Recovering an .ost file under new user name

[Guest]

Hello! I have a question that is really bugging me. I have a user who owns
a computer that used to belong to an old domain for a company he no longer
works for. On this computer(laptop), he has MS office installed and used to
use Outlook as his primary e-mail client. He was logging onto this computer
just fine under the chached user name and was able to open Outllook and view
his e-mail that used to be associated with his old company. I decided to
connect his computer to my domain and configure him an account to gain access
to our recources and Exchange server. What I didn't know was that he needed
the e-mails the were being viewed as offline. Now he logs on with a new user
name and domain and I am unable to obtain his offline folder files (.ost). I
successfully imported his old .pst files, but is there any way to retreive
the old offline e-mails he was able to view under a previous logon on a
previous domain? The .ost file exist on his computer in the
document/settings folder under his old name. Is this possible to do at all?
Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

[Vince Averello [MVP-Outlook]]

Do you have the option of logging in off-line (off-network)? If so, pull the
machine off the network and login as the old user. The problem is that the
OST is linked to the old user stuff (profile & such)

 

[Guest]

Hi there - well, I have encountered this exact problem (for me) but with one
twist: The "old" domain and user name are the EXACT SAME. Our Exchange server
had to be completely redone, but we kept the same domain. So the Docs &
Settings folder under the "old" user name is like an island that I can't get
to.

Any ideas?

Thanks in advance!

Fred

 

[Diane Poremsky [MVP]]

the new domain's and the new user account, while identical to your eyes,
have different GUID's, so outlook sees them as new accounts. If you are
trying to access files under the old windows account, log in using an admin
account and take ownership of the files.

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]
Author, Teach Yourself Outlook 2003 in 24 Hours
Coauthor, OneNote 2003 for Windows (Visual QuickStart Guide)
Need Help with Common Tasks? http://www.outlook-tips.net/beginner/

 

[Guest]

It shows I already have ownership of the files. However, is this user name
([email protected]) the "old" user name? Do I need to delete the user
name as owner and re-add it? Keep in mind the "old" user name and the current
one are identical.

Also it should be noted I CANNOT log in under the "old" account (otherwise I
could just bring up Outlook and export the offline file to a PST)

Thanks!

the new domain's and the new user account, while identical to your eyes,
have different GUID's, so outlook sees them as new accounts. If you are
trying to access files under the old windows account, log in using an admin
account and take ownership of the files.

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]
Author, Teach Yourself Outlook 2003 in 24 Hours
Coauthor, OneNote 2003 for Windows (Visual QuickStart Guide)
Need Help with Common Tasks? http://www.outlook-tips.net/beginner/

Hi there - well, I have encountered this exact problem (for me) but with
one
twist: The "old" domain and user name are the EXACT SAME. Our Exchange
server
had to be completely redone, but we kept the same domain. So the Docs &
Settings folder under the "old" user name is like an island that I can't
get
to.

Any ideas?

Thanks in advance!

Fred

 

[Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]]

Irrespective of the re-use of the old name/domain, etc., AD creates a new
SID that does not allow you to open the old .ost file that is connected to
the previous SID.

--
Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]

Post all replies to the group to keep the discussion intact. All
unsolicited mail sent to my personal account will be deleted without
reading.

After furious head scratching, BearTrap3 asked:

| It shows I already have ownership of the files. However, is this user
| name ([email protected]) the "old" user name? Do I need to
| delete the user name as owner and re-add it? Keep in mind the "old"
| user name and the current one are identical.
|
| Also it should be noted I CANNOT log in under the "old" account
| (otherwise I could just bring up Outlook and export the offline file
| to a PST)
|
| Thanks!
|
| "Diane Poremsky [MVP]" wrote:
|
|| the new domain's and the new user account, while identical to your
|| eyes, have different GUID's, so outlook sees them as new accounts.
|| If you are trying to access files under the old windows account, log
|| in using an admin account and take ownership of the files.
||
|| --
|| Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]
|| Author, Teach Yourself Outlook 2003 in 24 Hours
|| Coauthor, OneNote 2003 for Windows (Visual QuickStart Guide)
|| Need Help with Common Tasks? http://www.outlook-tips.net/beginner/
||
||
||
|| Subscribe to Exchange Messaging Outlook newsletter:
|| (e-mail address removed)
||
||
|| ||| Hi there - well, I have encountered this exact problem (for me) but
||| with one
||| twist: The "old" domain and user name are the EXACT SAME. Our
||| Exchange server
||| had to be completely redone, but we kept the same domain. So the
||| Docs & Settings folder under the "old" user name is like an island
||| that I can't get
||| to.
|||
||| Any ideas?
|||
||| Thanks in advance!
|||
||| Fred
|||
||| "Vince Averello [MVP-Outlook]" wrote:
|||
|||| Do you have the option of logging in off-line (off-network)? If
|||| so, pull the
|||| machine off the network and login as the old user. The problem is
|||| that the
|||| OST is linked to the old user stuff (profile & such)
||||
|||| ||||| Thanks for the help....On this computer I had to change the
||||| domain to point
||||| to a different one. So when I log on with the old user name it
||||| can't find
||||| the domain. I tried changing the domain back to what it used to
||||| be but it
||||| didn't take. It looks for the domain and can't find it. Can I
||||| create the
||||| old user name on my domain and log on and open Outlook in offline
||||| mode so
||||| as
||||| not to overwrite the ost file? Or is there a way to change the
||||| domain on
||||| this computer back to what it used to be without it actually
||||| looking for
||||| it?
||||| I wish I had known that the e-mails from over a year ago on this
||||| computer
||||| were of importance, because I would have loved to that from the
||||| beginning.
||||| Something new everyday huh.

