Duplicate Personal Folders in Outlook 2003

I have two "Personal Folders" in Outlook Today. I exported .pst files from my
old laptop (using Outlook 2000) into Outlook 2003 on a laptop running XP
Professional. The exported .pst files were stored on a NT desktop computer on
a network. All worked perfectly, and imported data appears in the upper
"Personal Folders."

I read a previously posted message on double "Personal Folders" issue, but
the process of removing the duplicate seemed more complex than it needed to
be.

HERE IS SOMETHING A BIT ODD:
In the second "Personal Folders" there are only two sub-folders, "Search
Folders" and "Deleted Items (empty)." They are only displayed when the
networked NT computer is running, otherwise this error message is displayed:
"Unable to display the folder. Microsoft Office Outlook could not access the
specified folder location. The path specified for the file \\Windows-NT\...
Calendar Backup.pst is not valid." If the remote NT computer is running, and
an attempt to delete the second "Personal Folders" folder is made, the error
message "The operation failed. An object could not be found." I have no idea
why there is a link between the second "Personal Folders" and a Calendar
export file. The exported file does exist on the remote computer. There is no
load of Outlook on the remote computer.

James

You corrupted your profile by using import/export. That is never the right
way to transfer Outlook data. Create a new profile. Read the Help files on
the correct way to transfer Outlook data:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/a...0771141033.aspx
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
"James Howard" <James Howard@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news6CA4608-056B-4957-B9E8-2A2645D30955@microsoft.com...
>I have two "Personal Folders" in Outlook Today. I exported .pst files from
>my
> old laptop (using Outlook 2000) into Outlook 2003 on a laptop running XP
> Professional. The exported .pst files were stored on a NT desktop computer
> on
> a network. All worked perfectly, and imported data appears in the upper
> "Personal Folders."
>
> I read a previously posted message on double "Personal Folders" issue, but
> the process of removing the duplicate seemed more complex than it needed
> to
> be.
>
> HERE IS SOMETHING A BIT ODD:
> In the second "Personal Folders" there are only two sub-folders, "Search
> Folders" and "Deleted Items (empty)." They are only displayed when the
> networked NT computer is running, otherwise this error message is
> displayed:
> "Unable to display the folder. Microsoft Office Outlook could not access
> the
> specified folder location. The path specified for the file
> \\Windows-NT\...
> Calendar Backup.pst is not valid." If the remote NT computer is running,
> and
> an attempt to delete the second "Personal Folders" folder is made, the
> error
> message "The operation failed. An object could not be found." I have no
> idea
> why there is a link between the second "Personal Folders" and a Calendar
> export file. The exported file does exist on the remote computer. There is
> no
> load of Outlook on the remote computer.
>
> James

Russ:

You know, how to backup files has always been a mystery to me using Outlook
2000. At the end of the year I like to group archived emails (Jack_INBOX,
Jack_SENT) and save them using the export method as .pst files. This helps
reduce the size of the archive.pst file. I then burn the exports on a CD and
store. When I have needed to restore a specific folder, I copy the file to a
writable medium and import.

I followed the same method for exporting the current files on the old
computer. I am sure something was corrupt as you suggested, as the folder was
strangely linked the second Personal Folders file to the remote computer
where .pst files were stored for import. Error messages were displayed when I
attempted a delete.

So to solve the problem, I made a copy of the .pst file on the new computer
an via the Control Panel/Mail created a new profile. When Outlook 2003 was
opened, it was fresh, with no user date. I established an internet
connection, and then opened the copied data file. All elements (Calendar,
Contacts, Inbox...) were restored. There were still two Personal Folders
files, but this time I was able to close the duplicate.

