Transfer PST File to New computer

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

You're most welcome. Nice of you to say so.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Okay.
Thanks so much for your patience!
I do some Excel macro programming in VB and know how frustrated I get with
end users sometimes. Now I know what it's like to be on the other end.
Thanks for the volunteer work.
--
Ken Hudson

You can only delete a profile by removing its entries in the registry.
There
is no need to do that unless you are particularly fond of editing the
registry.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Well, I think I have it. When I opened the previous pst file, it opens
as
a
personal folder at the bottom of the list. Not being initimately
familiar
with Outlook, I didn't notice it was there until I tried it again this
AM
and
saw it. Then I copied the messages and contacts from the newly opened
folder
from the previous pst file to the "empty" folder created with the new
profile. Then I closed that personal folder. Evereything seems to be
working
now.
One last question: Can I delete the "old" profile? It was called
Outlook.
--
Ken Hudson


:

No. A system restore won't help a thing.
There is absolutely no reason you cannot open a previous PST file in a
new
profile. Post the precise steps you are using and what happens so we
can
see
what you're doing wrong.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
I set up a new profile but couldn't get the old pst to open and it
was
not
read only.
Since this is a new machine, can I do a system restore to just
before I
installed Office 2003? Would that delete all the profiles and Office
so
that
when I reinstalled Office and opened Outlook, it would set up a new
profile
and I could go from there?
This is too frustrating to me and probably to you.
Thanks.
--
Ken Hudson


:

R click and close the 3 you are not using.
If you cannot close any of the 3, then you have a corrupt profile
and
must
create a new one.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Oops, I get it now.
In Outlook I have four personal folders.
--
Ken Hudson


:

No. The question I needed to which I needed an answer is how
many
Personal
Folders files do you now see if you examine your entire Folder
hierarchy
in
Folder View in your current profile?

--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
message
Hi Russ,
Sorry, thought I did.
I copied Outlook.pst and Archive.pst from my old computer.
I pasted them into my new computer in the C:\Documents and
Settings\Ken\Local settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook
folder.
I
overwrote the existing Outlook.pst file.
These two pst files, Outlook.pst and Archive.pst, are in my
current
folder
(profile).

--
Ken Hudson


:

Depends on how much you corrupted your profile, which we
won't
know
until
you answer the rest of my question.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
message
The old file was Outlook.pst. I pasted Outlook.pst and
Archive.pst.
No, the address service does not work.
How can I fix that, please?
--
Ken Hudson


:

What was the name of the old file? What was the name of
Outlook's
new
file?
How many PST files are in your current profile (make sure
you
use
Folder
View to examine the entire hierarchy).
Does your Outlook Address Book Service work?

--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
in
message
Well, I guess I lucked out. Before getting to your
responses,
I
found
that
the Outlook folder location was hidden. I showed hidden
files
and
saved
the
old pst in the default folder. (I only had old E-mail
messages
in
the
file.)
Things seem to be working okay. I'll keep my fingers
crossed.
Would
I
know
right away that something was amiss?
--
Ken Hudson


:

Hi,
I am trying to transfer my Outlook pst files to a new
computer.
The
new
computer is XP. I have two pst files, "regular" and
archive
but
don't
know
where to save them on the new PC.
TIA

 

[Alan]

Hi,
I am trying to transfer my Outlookpstfiles to a new computer. The new
computer is XP. I have twopstfiles, "regular" and archive but don't know
where to save them on the new PC.
TIA

Hi,

Advanced Outlook Repair can help to undelete the emails you overwriten
by mistake. Refer to http://www.datanumen.com/aor/problems/outlook-deleted.htm
for more detailed information.

And visiting http://www.datanumen.com/aor/ can get detailed
information about Advanced Outlook Repair.

And you can also download a free demo version at http://www.datanumen.com/aor/aor.exe

Hope this helps.

