.pst not compatible with this version (2003)

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Guest

At work i exported my outlook contacts to a .pst-file using the export
option. I tried exporting it back in to make sure it worked, it did.
I then took the .pst file home, but here i can't import it!

"The file [filename].pst is not compatible with this version of the Personal
Folders information service. Contact your administrator."

I'm running Outlook 2003 (I believe that was the version at work as well).
The .pst file contains my phone numbers and contacts so it's important for
me to get it imported back into outlook at home (or at least extracted in
some way). I've noticed a couple of other people with the same problem on
forums, but noone has ever come up with a solution (only on how to import
2003 pst files into older versions).
 
You post is inaccurate. You are not running Outlook 2003 at home, are you?
You are running an older version and PST files from Outlook 2003 are not
compatible with older versions.
This is one of the many reasons why exporting is never the correct way to
transfer Outlook data, as we have posted here countless times.
Instead, you create a PST file in the old format and copy your data into it.
The path is straightforward:
File > New > Outlook Data File > "Outlook 97-2002" Personal Folders file."
 
Did you put the .pst file on a CD? If so, then you need to copy it to your hard drive and turn off the read-only flag on the copied file.

--
Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
Author of Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003

and Microsoft Outlook Programming - Jumpstart for
Administrators, Power Users, and Developers
 
No, it's pretty accurate. I actually reinstalled Office 2003 to make sure.
The help->about sais it's "Outlook(r) 2003 v.11.5207.5207
I've noticed that the pst-file works on my father's computer (v11.5608.5606)

I've come to the conclusion that this version of outlook must be somewhat
"bad" (with no way of fixing it except getting another version)... I'll
export it to another format from another computer to solve the problem.
Thanks anyway.
 
There is no such thing as a PST file that is incompatible with Outlook 2003.
The only action that throws that error message is trying to open an Outlook
2003 PST file in an older version of Outlook.
 
Doesn't trying to open a .pst file that has the read-only flag set on it put up the same warning?

--
Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
Author of Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003

and Microsoft Outlook Programming - Jumpstart for
Administrators, Power Users, and Developers


Russ Valentine said:
There is no such thing as a PST file that is incompatible with Outlook 2003.
The only action that throws that error message is trying to open an Outlook
2003 PST file in an older version of Outlook.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Jonas M. Rogne said:
No, it's pretty accurate. I actually reinstalled Office 2003 to make sure.
The help->about sais it's "Outlook(r) 2003 v.11.5207.5207
I've noticed that the pst-file works on my father's computer
(v11.5608.5606)

I've come to the conclusion that this version of outlook must be somewhat
"bad" (with no way of fixing it except getting another version)... I'll
export it to another format from another computer to solve the problem.
Thanks anyway.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Never that I've seen. The "incompatible with current version" message is
only generated by trying to open UNICODE PST files in Outlook 2002 or
earlier. The read only tag or a corrupt PST generates "not recognized or not
a PST file."

--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Doesn't trying to open a .pst file that has the read-only flag set on it put
up the same warning?

--
Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
Author of Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003

and Microsoft Outlook Programming - Jumpstart for
Administrators, Power Users, and Developers


Russ Valentine said:
There is no such thing as a PST file that is incompatible with Outlook
2003.
The only action that throws that error message is trying to open an
Outlook
2003 PST file in an older version of Outlook.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Jonas M. Rogne said:
No, it's pretty accurate. I actually reinstalled Office 2003 to make
sure.
The help->about sais it's "Outlook(r) 2003 v.11.5207.5207
I've noticed that the pst-file works on my father's computer
(v11.5608.5606)

I've come to the conclusion that this version of outlook must be somewhat
"bad" (with no way of fixing it except getting another version)... I'll
export it to another format from another computer to solve the problem.
Thanks anyway.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Didn't I just prove that it's actually possible? At least with the exact
version I mentioned. That version can't be updated eigther, so it's
definately not good. Reinstalled (again) from an original CD (different
version) and now it works =)
 
A single isolated report is anecdote, not proof, especially if you were
using an upgrade installation from an earlier version. Interesting report,
but it has not been reported and has not been reproduced.
 
I can uninstall, then reinstall the "bad" version (see above) and recreate it
as many times as i want... I tried... :D (And it's not an upgrade
installation btw.)
Also, while looking for a solution, i found two other people who had
reported the exact same problem, so i'm not _all_ alone (just almost).

Anyway I'm pretty much done with this thread now (will no longer be notified
of replies) as I've solved my problem by getting a working version of outlook
(that works with updates as well). =)

Thanks.
 
Jonas M. Rogne said:
I can uninstall, then reinstall the "bad" version (see above) and
recreate it as many times as i want... I tried... :D (And it's not an
upgrade installation btw.)
Also, while looking for a solution, i found two other people who had
reported the exact same problem, so i'm not _all_ alone (just almost).
Click to expand...

Why is it that you can't update that version with the Office Update web
site?
 
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