James

"Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]" wrote:

> You corrupted your profile by using import/export. That is never the right
> way to transfer Outlook data. Create a new profile. Read the Help files on
> the correct way to transfer Outlook data:
> http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/a...0771141033.aspx
> --
> Russ Valentine
> [MVP-Outlook]
> "James Howard" <James Howard@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news6CA4608-056B-4957-B9E8-2A2645D30955@microsoft.com...
> >I have two "Personal Folders" in Outlook Today. I exported .pst files from
> >my
> > old laptop (using Outlook 2000) into Outlook 2003 on a laptop running XP
> > Professional. The exported .pst files were stored on a NT desktop computer
> > on
> > a network. All worked perfectly, and imported data appears in the upper
> > "Personal Folders."
> >
> > I read a previously posted message on double "Personal Folders" issue, but
> > the process of removing the duplicate seemed more complex than it needed
> > to
> > be.
> >
> > HERE IS SOMETHING A BIT ODD:
> > In the second "Personal Folders" there are only two sub-folders, "Search
> > Folders" and "Deleted Items (empty)." They are only displayed when the
> > networked NT computer is running, otherwise this error message is
> > displayed:
> > "Unable to display the folder. Microsoft Office Outlook could not access
> > the
> > specified folder location. The path specified for the file
> > \\Windows-NT\...
> > Calendar Backup.pst is not valid." If the remote NT computer is running,
> > and
> > an attempt to delete the second "Personal Folders" folder is made, the
> > error
> > message "The operation failed. An object could not be found." I have no
> > idea
> > why there is a link between the second "Personal Folders" and a Calendar
> > export file. The exported file does exist on the remote computer. There is
> > no
> > load of Outlook on the remote computer.
> >
> > James
>
>
>

Was there a question here?

--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
"James Howard" <JamesHoward@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:686EBA76-E2C3-40CE-ADE3-2A1998387031@microsoft.com...
> Russ:
>
> You know, how to backup files has always been a mystery to me using
> Outlook
> 2000. At the end of the year I like to group archived emails (Jack_INBOX,
> Jack_SENT) and save them using the export method as .pst files. This helps
> reduce the size of the archive.pst file. I then burn the exports on a CD
> and
> store. When I have needed to restore a specific folder, I copy the file to
> a
> writable medium and import.
>
> I followed the same method for exporting the current files on the old
> computer. I am sure something was corrupt as you suggested, as the folder
> was
> strangely linked the second Personal Folders file to the remote computer
> where .pst files were stored for import. Error messages were displayed
> when I
> attempted a delete.
>
> So to solve the problem, I made a copy of the .pst file on the new
> computer
> an via the Control Panel/Mail created a new profile. When Outlook 2003 was
> opened, it was fresh, with no user date. I established an internet
> connection, and then opened the copied data file. All elements (Calendar,
> Contacts, Inbox...) were restored. There were still two Personal Folders
> files, but this time I was able to close the duplicate.
>
> James
>
> "Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]" wrote:
>
>> You corrupted your profile by using import/export. That is never the
>> right
>> way to transfer Outlook data. Create a new profile. Read the Help files
>> on
>> the correct way to transfer Outlook data:
>> http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/a...0771141033.aspx
>> --
>> Russ Valentine
>> [MVP-Outlook]
>> "James Howard" <James Howard@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news6CA4608-056B-4957-B9E8-2A2645D30955@microsoft.com...
>> >I have two "Personal Folders" in Outlook Today. I exported .pst files
>> >from
>> >my
>> > old laptop (using Outlook 2000) into Outlook 2003 on a laptop running
>> > XP
>> > Professional. The exported .pst files were stored on a NT desktop
>> > computer
>> > on
>> > a network. All worked perfectly, and imported data appears in the upper
>> > "Personal Folders."
>> >
>> > I read a previously posted message on double "Personal Folders" issue,
>> > but
>> > the process of removing the duplicate seemed more complex than it
>> > needed
>> > to
>> > be.
>> >
>> > HERE IS SOMETHING A BIT ODD:
>> > In the second "Personal Folders" there are only two sub-folders,
>> > "Search
>> > Folders" and "Deleted Items (empty)." They are only displayed when the
>> > networked NT computer is running, otherwise this error message is
>> > displayed:
>> > "Unable to display the folder. Microsoft Office Outlook could not
>> > access
>> > the
>> > specified folder location. The path specified for the file
>> > \\Windows-NT\...
>> > Calendar Backup.pst is not valid." If the remote NT computer is
>> > running,
>> > and
>> > an attempt to delete the second "Personal Folders" folder is made, the
>> > error
>> > message "The operation failed. An object could not be found." I have no
>> > idea
>> > why there is a link between the second "Personal Folders" and a
>> > Calendar
>> > export file. The exported file does exist on the remote computer. There
>> > is
>> > no
>> > load of Outlook on the remote computer.
>> >
>> > James
>>
>>
>>

No Russ, no question. Just wanted you to know the method I used to solve the
problem - I've learned a lot. Perhaps MS can make these
import/export/backup/restore operations easier to figure out the first time a
user works in this area.

