outlook.pst is not a personal folder file

[Blue Arrow]

Well, I got Outlook working by doing a complete reinstall and update and it
was fine until I bought my new Dell with Vista - Heavily cluttered and an
arrogant snob. Why make life so dificult I ask myself. On a bright note, it
is less cluttered now that have De-Dell-ized it.

I reinstalled Vista and Outlook 2003 and I thought before I risk moving my
data across, I shall create a briefcase. Then, to my cost I was to find
later, I stumbled onto sync centre. I proceeded to sync and found it had
deleted 'My documents' folder from the server and created an EMPTY
'documents' folder. I quickly copied my old 'briefcase' contents to
'documents' folder. Sync works fine. However, I am at a loss as to why it
gives no warning!!!!

Now the problem. I am able to open all .pst files except the current one. It
gives me the error:

"outlook.pst is not a personal folder"

I have tried import, renaming, backup/restore -- no luck, same error.

Luckily, I have Thunderbird that used when I was having problems with
Outlook. So, I have most of the data intact but would rather have it in
Outlook2003. I scanned the file for virus.

Any ideas!!

 

[Cary Liu]

How to use the Inbox Repair Tools to recover e-mail messages in Outlook 2002
and Outlook 2003
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;287497

 

[Diane Poremsky]

where was the pst stored? if you synced with a second machine was outlook
using the pst on that machine? did you try copying the pst to the drive
yourself and verifying it was marked for read/write?

 

[Blue Arrow]

Thanks Cary. I have tried using scanpst.exe. It has recovered some files but
large chunk has been lost.

Outlook was not in use. Old machine had the file in "Briefcase" and I tried
to sync "My Documents" folder on the Server with the new machine. I watched
it zap everything in "My Documents" folder on the Server without even
'burp'. I didn't even get the chance to even notice what was going on. I
expected it to ask me for confirmation. After this I copied Contents of
"Briefcase" onto now 'Documents' folder on server. (Sync deleted 'My
Document' folder and created 'Document' folder). Rest is history.

Theoretically, the file in 'Briefcase' should be intact but even that is
'duff'. I can only assume I errored somewhere along the line as I had been
working late. I still can't understand whay sync did not ask for a
confirmation.

 

[Blue Arrow]

Having come to terms with losses, I now face another problem. I can open the
repaired file - no problem. However, when i pick up a mail or contact
(luckily most of them have survived) I get the message.

"Can't move the items. could not complete the operation. One or more
parameter values are not valid"

Is this fixable or a workaround, short of retyping, available!!

Thanks

 

[Brian Tillman]

Now the problem. I am able to open all .pst files except the current
one. It gives me the error:

"outlook.pst is not a personal folder"

Once you get this message when trying to open a PST, there's almost no
chance that the PST is recoverable with anything from Microsoft. If the
data is important, you can contact one of the Office recovery businesses who
may be able to recover the PST.