Duplicate personal folders problem

[Brian Long]

Hello all,

I have a problem with Outlook 2003 and I hope someone can help me resolve it

I imported a PST file from Outlook XP that was on a different machine, and
now I have two versions of Personal Folders in my All Mail Folders list.

They both have Deleted Items, Drafts, Inbox, Junk E-mail, Outbox, Sent Items
and Search Folders in.

One of them has an icon of a piece of paper with a clock to the top left and
a house to the top right.

The other one has an icon like a stack of files (like from a filing cabinet)

They are clearly referencing the same thing, as the Deleted Items both have
all the same items listed in

If I click on the Folders icon at the bottom of the Folder list pane, both
copies of Personal Folders have Calendar, Contacts, Journal, Notes and Tasks
added, and again they are duplicates

How can I get rid of one of these to leave me with just the one, which is
all I need. All attempts so far have failed miserably.....

Thanks in advance

- Brian Long

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

Just create a new profile and configure it to use this PST file as its
default.

 

[Brian Long]

Just create a new profile and configure it to use this PST file as its
default.

Thanks for the prompt response. I had a quick look at the profiles in the
Mail Control Panel applet, and found there was already a profile called
Outlook. Checking the Properties, Data Files option shows it is using just
one data file: %userprofile%\Local Settings\Application
Data\Microsoft\Outlook\Outlook.pst

Are you suggesting importing from it was a bad thing, and I should just copy
the file from the other machine and point the Outlook profile at the old
file? Is there no way of importing old settings into Outlook 2K3 and not
have 2 identical Personal Folders?

Thanks

- Brian Long

 

[Brian Long]

Just create a new profile and configure it to use this PST file as its
default.

I tried directly using the file from Office XP and I _still_ have 2 sets of
Personal Folders

Where does it get the folder names from? How can I get rid of one of these?!

- Brian Long

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

Copying a PST and overwriting an existing one would be even a worse idea.
Importing a PST is never necessary and often causes problems like this. Your
profile is corrupt. You can repair it by editing the registry, but just
creating a new one is far easier (and safer).

When you need to use a previous PST file in a new installation, it is best
simply to configure the new installation to use the old PST as its default.

 

[andy]

Bring up the list with both pst files, the one with
outlook today is the current one. Right click on the
other and select close personal folder.

 

[Brian Long]

Thank you. Problem fixed

Copying a PST and overwriting an existing one would be even a worse idea.
Importing a PST is never necessary and often causes problems like this. Your
profile is corrupt. You can repair it by editing the registry, but just
creating a new one is far easier (and safer).

When you need to use a previous PST file in a new installation, it is best
simply to configure the new installation to use the old PST as its default.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Thanks for the prompt response. I had a quick look at the profiles in the
Mail Control Panel applet, and found there was already a profile called
Outlook. Checking the Properties, Data Files option shows it is using just
one data file: %userprofile%\Local Settings\Application
Data\Microsoft\Outlook\Outlook.pst

Are you suggesting importing from it was a bad thing, and I should just copy
the file from the other machine and point the Outlook profile at the old
file? Is there no way of importing old settings into Outlook 2K3 and not
have 2 identical Personal Folders?

Thanks

- Brian Long

 

[Brian Tillman]

Are you suggesting importing from it was a bad thing, and I should
just copy the file from the other machine and point the Outlook
profile at the old file? Is there no way of importing old settings
into Outlook 2K3 and not have 2 identical Personal Folders?

Importing does not cause two folders to appear. It adds the contents of a
PST to the current default delivery location, be that an Exchange server or
a PST. The PST with the little house next to it is your delivery location,
usually called "Outlook Today".

The best way to incorporate data from a second PST into your primary PST is
to open the second PST with File>Open>Outlook Data File. This will add
another "Personal Folders" label in your Folder View. (It could be called
something else, too, because the display name is embedded in the file.)
You then drag items from the second PST's folders to your main PST's
folders. When done, you right-click on the second PST root and choose
"Close". This preserves more original data than importing does, like the
dates of the messages.

 

[Brian Long]

Thanks for the information (also to andy). Dunno why I didn't spot the Close
option. I was looking for Delete I guess

- Brian

 

[Swifty]

You should be able to right click on one of the "Personal Folders" (or
whatever) and close it. If the close option is greyed out then that is
because it is your default delivery location.

In my Outlook 2003, "File", "Data file management" allowed me to rename
mine from "Personal Folders" to "Steve's Stuff", so I can distinguish
between what is mine and other PST's I may open.