 

[Diane Poremsky [MVP]]

just to be clear- we are talking the folder security on folders on the hard
drive, not outlook? you'll need to log in with any account that has admin
rights. I wouldprobably change the owner to someone else, then change it
back. Now, it might be possible to change owners even though the names are
the same - you will have to step through the change process and see if it
allows it to work. If not, make a new computer account with admin rights and
change it from there.

--

It shows I already have ownership of the files. However, is this user name
([email protected]) the "old" user name? Do I need to delete the
user
name as owner and re-add it? Keep in mind the "old" user name and the
current
one are identical.

Also it should be noted I CANNOT log in under the "old" account (otherwise
I
could just bring up Outlook and export the offline file to a PST)

Thanks!

the new domain's and the new user account, while identical to your eyes,
have different GUID's, so outlook sees them as new accounts. If you are
trying to access files under the old windows account, log in using an
admin
account and take ownership of the files.

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]
Author, Teach Yourself Outlook 2003 in 24 Hours
Coauthor, OneNote 2003 for Windows (Visual QuickStart Guide)
Need Help with Common Tasks? http://www.outlook-tips.net/beginner/

Hi there - well, I have encountered this exact problem (for me) but
with
one
twist: The "old" domain and user name are the EXACT SAME. Our Exchange
server
had to be completely redone, but we kept the same domain. So the Docs &
Settings folder under the "old" user name is like an island that I
can't
get
to.

Any ideas?

Thanks in advance!

Fred

:

Do you have the option of logging in off-line (off-network)? If so,
pull
the
machine off the network and login as the old user. The problem is that
the
OST is linked to the old user stuff (profile & such)

Thanks for the help....On this computer I had to change the domain
to
point
to a different one. So when I log on with the old user name it
can't
find
the domain. I tried changing the domain back to what it used to be
but
it
didn't take. It looks for the domain and can't find it. Can I
create
the
old user name on my domain and log on and open Outlook in offline
mode
so
as
not to overwrite the ost file? Or is there a way to change the
domain
on
this computer back to what it used to be without it actually looking
for
it?
I wish I had known that the e-mails from over a year ago on this
computer
were of importance, because I would have loved to that from the
beginning.
Something new everyday huh.

 

[Guest]

Thanks so much for your replies Diane - Yes we are talking about folder
security. I just dealt with the security on the OST file itself, after
copying it to the appropriate location within the Docs/Settings folder
hierarchy for the NEW domain account. I logged in with the local computer
admin account, removed the domain account completely from the security of the
OST file, and then replaced it, with full control. I then re-logged in to the
domain, and took ownership of the file.

I had already deleted all files in the Local Settings/App
Data/Microsoft/Outlook folder, then copied the aforementioned OST file to
this folder, and deleted the existing Outlook profile. I then re-created the
profile, and checked to see in Offline Folder Settings that it was pointing
to the just-copied OST file.

Upon re-starting Outlook, I got an error message stating that the file was
configured for use with another mailbox. Am I completely screwed, as
intimated by Milly Staples? I really need the data in this OST file. ANY AND
ALL HELP APPRECIATED!

Thanks again so much in advance!

Fred

just to be clear- we are talking the folder security on folders on the hard
drive, not outlook? you'll need to log in with any account that has admin
rights. I wouldprobably change the owner to someone else, then change it
back. Now, it might be possible to change owners even though the names are
the same - you will have to step through the change process and see if it
allows it to work. If not, make a new computer account with admin rights and
change it from there.