Thanks - James

"Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]" wrote:

> Was there a question here?
>
> --
> Russ Valentine
> [MVP-Outlook]
> "James Howard" <JamesHoward@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:686EBA76-E2C3-40CE-ADE3-2A1998387031@microsoft.com...
> > Russ:
> >
> > You know, how to backup files has always been a mystery to me using
> > Outlook
> > 2000. At the end of the year I like to group archived emails (Jack_INBOX,
> > Jack_SENT) and save them using the export method as .pst files. This helps
> > reduce the size of the archive.pst file. I then burn the exports on a CD
> > and
> > store. When I have needed to restore a specific folder, I copy the file to
> > a
> > writable medium and import.
> >
> > I followed the same method for exporting the current files on the old
> > computer. I am sure something was corrupt as you suggested, as the folder
> > was
> > strangely linked the second Personal Folders file to the remote computer
> > where .pst files were stored for import. Error messages were displayed
> > when I
> > attempted a delete.
> >
> > So to solve the problem, I made a copy of the .pst file on the new
> > computer
> > an via the Control Panel/Mail created a new profile. When Outlook 2003 was
> > opened, it was fresh, with no user date. I established an internet
> > connection, and then opened the copied data file. All elements (Calendar,
> > Contacts, Inbox...) were restored. There were still two Personal Folders
> > files, but this time I was able to close the duplicate.
> >
> > James
> >
> > "Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]" wrote:
> >
> >> You corrupted your profile by using import/export. That is never the
> >> right
> >> way to transfer Outlook data. Create a new profile. Read the Help files
> >> on
> >> the correct way to transfer Outlook data:
> >> http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/a...0771141033.aspx
> >> --
> >> Russ Valentine
> >> [MVP-Outlook]
> >> "James Howard" <James Howard@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> >> news6CA4608-056B-4957-B9E8-2A2645D30955@microsoft.com...
> >> >I have two "Personal Folders" in Outlook Today. I exported .pst files
> >> >from
> >> >my
> >> > old laptop (using Outlook 2000) into Outlook 2003 on a laptop running
> >> > XP
> >> > Professional. The exported .pst files were stored on a NT desktop
> >> > computer
> >> > on
> >> > a network. All worked perfectly, and imported data appears in the upper
> >> > "Personal Folders."
> >> >
> >> > I read a previously posted message on double "Personal Folders" issue,
> >> > but
> >> > the process of removing the duplicate seemed more complex than it
> >> > needed
> >> > to
> >> > be.
> >> >
> >> > HERE IS SOMETHING A BIT ODD:
> >> > In the second "Personal Folders" there are only two sub-folders,
> >> > "Search
> >> > Folders" and "Deleted Items (empty)." They are only displayed when the
> >> > networked NT computer is running, otherwise this error message is
> >> > displayed:
> >> > "Unable to display the folder. Microsoft Office Outlook could not
> >> > access
> >> > the
> >> > specified folder location. The path specified for the file
> >> > \\Windows-NT\...
> >> > Calendar Backup.pst is not valid." If the remote NT computer is
> >> > running,
> >> > and
> >> > an attempt to delete the second "Personal Folders" folder is made, the
> >> > error
> >> > message "The operation failed. An object could not be found." I have no
> >> > idea
> >> > why there is a link between the second "Personal Folders" and a
> >> > Calendar
> >> > export file. The exported file does exist on the remote computer. There
> >> > is
> >> > no
> >> > load of Outlook on the remote computer.
> >> >
> >> > James
> >>
> >>
> >>
>
>
>

