Unable to import pst file into Outlook 2003

[JT]

Hi

I have just changed jobs and before leaving the old place backed up my
outlook 2003 account via the 'export to' utility with the filename
'backup.pst'. However at the new job(which has the same platform -
Exchange 2000 server and outlook 2003) when I try and import the file
data I receive an error message stating the file is not a personal
folder file.

Help! I have a large amount of information stored on that backup.pst
file I need to access. It is approx 445Mb in size.

JT

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

You should not import PST files. Just open them.
Provide more information. How did you transport this file? Has it acquired a
read only attribute?

 

[JT]

I exported the file and have a copy on my USB key drive, as well as
DVD-R. I have checked and the read only attribute is not present.
How can I just open the pst file when I already have one to operate
Outlook?

 

[SgtRich]

I have just changed jobs and before leaving the old place backed up my
outlook 2003 account via the 'export to' utility with the filename
'backup.pst'. However at the new job(which has the same platform -
Exchange 2000 server and outlook 2003) when I try and import the file
data I receive an error message stating the file is not a personal
folder file.

Transfer the .pst file onto your new hard drive and use Outlook's File

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

Of course it has a read only attribute if you have it on storage medium.
Move it to a hard drive and remove the read only attribute.

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

In addition, exporting is the wrong way to create PST files. Just copy them
when Outlook is closed.
If you exported it and then copied it to storage medium before you closed
Outlook, it will be corrupt.

 

[JT]

Yikes! How come there is no warning that the above procedure is the
correct one and that your file will become corrupted if you do what I
did? It seems that all of my 0.5Gb file will be lost - is there
anything I can do?

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

Rather hard to say since you have not yet told us what you did.
Start there.

 

[JT]

Ok...I thought I had explained it but evidently not clearly enough!

I operated Outlook 2003 on an Exchange 2000 server. I backed up my
entire mailbox using Outlook's export feature and saved the file (which
I named backup.pst) onto the hard drive. I then copied the backup.pst
file onto a DVD and onto a USB storage device.

I changed jobs, and at the new employer, who operates the same platform
(Outlook 2003 on an Exchange 2000 server) attempted to import the
mailbox contents into the new Outlook account. Before i did this I
ensured that it wasn't read only and removed that attribute. The error
message I received stated that the file is not a personal folders
(.pst) file.

I have tried opening the backup.pst file using File\open but receive
the same message (not a .pst file etc).

Hopefully I haven't missed any of the steps I took!

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

When running against Exchange, PST files are not used. How did you ensure
that you created a PST file that your employer permitted you to take with
you?

 

[JT]

All I did was use the export feature in Outlook 2003, which provides
the option to export to a personal folders file. Outlook created the
pst file in the location I was able to specify.

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

Using export to create the file is problematic. Are you certain you exited
Outlook completely before you copied this file? If not, it is corrupt.

 

[JT]

I can't recall whether I shut down Outlook before I copied the file,
therefore I am assuming that the file is corrupt. I have asked whether
a backup tape (used in my old job)n is available and will seek to copy
the file from there, but don't hold much hope. Any suggestions about
how I could access a tape backup copy of teh required file welcomed!