--

It shows I already have ownership of the files. However, is this user name
([email protected]) the "old" user name? Do I need to delete the
user
name as owner and re-add it? Keep in mind the "old" user name and the
current
one are identical.

Also it should be noted I CANNOT log in under the "old" account (otherwise
I
could just bring up Outlook and export the offline file to a PST)

Thanks!

the new domain's and the new user account, while identical to your eyes,
have different GUID's, so outlook sees them as new accounts. If you are
trying to access files under the old windows account, log in using an
admin
account and take ownership of the files.

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]
Author, Teach Yourself Outlook 2003 in 24 Hours
Coauthor, OneNote 2003 for Windows (Visual QuickStart Guide)
Need Help with Common Tasks? http://www.outlook-tips.net/beginner/






Hi there - well, I have encountered this exact problem (for me) but
with
one
twist: The "old" domain and user name are the EXACT SAME. Our Exchange
server
had to be completely redone, but we kept the same domain. So the Docs &
Settings folder under the "old" user name is like an island that I
can't
get
to.

Any ideas?

Thanks in advance!

Fred

:

Do you have the option of logging in off-line (off-network)? If so,
pull
the
machine off the network and login as the old user. The problem is that
the
OST is linked to the old user stuff (profile & such)

Thanks for the help....On this computer I had to change the domain
to
point
to a different one. So when I log on with the old user name it
can't
find
the domain. I tried changing the domain back to what it used to be
but
it
didn't take. It looks for the domain and can't find it. Can I
create
the
old user name on my domain and log on and open Outlook in offline
mode
so
as
not to overwrite the ost file? Or is there a way to change the
domain
on
this computer back to what it used to be without it actually looking
for
it?
I wish I had known that the e-mails from over a year ago on this
computer
were of importance, because I would have loved to that from the
beginning.
Something new everyday huh.

 

[Diane Poremsky [MVP]]

Ost's are tied to the profile - so yes, you are screwed (or out $600) unless
you can restore to a point where it worked before, which doesn't apply to
your situation.

What version of outlook created the ost? There is a freeware ost 2 pst
utility floating around the internet that might convert the contents, if not
you need the one from officerecovery.com.

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]
Author, Teach Yourself Outlook 2003 in 24 Hours
Coauthor, OneNote 2003 for Windows (Visual QuickStart Guide)
Need Help with Common Tasks? http://www.outlook-tips.net/beginner/

Thanks so much for your replies Diane - Yes we are talking about folder
security. I just dealt with the security on the OST file itself, after
copying it to the appropriate location within the Docs/Settings folder
hierarchy for the NEW domain account. I logged in with the local computer
admin account, removed the domain account completely from the security of
the
OST file, and then replaced it, with full control. I then re-logged in to
the
domain, and took ownership of the file.

I had already deleted all files in the Local Settings/App
Data/Microsoft/Outlook folder, then copied the aforementioned OST file to
this folder, and deleted the existing Outlook profile. I then re-created
the
profile, and checked to see in Offline Folder Settings that it was
pointing
to the just-copied OST file.

Upon re-starting Outlook, I got an error message stating that the file was
configured for use with another mailbox. Am I completely screwed, as
intimated by Milly Staples? I really need the data in this OST file. ANY
AND
ALL HELP APPRECIATED!

Thanks again so much in advance!

Fred

just to be clear- we are talking the folder security on folders on the
hard
drive, not outlook? you'll need to log in with any account that has admin
rights. I wouldprobably change the owner to someone else, then change it
back. Now, it might be possible to change owners even though the names
are
the same - you will have to step through the change process and see if it
allows it to work. If not, make a new computer account with admin rights
and
change it from there.

--

It shows I already have ownership of the files. However, is this user
name
([email protected]) the "old" user name? Do I need to delete the
user
name as owner and re-add it? Keep in mind the "old" user name and the
current
one are identical.

Also it should be noted I CANNOT log in under the "old" account
(otherwise
I
could just bring up Outlook and export the offline file to a PST)

Thanks!

:

the new domain's and the new user account, while identical to your
eyes,
have different GUID's, so outlook sees them as new accounts. If you
are
trying to access files under the old windows account, log in using an
admin
account and take ownership of the files.

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]
Author, Teach Yourself Outlook 2003 in 24 Hours
Coauthor, OneNote 2003 for Windows (Visual QuickStart Guide)
Need Help with Common Tasks? http://www.outlook-tips.net/beginner/






Hi there - well, I have encountered this exact problem (for me) but
with
one
twist: The "old" domain and user name are the EXACT SAME. Our
Exchange
server
had to be completely redone, but we kept the same domain. So the
Docs &
Settings folder under the "old" user name is like an island that I
can't
get
to.

