Problem moving PST file to Outlook 2007

[karensundq]

My laptop died, so I took my backup of my outlook PST file (I believe
it is in 2002 format) and copied it to my new laptop. I installed
Outlook 2007, configured a profile and added the backed-up PST file. I
set it as the default file and then restarted Outlook and removed the
empty outlook.pst file.

My server is POP3

In the past I had set the option "leave a copy of messages on the
server" so that I can read emails from the web or from outlook. Now I
have 10,000 emails.

My problem is that Outlook 2007 is attempting to download all 10,000
emails from the server again. It seems to have lost track of which
emails it has already downloaded despite having the old PST file
attached. If I let it download all 10,000 emails, I think it will work
and continue OK but it will take a while and I will have 10,000
duplicates to clean up.

I have tried removing and re-adding my profile and removing and re-
adding the pst file but all to no avail.

Any suggestions?

Thanks!

 

[Brian Tillman]

My problem is that Outlook 2007 is attempting to download all 10,000
emails from the server again. It seems to have lost track of which
emails it has already downloaded despite having the old PST file
attached. If I let it download all 10,000 emails, I think it will work
and continue OK but it will take a while and I will have 10,000
duplicates to clean up.

The information about whaty has been downloaded is kept in the profile, not
the PST. Creating a new mail profile will reset the data and cause Outlook
to download it all again.

My approach would be to not leave the messages on the server. However, if I
wanted to leave them there, I'd use webmail and reorganize the server,
putting all the older messages in separate folders on the server so that
Outlook won't see them in the inbox and then won't download them.

 

[DL]

In edition you would be best advised to create a new data file, in the new
unicode format (the default for OL2003/07) set it as default and if
neccessary copy data from your old pst to this - The new format is
apparently more robust and doesnt have the size limitation.
NB do NOT import, unless you want to lose settings & more

 

[karensundq]

The information about whaty has been downloaded is kept in the profile, not
the PST. Creating a new mail profile will reset the data and cause Outlook
to download it all again.

I didn't know it was in the profile. Do you know where the profile
data is stored? Ideally I'd like to just change the variable that
outlook uses to keep track of which emails it has downloaded so far.

I guessed it would be in the registry, but I didn't notice any of the
Outlook registry keys changing when I downloaded some mails. (Apart
from SQMReceivedDate and SQMReceivedNumber, which I think are used for
reporting crash data)

My approach would be to not leave the messages on the server. However, if I
wanted to leave them there, I'd use webmail and reorganize the server,
putting all the older messages in separate folders on the server so that
Outlook won't see them in the inbox and then won't download them.

That's what I'm doing now and thanks for your help. I guess I
shouldn't have 10K emails in my inbox folder!

In edition you would be best advised to create a new data file, in the new
unicode format (the default for OL2003/07) set it as default and if
neccessary copy data from your old pst to this - The new format is
apparently more robust and doesnt have the size limitation.
NB do NOT import, unless you want to lose settings & more

What is the difference between copying and importing? Is there a way
to just ask Outlook to upgrade the PST file to the new version?

 

[Brian Tillman]

I didn't know it was in the profile. Do you know where the profile
data is stored? Ideally I'd like to just change the variable that
outlook uses to keep track of which emails it has downloaded so far.

While I know where the profile is
(HKCU\Software\Microsoft\WIndows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows Messaging
Subsystem\Profiles), I have no idea which key(s) in that tree keeps track of
the downloaded messages and it's not documented.

I guessed it would be in the registry, but I didn't notice any of the
Outlook registry keys changing when I downloaded some mails. (Apart
from SQMReceivedDate and SQMReceivedNumber, which I think are used for
reporting crash data)

It could be, for all I know, that one of the CSLID keys that the profile
points to is where the count is actually kept. If you have a registry
monitor, see if any keys anywhere in the registry change when messages are
downloaded.

Even if you find it, however, I'd be very surprised if a registry key export
and import would preserve the value.

 

[karensundq]

It could be, for all I know, that one of the CSLID keys that the profile
points to is where the count is actually kept. If you have a registry
monitor, see if any keys anywhere in the registry change when messages are
downloaded.

I did indeed use a registry key monitor and the only keys that changed
in the hive were the SQM keys.

Even if you find it, however, I'd be very surprised if a registry key export
and import would preserve the value.

Yeah, I might break everything by poking around. I suspect the
registry is intentionally difficult to follow to deter piracy and
protect trade secrets. It's a bit flakey, though and I'd hoped that
Vista might have made it more robust.

Anyhow, I have my desired result now by re-organizing my webmail as
you suggested so, again thanks for your help.