Copied Outlook 2003 contacts. Distribution lists are empty

[Guest]

Thankyou. I found some instructions in Office Online which told me how to do
that.

Just set your old PST file as the default, restart Outlook, then close the
empty PST file.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Thanks Russ.
I've managed to copy the file. I have opened the information into outlook
but it now has 2 different versions of everything - Personal folders. One
which is empty and the other which has my info. I have tried to delete the
empty one but it appears to be the system version which can't be deleted.
Is
there a way of copying the info in that doesn't cause duplication of all
the
folders?

It's not hard at all. You copy Outlook data files using Windows Explorer
when Outlook is closed.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
I have been following through all of these postings as I am having the
same
trouble with copying my stuff from an old computer to the new one.
When you say "copy" the outlook file how do I do that? I may be being
obtuse
but there is no "copy" option.
If I follow Sharon's instructions about opening a data file which
brings
up
the outlook.pst, when I right click and copy it doesn't work as it says
another application has part of the file locked! Same thing happens if
I
try
send to!
It really shouldn't be this hard should it?

:

There are at least 20 more questions you have introduced in this post,
none
with an adequate background to permit an answer. To what "hidden file"
are
you referring?

If you have a duplicate Personal Folders file that you cannot close,
then
you have a corrupt profile--one of the other "benefits" of following
the
Help File's incorrect instructions for importing and exporting. If so,
to
get rid of the duplicate you would need to create a new profile and
follow
the instructions I posted for setting it to use your previous Outlook
data
file.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
I did. Thanks. Now it appears to remain when I exit and return.

Does the program utilize both files (the one in My Documents that I
copied
from the old computer and the hidden file)? When I tried to delete
the
one
in My Documents when Outlook was running, it wouldn't let me because
it
said
it was in use. If I delete it when I close Outlook, will that cause
a
problem? Also, if it's going to continue to use it, I want to make
sure
I
back it up and know what to do if I need to restore,what with that
file
and
the hidden file.

One more question and then I promise you won't hear from me again...
in
the
process of trying to get the information into the system, apparently
I
enadvertantly copied a duplicate set of Personal Folders. Is it
possible
to
delete that second set? I've tried right clicking, delete key, etc.
and
nothing seems to work. I guess it isn't a big deal. Just used to
getting
rid
of things I don't need to save space.

Thanks so much for your patience. After working with this on three
different computers...well, time for a break.

Sharon

:

As expected.
Please just follow the advice we give. Trust me. It works. Reread
my
posts
and follow the advice.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!! I thought I had it solved, but when I exit
Outlook
and
come back in, it reverts back to the Distribution Lists without
the
list
of
names!!! I've now imported them twice and each time I exit and
return,
they're gone. Why?!
:

Thannks Russ and Brian. Before receiving your reply (system
sometimes
works
a bit slow), I checked the article referred to in a previous
post
(Export
Outlook Contacts). Once I got the concept I tried this approach
and
it
worked (which seems a bit easier to expain FYI):

Went into the old computer, Outlook, Open, selected Outlook Data
File,
which
brought up the backup file. I right clicked on it and copied
it,
then
pasted
it into a folder in My Documents (I titled Outlook files). Then
I
burned
it
to a CD, took it to the other computer, copied it to My
Documents
on
the
new
computer and then followed the instructions for importing in
Outlook.

Apparently importing works fine - exporting is the problem.

The frustration this erroneous information caused ... well, I
work
in
a
church, and, as the old saying goes, "It's enough to make a
preacher
cuss!"
not to mention the several new gray hairs I'm sure popped out in
the
process.
I have distribution lists with 100+ names. I'm happy to say,
they're
all
there now. I do web work. Changing those instructions isn't
that
major!
Come on, Microsoft!!!!!!!

Thanks again. Without your guidance and support, I don't know
what
I
would
have done.
Sincerely,
Sharon Fink


:

That's rather a lot to sift through for one simple answer.

To open your old PST file that you have copied, just use the
File

Open >
Outlook Data File command. Then you can copy any information
you
want
into
your new installation's PST file.

To use a PST file from an earlier installation and set it to
be
the
default
for your current installation of Outlook:
- Go to Tools > Options > Mail Setup > Data Files > Add...
- Add the PST you'd like as your new default, then Close > OK
to
exit
the
Options dialog
- Go to Tools > E-mail Accounts > View or change existing
e-mail
accounts
- Select the PST you just added in the "Deliver New e-mail to
the
following
location" dropdown (it will most likely appear just below the
current
default Personal Folders file) > Finish
- Exit and Restart Outlook
- You can now close the previous default PST (R-click on that
pst
folder
while in Folder View and select "Close <foldername> Folders").
If
you
have
any information in your former PST that you'd like to transfer
to
your
new
default PST, you can drag and drop from one to the other
before
you
close
the old one.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

That sounds possible. Would you please elaborate on how to
do
that?

http://www.howto-outlook.com/howto/backupandrestore.htm