Any ideas?

Thanks in advance!

Fred

:

Do you have the option of logging in off-line (off-network)? If so,
pull
the
machine off the network and login as the old user. The problem is
that
the
OST is linked to the old user stuff (profile & such)

Thanks for the help....On this computer I had to change the
domain
to
point
to a different one. So when I log on with the old user name it
can't
find
the domain. I tried changing the domain back to what it used to
be
but
it
didn't take. It looks for the domain and can't find it. Can I
create
the
old user name on my domain and log on and open Outlook in offline
mode
so
as
not to overwrite the ost file? Or is there a way to change the
domain
on
this computer back to what it used to be without it actually
looking
for
it?
I wish I had known that the e-mails from over a year ago on this
computer
were of importance, because I would have loved to that from the
beginning.
Something new everyday huh.

 

[Guest]

Thanks Diane for pointing me in the right direction! I was able to grab the
data I needed using a demo version of Recovery for Exchange. Many thanks! FYI
for others who may need, the link is:

http://www.officerecovery.com/exchange/index.htm

Fred

Ost's are tied to the profile - so yes, you are screwed (or out $600) unless
you can restore to a point where it worked before, which doesn't apply to
your situation.

What version of outlook created the ost? There is a freeware ost 2 pst
utility floating around the internet that might convert the contents, if not
you need the one from officerecovery.com.

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]
Author, Teach Yourself Outlook 2003 in 24 Hours
Coauthor, OneNote 2003 for Windows (Visual QuickStart Guide)
Need Help with Common Tasks? http://www.outlook-tips.net/beginner/

Thanks so much for your replies Diane - Yes we are talking about folder
security. I just dealt with the security on the OST file itself, after
copying it to the appropriate location within the Docs/Settings folder
hierarchy for the NEW domain account. I logged in with the local computer
admin account, removed the domain account completely from the security of
the
OST file, and then replaced it, with full control. I then re-logged in to
the
domain, and took ownership of the file.

I had already deleted all files in the Local Settings/App
Data/Microsoft/Outlook folder, then copied the aforementioned OST file to
this folder, and deleted the existing Outlook profile. I then re-created
the
profile, and checked to see in Offline Folder Settings that it was
pointing
to the just-copied OST file.

Upon re-starting Outlook, I got an error message stating that the file was
configured for use with another mailbox. Am I completely screwed, as
intimated by Milly Staples? I really need the data in this OST file. ANY
AND
ALL HELP APPRECIATED!

Thanks again so much in advance!

Fred

just to be clear- we are talking the folder security on folders on the
hard
drive, not outlook? you'll need to log in with any account that has admin
rights. I wouldprobably change the owner to someone else, then change it
back. Now, it might be possible to change owners even though the names
are
the same - you will have to step through the change process and see if it
allows it to work. If not, make a new computer account with admin rights
and
change it from there.

--


It shows I already have ownership of the files. However, is this user
name
([email protected]) the "old" user name? Do I need to delete the
user
name as owner and re-add it? Keep in mind the "old" user name and the
current
one are identical.

Also it should be noted I CANNOT log in under the "old" account
(otherwise
I
could just bring up Outlook and export the offline file to a PST)

Thanks!

:

the new domain's and the new user account, while identical to your
eyes,
have different GUID's, so outlook sees them as new accounts. If you
are
trying to access files under the old windows account, log in using an
admin
account and take ownership of the files.

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]
Author, Teach Yourself Outlook 2003 in 24 Hours
Coauthor, OneNote 2003 for Windows (Visual QuickStart Guide)
Need Help with Common Tasks? http://www.outlook-tips.net/beginner/






Hi there - well, I have encountered this exact problem (for me) but
with
one
twist: The "old" domain and user name are the EXACT SAME. Our
Exchange
server
had to be completely redone, but we kept the same domain. So the
Docs &
Settings folder under the "old" user name is like an island that I
can't
get
to.

Any ideas?

Thanks in advance!

Fred

:

Do you have the option of logging in off-line (off-network)? If so,
pull
the
machine off the network and login as the old user. The problem is
that
the
OST is linked to the old user stuff (profile & such)

Thanks for the help....On this computer I had to change the
domain
to
point
to a different one. So when I log on with the old user name it
can't
find
the domain. I tried changing the domain back to what it used to
be
but
it
didn't take. It looks for the domain and can't find it. Can I
create
the
old user name on my domain and log on and open Outlook in offline
mode
so
as
not to overwrite the ost file? Or is there a way to change the
domain
on
this computer back to what it used to be without it actually
looking
for
it?
I wish I had known that the e-mails from over a year ago on this
computer
were of importance, because I would have loved to that from the
beginning.
Something new everyday huh.

