bobried]

Thanks for the help.

I tried unhiding the files, which I did, however I still could not find
the final file in the thread, Outlook.pst

I am going to take my computer to a highly skilled software repair
place near my home and will update you on the (cross your fingers)
solution.

 

[Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]]

Create a new mail profile first and configure it to use your existing ..pst file - paying someone for this is highway robbery.

--
Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]

Post all replies to the group to keep the discussion intact. All
unsolicited mail sent to my personal account will be deleted without
reading.

After furious head scratching, bobried asked:

| Hi,
|
| I run Windows XP Home Edition. Today, Outlook 2003 hung up on me. I
| had to manually restart my computer. When it came up, and I started
| using Outlook, I noticed that the data from the Sent Folders File was
| unviewable.
|
| I was instructed to run scanpst to help correct the problem. I
| searched for the path to get to Outlook data...
|
| C:\Documents and Settings\bobried\local settings\application
| data\microsoft\outlook\outlook.pst
|
| I opened scanpst, tried to follow the above path, only to find that I
| hit a dead end at local settings.
|
| I tried to reopen Outlook, and now it will not open at all. The
| splash screen comes up but then I get a message saying
|
| "Unable to open your default e-mail folders. The file
|
| C:\Documents and Settings\bobried\local settings\application
| data\microsoft\outlook\outlook.pst is not a personal folders file.
|
| It then shuts down.
|
| I tried doing a system restore to a week ago which worked fine, but I
| still get the message stated above.
|
| Can anyone help me fix this?
|
| HELP!!!!

 

[bobried]

Thanks for the input.

Yes, I did create a new profile. The company is running some
diagnostics, but so far it does not look good.

According to the tech guy, the size of my sent, and deleted files has
something to do with it.

I will find out on Monday as they are closed today.

Luckily I have my contacts and calendar backed up on my Smartphone, but
this has been a bummer.

 

[Brian Tillman]

According to the tech guy, the size of my sent, and deleted files has
something to do with it.

Empty the Deleted Items folder and archive some of the items in the Sent
Items folder.

 

[K. Orland]

Unless you have an extraordinary amount of mail, the size of the PST
shouldn't matter if you use Outlook 2003. As Brian mentioned, you should
empty deleted items and do some archiving but if Outlook is not functioning
due to the PST it shouldn't be because of the size unless your PST is massive
(eg 18 GB).
You should do a file search for *.pst to see what PST's you have on hand.
One should be called archive.pst but your regular PST could be outlook.pst or
even have another name.
You shouldn't have to pay someone else to do this for you. They'll charge
you a fortune!

 

[bobried]

Thanks,

The problem is now Outlook will not open at all, so I cannot do this.

 

[Brian Tillman]

The problem is now Outlook will not open at all, so I cannot do this.

If it won't open for you, it won't open for the tech guy and there's no way
he can reliably say that the sizes of the Deleted Items and Sent Items
folders has anything to do with it.

Try creating a new PST in the new profile you created, make it the delivery
location, then try to open the existing PST.