 

[w8lifter]

Hi Outlook MVP's,

I am having a similar issue, I read the thread but I want to make sure I
don't mess it up after getting my data back.

I reinstalled Vista and I forgot to save my .pst file. Stupid I know. I
was able to find a program that recovered it. I tried many but the only one
that found the .pst files was Easeus Data Recovery Wizard in case anyone else
needs to use it.

So I found the .pst file. It found several of them but only one would open.
All my emails were there. =) But I saved everything on an external HD to
avoid writing over needed data on my c drive.

Once I determined that I recovered my data, I needed to move my .pst folder
to my c drive. So I did. Some of the posts say I should not copy it into
the same Outlook folder that has the new .pst file. I moved it to a folder I
named Outlook1 on my c drive and opened it in Outlook to import the data, but
now I have two personal folders in my Outlook window. Here are my questions.

I can see there is a 'delete' option under 'File' 'Data File Management' but
if I delete the new original .pst file will it mess up my Outlook?

Should I delete the new .pst file and then move my old .pst file into the
new folder? Or should I just delete the new .pst file and leave the old file
in the Outlook1 folder I created? Does it matter where the .pst file is as
long as Outlook knows where to look?

Thanks for your help. I have read some other threads and you guys are good.
I read a thread somewhere that said there was no import or export for the
..pst files but I see one under 'file' 'import and export' and I will be using
it in the future to back up my .pst files. Although I guess I can just copy
and paste the .pst file now that I know where it is and what to do.

Shawn

 

[Roady [MVP]]

Don't use the Import/Export option to backup and restore. For that see;
http://www.howto-outlook.com/howto/backupandrestore.htm

Personally I place my pst-files in the Documents folder where it lives
besides my other documents I wish to keep.

You can connect your pst-file via File-> Open-> Outlook Data File...
Depending on your version of Outlook, you can set that pst-file in File->
Data File Management or in Tools-> E-mail Accounts...
After you restart Outlook, you can disconnect the blank pst-file that
Outlook created via File-> Data File Management...
After you close Outlook, you can even delete that blank pst-file if you
want.

 

[w8lifter]

Thanks Roady,

So just to confirm.

1. It does not matter where my .pst folder stays?
2. I can delete the new 'blank' .pst folder after I open my old one by
importing it? And then the my old one will become my default .pst folder?

Aslo, I cannot figure out how to import my address book? I think last time
I had to save it as a .csv now that I think about it. But I was hoping it
would be included in my .pst folder. Is the info in my .pst folder or
somewhere else? I did save my contacts folder but outlook won't let me
import it at least not 'batch' import it. When I try to do that I don't get
a 'select all' option. I guess I could try to import it 1 by 1 but I have a
lot of contacts. I love Outlook but transferring files and contacts seems
tough. I hope it can be made easier.

So one more question. Is there a way to take my Contacts folder and export
the data as a csv? There is no export option under 'organize' in the
contacts folder. I do have an old xp machine with MS Works and I think I
could import it there and then re-export it as a CSV, right?

I love Outlook, so don't think that I don't, but please make this easier.

Thanks very very much for your help.

Shawn

 

[Roady [MVP]]

1) Not really. As long as you don't place it on a network share or in an
installation folder you should be fine.
2) I don't think you really read my reply or the link I gave you as all your
questions have been answered there already. You don't have to use Import at
all and certainly don't delete anything before disconnecting it from
Outlook.

I love Outlook but transferring files and contacts seems
tough. I hope it can be made easier.

How much easier do you want it? There is no need to import or export
anything to a csv-file as you are describing.
Copy back the original pst-file and reconnect it to Outlook via File-> Open
Outlook Data File...-> Done!
Optionally you can set it as your default delivery location which is just a
mouse click away.

All your Outlook data (mail, contacts, calendar, etc...) is contained in a
single pst-file so no additional steps are needed for that either ;-)

If you want to export your contacts in the csv-format for use in another
application, then you can use the File-> Import and Export... menu within
Outlook.