 

[Guest]

Wow, this was great information. I had spent a couple days trying to figure
out to recover my old files that I saved offline from an exchange server
network and import to Outlook 2003. I thought for sure the old OST file was
going to be trashed but then I read this string of emails!!! Thanks team!!

Thanks Diane for pointing me in the right direction! I was able to grab the
data I needed using a demo version of Recovery for Exchange. Many thanks! FYI
for others who may need, the link is:

http://www.officerecovery.com/exchange/index.htm

Fred

Ost's are tied to the profile - so yes, you are screwed (or out $600) unless
you can restore to a point where it worked before, which doesn't apply to
your situation.

What version of outlook created the ost? There is a freeware ost 2 pst
utility floating around the internet that might convert the contents, if not
you need the one from officerecovery.com.

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]
Author, Teach Yourself Outlook 2003 in 24 Hours
Coauthor, OneNote 2003 for Windows (Visual QuickStart Guide)
Need Help with Common Tasks? http://www.outlook-tips.net/beginner/

Thanks so much for your replies Diane - Yes we are talking about folder
security. I just dealt with the security on the OST file itself, after
copying it to the appropriate location within the Docs/Settings folder
hierarchy for the NEW domain account. I logged in with the local computer
admin account, removed the domain account completely from the security of
the
OST file, and then replaced it, with full control. I then re-logged in to
the
domain, and took ownership of the file.

I had already deleted all files in the Local Settings/App
Data/Microsoft/Outlook folder, then copied the aforementioned OST file to
this folder, and deleted the existing Outlook profile. I then re-created
the
profile, and checked to see in Offline Folder Settings that it was
pointing
to the just-copied OST file.

Upon re-starting Outlook, I got an error message stating that the file was
configured for use with another mailbox. Am I completely screwed, as
intimated by Milly Staples? I really need the data in this OST file. ANY
AND
ALL HELP APPRECIATED!

Thanks again so much in advance!

Fred

:

just to be clear- we are talking the folder security on folders on the
hard
drive, not outlook? you'll need to log in with any account that has admin
rights. I wouldprobably change the owner to someone else, then change it
back. Now, it might be possible to change owners even though the names
are
the same - you will have to step through the change process and see if it
allows it to work. If not, make a new computer account with admin rights
and
change it from there.

--


It shows I already have ownership of the files. However, is this user
name
([email protected]) the "old" user name? Do I need to delete the
user
name as owner and re-add it? Keep in mind the "old" user name and the
current
one are identical.

Also it should be noted I CANNOT log in under the "old" account
(otherwise
I
could just bring up Outlook and export the offline file to a PST)

Thanks!

:

the new domain's and the new user account, while identical to your
eyes,
have different GUID's, so outlook sees them as new accounts. If you
are
trying to access files under the old windows account, log in using an
admin
account and take ownership of the files.

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]
Author, Teach Yourself Outlook 2003 in 24 Hours
Coauthor, OneNote 2003 for Windows (Visual QuickStart Guide)
Need Help with Common Tasks? http://www.outlook-tips.net/beginner/






Hi there - well, I have encountered this exact problem (for me) but
with
one
twist: The "old" domain and user name are the EXACT SAME. Our
Exchange
server
had to be completely redone, but we kept the same domain. So the
Docs &
Settings folder under the "old" user name is like an island that I
can't
get
to.

Any ideas?

Thanks in advance!

Fred

:

Do you have the option of logging in off-line (off-network)? If so,
pull
the
machine off the network and login as the old user. The problem is
that
the
OST is linked to the old user stuff (profile & such)

Thanks for the help....On this computer I had to change the
domain
to
point
to a different one. So when I log on with the old user name it
can't
find
the domain. I tried changing the domain back to what it used to
be
but
it
didn't take. It looks for the domain and can't find it. Can I
create
the
old user name on my domain and log on and open Outlook in offline
mode
so
as
not to overwrite the ost file? Or is there a way to change the
domain
on
this computer back to what it used to be without it actually
looking
for
it?
I wish I had known that the e-mails from over a year ago on this
computer
were of importance, because I would have loved to that from the
beginning.
Something new everyday huh.

 

[Guest]

Hi there - well, I have encountered this exact problem (for me) but with one
twist: The "old" domain and user name are the EXACT SAME. Our Exchange server
had to be completely redone, but we kept the same domain. So the Docs &
Settings folder under the "old" user name is like an island that I can't get
to.

Any ideas?

Thanks in advance!

Fred