Setting up an IMAP account

[Guest]

My e-mail provider recently changed from a POP3 to IMAP. With POP3 I was
able to create my PST file where ever I wanted and have my mail delivered
there rather than just keeping the default location. I cannot figure out how
to do this with the new IMAP account. I can setup my old PST file as a
Personal Folder so that I can see all of my old mail but the new IMAP mail is
being delivered to the Inbox listed under the new IMAP Inbox thus giving me 2
inboxes. Is there any way around this? I have never used an IMAP account
and I'm afraid that I won't be able to view my mail when I'm offline as I
could with the POP3 account. I am running Windows XP SP2 with Office XP.

 

[Brian Tillman]

My e-mail provider recently changed from a POP3 to IMAP. With POP3 I
was able to create my PST file where ever I wanted and have my mail
delivered there rather than just keeping the default location. I
cannot figure out how to do this with the new IMAP account.

Technically, you can't. IMAP data does not get downloaded from the server
and removed. It stays on the server. Outlook, in an effort to streamline
the process, creates a separate PST to act as a cache for the messages on
the server. Its structure reflects the folder structure on the server. You
can move where the IMAP folder resides, but it's really not worth it.

I can setup my old PST file as a Personal Folder so that I can see all of
my old mail but the new IMAP mail is being delivered to the Inbox
listed under the new IMAP Inbox thus giving me 2 inboxes. Is there
any way around this?

In addition to the other features of IMAP accounts, they can never be your
delivery location, so you'll also always have a set of Personal Folders in
addition to the IMAP folders. Rules, however, should work on the IMAP inbox
and you can create a rule that moves everything elsewhere (like the delivery
location Inbox) if you wish.

I have never used an IMAP account and I'm
afraid that I won't be able to view my mail when I'm offline as I
could with the POP3 account.

If you set the account up (in the send/receive group) to download the entire
item, they should be available if you work offline, but you will have had to
open each folder you'll want to view later.

 

[Guest]

Thanks Brian. I did everything that you suggested and it seems to be working
just fine. I even have a copy of my IMAP e-mail available when I'm offline.
I have a couple of questions though. Why does Outlook insist on creating a
PST file, when the IMAP connection is creating one too, that is designated as
the mail delivery location even though the mail isn't being delivered there
and why can't I delete it? I also tried creating and recreating the IMAP
profile several times and each time a new PST file is created in the Outlook
folder. Why can't I tell Outlook where I want the IMAP PST file to be
created? I also think, but I'm not sure on this one, that a new PST file is
being created each time I connect to my IMAP account. Any thoughts?

 

[Brian Tillman]

Why does
Outlook insist on creating a PST file, when the IMAP connection is
creating one too, that is designated as the mail delivery location
even though the mail isn't being delivered there and why can't I
delete it?

Because an IMAP PST can never be designated as the default delivery location
ans a delivery location is required. IMAP cannot support Tasks, Calendar,
Contacts, Journal, Notes, etc., so all those go in the delivery location
PST.

I also tried creating and recreating the IMAP profile
several times

You're not creating an "IMAP" profile. Mail profiles contain services, like
accounts, address books, address directories, and so on. You can have
multiple accounts in a single mail profile.

and each time a new PST file is created in the Outlook
folder. Why can't I tell Outlook where I want the IMAP PST file to
be created?

Because Microsoft did not implement that option, although you can move an
IMAP PST once it has been created.

I also think, but I'm not sure on this one, that a new
PST file is being created each time I connect to my IMAP account.

No, a PST gets created when you create the account and deleted when you
remove the account. The same PST gets used each time you connect to the
account.

 

[Guest]

How do I move the IMAP PST and configure the profile to use it? I have tried
this with no success.

 

[Brian Tillman]

How do I move the IMAP PST and configure the profile to use it? I
have tried this with no success.

I've used this successfully:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/300593/en-us

 

[Guest]

I have followed the article with success. However, when I press F9 to send
and receive messages from all accounts, I got the following error message:
“The operation failed due to a registry or installation problem. Restart
Outlook and try again. If the problem persists, please reinstall.â€

I have created a new profile and made the following experience:
- First I create and imap account, not move the imap pst file and F9 send
and receive worked fine
- Then, I have moved the imap pst file to other location and open it.
Everthing works fine, except when I press F9 send and receive all. I get the
same error message

Any suggestions besides keep the imap pst file on de default folder?

Thank you.

 

[Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]]

In my experience, you can't move an IMAP .pst file, nor can you force Outlook to create it in any folder other than the usual default.

--
Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
Author of Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003

and Microsoft Outlook Programming - Jumpstart for
Administrators, Power Users, and Developers

 

[Brian Tillman]

I have followed the article with success. However, when I press F9 to
send and receive messages from all accounts, I got the following
error message: “The operation failed due to a registry or
installation problem. Restart Outlook and try again. If the problem
persists, please reinstall.â€

I have created a new profile and made the following experience:
- First I create and imap account, not move the imap pst file and F9
send and receive worked fine
- Then, I have moved the imap pst file to other location and open it.
Everthing works fine, except when I press F9 send and receive all. I
get the same error message

Any suggestions besides keep the imap pst file on de default folder?

Well, I never use F9, so perhaps there's something in the code handling that
key that has side-effects affecting IMAP message stores when they're not in
the default location. In fact, I do not include my IMAP account in the
Send/Receive group. SO, I think your options are limited to either not
performing send/receive or leaving the IMAP store in its default location.

 

[Guest]

you're right, 2007 beta 2 still have this problem too. I just wonder why dont
MS give us an option to choose where to put our data. Put everything in C
drive is such a dangerous thing when you have to live with virus and worms

 

[Brian Tillman]

you're right, 2007 beta 2 still have this problem too. I just wonder
why dont MS give us an option to choose where to put our data. Put
everything in C drive is such a dangerous thing when you have to live
with virus and worms

I have used the instructions here to move an IMAP PST:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/300593/en-us

 

[Guest]

I followed the instruction, but at step 11 when I click OK, there was no
error message, and a new pst file was created automatically in the default
location (I moved the old one to new place as instructed).

Thanks anyway for your reply!
Cheers,

 

[Brian Tillman]

I followed the instruction, but at step 11 when I click OK, there was
no error message, and a new pst file was created automatically in the
default location (I moved the old one to new place as instructed).

Well, I just tried it again and it worked perfectly. Are you sure Outlook
was closed before you started? Did you look in Task Manager to make sure?

 

[Guest]

I did close Outlook, otherwise I could not be able to move the pst file due
to access violation. But anyway I've just found out what the problem was. I
did the process again step-by-step and at each step I watched the default
location to see if the pst file would be created again, and as I guessed,
when I finished step 7 and click Data Files, the pst file was created again.
After that I delete the pst file in the original location, an YES, it
notified me the pst file could not be found and let me choose new location .

Thanks again, without your sussgestion, I would not have solved this
problem. I think MS should create a new KB article which adds 1 more step
between step 7&8: delete the pst file manually

cheers,

 

[Brian Tillman]

I did close Outlook, otherwise I could not be able to move the pst
file due
to access violation. But anyway I've just found out what the problem
was. I did the process again step-by-step and at each step I watched
the default location to see if the pst file would be created again,
and as I guessed, when I finished step 7 and click Data Files, the
pst file was created again. After that I delete the pst file in the
original location, an YES, it notified me the pst file could not be
found and let me choose new location .

Thanks again, without your sussgestion, I would not have solved this
problem. I think MS should create a new KB article which adds 1 more
step between step 7&8: delete the pst file manually

There's no need for that step. Following the article exactly does the job.
I proved it to my own saisfaction twice.