I have been regularly archiving all the folders of Outlook. I felt that this
data file, archive.pst could be copied onto a CD, and I could make some space
on the disk. When i did this, and deleted the archive file, I could not open
my archived emails. I then instantly copied back the archive file into the
original location - however the archive folders do not open anymore. I tried
to import the data file into Outlook, but it prompts " The file is not a
personal folder" ...some such stuff.

Can you please help retrieve the email files ?

Don't import but use File-> Open-> Outlook Data File...
Also make sure that the Read Only file property isn't selected.

Note: alsways test you backups before deleting the original. Also note that
it is not a backup anymore now either; you only have 1 copy.

--
Robert Sparnaaij [MVP-Outlook]
Coauthor, Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003
http://www.howto-outlook.com/
Outlook FAQ, HowTo, Downloads, Add-Ins and more

-----
"Ani" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:CFCA852E-77D1-48E5-9697-(E-Mail Removed)...
>I have been regularly archiving all the folders of Outlook. I felt that
>this
> data file, archive.pst could be copied onto a CD, and I could make some
> space
> on the disk. When i did this, and deleted the archive file, I could not
> open
> my archived emails. I then instantly copied back the archive file into the
> original location - however the archive folders do not open anymore. I
> tried
> to import the data file into Outlook, but it prompts " The file is not a
> personal folder" ...some such stuff.
>
> Can you please help retrieve the email files ?
>

Dear Robert

Thanks for the reply.

However I have tried the below option also. The reply is the same ..... "The
file
outlook.pst is not a personal folders file"

Is there any other way out ?

Thanks

Ani

"Roady [MVP]" wrote:

> Don't import but use File-> Open-> Outlook Data File...
> Also make sure that the Read Only file property isn't selected.
>
> Note: alsways test you backups before deleting the original. Also note that
> it is not a backup anymore now either; you only have 1 copy.
>
> --
> Robert Sparnaaij [MVP-Outlook]
> Coauthor, Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003
> http://www.howto-outlook.com/
> Outlook FAQ, HowTo, Downloads, Add-Ins and more
>
> -----
> "Ani" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:CFCA852E-77D1-48E5-9697-(E-Mail Removed)...
> >I have been regularly archiving all the folders of Outlook. I felt that
> >this
> > data file, archive.pst could be copied onto a CD, and I could make some
> > space
> > on the disk. When i did this, and deleted the archive file, I could not
> > open
> > my archived emails. I then instantly copied back the archive file into the
> > original location - however the archive folders do not open anymore. I
> > tried
> > to import the data file into Outlook, but it prompts " The file is not a
> > personal folder" ...some such stuff.
> >
> > Can you please help retrieve the email files ?
> >
>

Sounds like that the file is corrupted then. This could either because of a
misburn or because the file got burned while Outlook was still running and
had an active connection to the pst-file.

In most cases the file will be corrupted beyond repair for scanpst.exe and
you'll need to resort to 3rd party recovery tools.

--
Robert Sparnaaij [MVP-Outlook]
Coauthor, Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003
http://www.howto-outlook.com/
Outlook FAQ, HowTo, Downloads, Add-Ins and more

-----
"Ani" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news8D67F5D-B826-4E75-9542-(E-Mail Removed)...
> Dear Robert
>
> Thanks for the reply.
>
> However I have tried the below option also. The reply is the same .....
> "The
> file
> outlook.pst is not a personal folders file"
>
> Is there any other way out ?
>
> Thanks
>
> Ani
>
> "Roady [MVP]" wrote:
>
>> Don't import but use File-> Open-> Outlook Data File...
>> Also make sure that the Read Only file property isn't selected.
>>
>> Note: alsways test you backups before deleting the original. Also note
>> that
>> it is not a backup anymore now either; you only have 1 copy.
>>
>> --
>> Robert Sparnaaij [MVP-Outlook]
>> Coauthor, Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003
>> http://www.howto-outlook.com/
>> Outlook FAQ, HowTo, Downloads, Add-Ins and more
>>
>> -----
>> "Ani" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> news:CFCA852E-77D1-48E5-9697-(E-Mail Removed)...
>> >I have been regularly archiving all the folders of Outlook. I felt that
>> >this
>> > data file, archive.pst could be copied onto a CD, and I could make some
>> > space
>> > on the disk. When i did this, and deleted the archive file, I could not
>> > open
>> > my archived emails. I then instantly copied back the archive file into
>> > the
>> > original location - however the archive folders do not open anymore. I
>> > tried
>> > to import the data file into Outlook, but it prompts " The file is not
>> > a
>> > personal folder" ...some such stuff.
>> >
>> > Can you please help retrieve the email files ?
>> >
>>