Importing and exporting used to work (even though a lot of data was changed
or lost). But starting with Outlook 2003 importing an entire PST is a total
non-starter and always corrupts a profile, so that's why you have to use the
explicit instructions in the article I posted to migrate data. That's always
been the only supported way to migrate Outlook data in any version.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
"James Howard" <James Howard@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:89C6FEA0-4F05-4295-8036-2190D93B7B10@microsoft.com...
> No Russ, no question. Just wanted you to know the method I used to solve
> the
> problem - I've learned a lot. Perhaps MS can make these
> import/export/backup/restore operations easier to figure out the first
> time a
> user works in this area.
>
> Thanks - James
>
> "Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]" wrote:
>
>> Was there a question here?
>>
>> --
>> Russ Valentine
>> [MVP-Outlook]
>> "James Howard" <JamesHoward@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:686EBA76-E2C3-40CE-ADE3-2A1998387031@microsoft.com...
>> > Russ:
>> >
>> > You know, how to backup files has always been a mystery to me using
>> > Outlook
>> > 2000. At the end of the year I like to group archived emails
>> > (Jack_INBOX,
>> > Jack_SENT) and save them using the export method as .pst files. This
>> > helps
>> > reduce the size of the archive.pst file. I then burn the exports on a
>> > CD
>> > and
>> > store. When I have needed to restore a specific folder, I copy the file
>> > to
>> > a
>> > writable medium and import.
>> >
>> > I followed the same method for exporting the current files on the old
>> > computer. I am sure something was corrupt as you suggested, as the
>> > folder
>> > was
>> > strangely linked the second Personal Folders file to the remote
>> > computer
>> > where .pst files were stored for import. Error messages were displayed
>> > when I
>> > attempted a delete.
>> >
>> > So to solve the problem, I made a copy of the .pst file on the new
>> > computer
>> > an via the Control Panel/Mail created a new profile. When Outlook 2003
>> > was
>> > opened, it was fresh, with no user date. I established an internet
>> > connection, and then opened the copied data file. All elements
>> > (Calendar,
>> > Contacts, Inbox...) were restored. There were still two Personal
>> > Folders
>> > files, but this time I was able to close the duplicate.
>> >
>> > James
>> >
>> > "Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]" wrote:
>> >
>> >> You corrupted your profile by using import/export. That is never the
>> >> right
>> >> way to transfer Outlook data. Create a new profile. Read the Help
>> >> files
>> >> on
>> >> the correct way to transfer Outlook data:
>> >> http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/a...0771141033.aspx
>> >> --
>> >> Russ Valentine
>> >> [MVP-Outlook]
>> >> "James Howard" <James Howard@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in
>> >> message
>> >> news6CA4608-056B-4957-B9E8-2A2645D30955@microsoft.com...
>> >> >I have two "Personal Folders" in Outlook Today. I exported .pst files
>> >> >from
>> >> >my
>> >> > old laptop (using Outlook 2000) into Outlook 2003 on a laptop
>> >> > running
>> >> > XP
>> >> > Professional. The exported .pst files were stored on a NT desktop
>> >> > computer
>> >> > on
>> >> > a network. All worked perfectly, and imported data appears in the
>> >> > upper
>> >> > "Personal Folders."
>> >> >
>> >> > I read a previously posted message on double "Personal Folders"
>> >> > issue,
>> >> > but
>> >> > the process of removing the duplicate seemed more complex than it
>> >> > needed
>> >> > to
>> >> > be.
>> >> >
>> >> > HERE IS SOMETHING A BIT ODD:
>> >> > In the second "Personal Folders" there are only two sub-folders,
>> >> > "Search
>> >> > Folders" and "Deleted Items (empty)." They are only displayed when
>> >> > the
>> >> > networked NT computer is running, otherwise this error message is
>> >> > displayed:
>> >> > "Unable to display the folder. Microsoft Office Outlook could not
>> >> > access
>> >> > the
>> >> > specified folder location. The path specified for the file
>> >> > \\Windows-NT\...
>> >> > Calendar Backup.pst is not valid." If the remote NT computer is
>> >> > running,
>> >> > and
>> >> > an attempt to delete the second "Personal Folders" folder is made,
>> >> > the
>> >> > error
>> >> > message "The operation failed. An object could not be found." I have
>> >> > no
>> >> > idea
>> >> > why there is a link between the second "Personal Folders" and a
>> >> > Calendar
>> >> > export file. The exported file does exist on the remote computer.
>> >> > There
>> >> > is
>> >> > no
>> >> > load of Outlook on the remote computer.
>> >> >
>> >> > James
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>>
>>
>>