How can I get rid of multiple personal folders in Outlook 2003?

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Guest

I feel the need to enter the fray on the question of multiple outlook.pst
folders. I am in the process of moving files from Win2K to WinXP & I feel
this is definitely an XP issue.

I had 3 personal folders showing in XP. These WERE NOT multiple folders, but
ghost folders of the same file. In other words, entering a new contact in one
folder, it showed up in all 3 folders--ditto the email. It was driving me
nuts; I had "contacts" and also "contacts in personal folders" twice more.
Deleting one would delete all 3. You immediately think it is some kind of
cross linking or corruption to the file. Also, I was not allowed to change
the name of any of the folders item (or folder) "not found" error msg.

Since I am transferring files from one computer to another, I copied the
file back to Win2K--no multiple folders here, and I was also able to rename
the primary folder so I could see which folder email was using. Copied back
to the new computer, where I entered a new email profile, opened the file--in
other words, did what the Tech suggested to fix the problem, and all was
well. So there is something very weird here, and I don't think it is
something that we should have to deal with--we need a patch from MS, in other
words.

Also, what is with the name "Pesonal Folders"? If I name someting "Linda",
e.g., I expect to see it in the program as "Linda"--and NOT "personal folder"
with the name to rename AGAIN to what I named it in the first place. All
extremely irritating, to the point that I was searching the 'Net for email
software. Too much hassle by far.
 
What is your question?
To what fray are you referring?
Multiple PST files means the same thing, no matter what the OS.
You managed to corrupt your profile. You did not post enough information for
us to tell how.
This is an end user issue.
 
It is not a question, it is a comment. And the fray I am referring to is the
one with a bunch of people experiencing the same problem--multiple pst
folders. If the file is corrupted, why would it open correctly in Win2K (same
file copied to the other computer)? Also, after I added a new mail profile, I
opened the very same folder which then showed only one pst folder. Are we
supposed to think it is something we did wrong? With this many people
experiencing the same problem, I don't think so. Xp does a lot of very weird
things (and a few good things)--this is just one of the many. I am an
advanced computer user with 20+ years of experience, and I am not buying the
"you did something wrong" story. It would be nice if MS just admitted that
there is a problem.

Russ Valentine said:
What is your question?
To what fray are you referring?
Multiple PST files means the same thing, no matter what the OS.
You managed to corrupt your profile. You did not post enough information for
us to tell how.
This is an end user issue.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Linda G said:
I feel the need to enter the fray on the question of multiple outlook.pst
folders. I am in the process of moving files from Win2K to WinXP & I feel
this is definitely an XP issue.

I had 3 personal folders showing in XP. These WERE NOT multiple folders,
but
ghost folders of the same file. In other words, entering a new contact in
one
folder, it showed up in all 3 folders--ditto the email. It was driving me
nuts; I had "contacts" and also "contacts in personal folders" twice more.
Deleting one would delete all 3. You immediately think it is some kind of
cross linking or corruption to the file. Also, I was not allowed to change
the name of any of the folders item (or folder) "not found" error msg.

Since I am transferring files from one computer to another, I copied the
file back to Win2K--no multiple folders here, and I was also able to
rename
the primary folder so I could see which folder email was using. Copied
back
to the new computer, where I entered a new email profile, opened the
file--in
other words, did what the Tech suggested to fix the problem, and all was
well. So there is something very weird here, and I don't think it is
something that we should have to deal with--we need a patch from MS, in
other
words.

Also, what is with the name "Pesonal Folders"? If I name someting "Linda",
e.g., I expect to see it in the program as "Linda"--and NOT "personal
folder"
with the name to rename AGAIN to what I named it in the first place. All
extremely irritating, to the point that I was searching the 'Net for email
software. Too much hassle by far.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
This problem is caused by migrating Outlook Data incorrectly. There is only
one correct way to migrate Outlook data. Read the Help files:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HA010771141033.aspx

Unfortunately, few people read the Help files and instead they overwrite,
rename, or import their data files, all of which will corrupt the profile
and leave a user with two sets of Outlook Data files. It is the profile that
is corrupted, not the data file.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Linda G said:
It is not a question, it is a comment. And the fray I am referring to is
the
one with a bunch of people experiencing the same problem--multiple pst
folders. If the file is corrupted, why would it open correctly in Win2K
(same
file copied to the other computer)? Also, after I added a new mail
profile, I
opened the very same folder which then showed only one pst folder. Are we
supposed to think it is something we did wrong? With this many people
experiencing the same problem, I don't think so. Xp does a lot of very
weird
things (and a few good things)--this is just one of the many. I am an
advanced computer user with 20+ years of experience, and I am not buying
the
"you did something wrong" story. It would be nice if MS just admitted that
there is a problem.

Russ Valentine said:
What is your question?
To what fray are you referring?
Multiple PST files means the same thing, no matter what the OS.
You managed to corrupt your profile. You did not post enough information
for
us to tell how.
This is an end user issue.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Linda G said:
I feel the need to enter the fray on the question of multiple
outlook.pst
folders. I am in the process of moving files from Win2K to WinXP & I
feel
this is definitely an XP issue.

I had 3 personal folders showing in XP. These WERE NOT multiple
folders,
but
ghost folders of the same file. In other words, entering a new contact
in
one
folder, it showed up in all 3 folders--ditto the email. It was driving
me
nuts; I had "contacts" and also "contacts in personal folders" twice
more.
Deleting one would delete all 3. You immediately think it is some kind
of
cross linking or corruption to the file. Also, I was not allowed to
change
the name of any of the folders item (or folder) "not found" error msg.

Since I am transferring files from one computer to another, I copied
the
file back to Win2K--no multiple folders here, and I was also able to
rename
the primary folder so I could see which folder email was using. Copied
back
to the new computer, where I entered a new email profile, opened the
file--in
other words, did what the Tech suggested to fix the problem, and all
was
well. So there is something very weird here, and I don't think it is
something that we should have to deal with--we need a patch from MS, in
other
words.

Also, what is with the name "Pesonal Folders"? If I name someting
"Linda",
e.g., I expect to see it in the program as "Linda"--and NOT "personal
folder"
with the name to rename AGAIN to what I named it in the first place.
All
extremely irritating, to the point that I was searching the 'Net for
email
software. Too much hassle by far.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
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