Unable to close duplicate "Personal Folders" after moving PST

[Philip Herlihy]

I decided to move my Outlook 2002 PST store to another partition for easier
backup. I copied the file, and made changes in
Tools/Options/Mail-Setup/Data Files, where I added the copied PST, later
setting it to be the default for delivery of new mail (via Email Accounts).

Now I can't delete the original "Personal Folders" in the folder list. I
get the error: "The operation failed: an object could not be found". Not
critical, but annoying.

I've tried hunting for a profile to delete in:
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows
Messaging Subsystem\Profiles\Outlook]
.... and hacked out references to the (now-spurious) PST file. That didn't
work. (Since restored).

I've also tried running "Outlook.exe /resetfolders". That didn't work.

I've seen references online to a fix by creating a new profile. I'm
reluctant to do that as I have many email accounts, and there seems to be no
way (in 2002) to export and re-import them (a bizarre "improvement" on
earlier versions).

Any suggestions?

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

Looks like you did everything right and it should have worked.

But you should not be trying to delete this second set of folders, you
should be closing them. Can you do that?

Also, it is not a profile you are tying to delete, but the reference to a
PST file. HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows
NT\CurrentVersion\Windows Messaging Subsystem\Profiles\<your profile name>
Look in the tree under that point (it should be full of keys with long
hexadecimal value names) and look for a section that references the PST file
you want off of your folder tree. Export that section (for safety) and then
delete it.

If that doesn't work, then I know of no alternative but to create a new
profile.

 

[I live on Quicken and Outlook]

Looks like you did everything right and it should have worked.

But you should not be trying to delete this second set of folders, you
should be closing them. Can you do that?

Also, it is not a profile you are tying to delete, but the reference to a
PST file. HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows
NT\CurrentVersion\Windows Messaging Subsystem\Profiles\<your profile name>
Look in the tree under that point (it should be full of keys with long
hexadecimal value names) and look for a section that references the PST file
you want off of your folder tree. Export that section (for safety) and then
delete it.

I had the same problem as the OP, so I followed your advise.

Observation: The PST file I was trying to force-remove has its name
encoded in the data of some of the variables in the registry key.
This PST file name occurs in multiple sub-sub-keys.

Result: I (exported the registry key and) then deleted all occurences
of the PST file. Opened up Outlook. The FILE was there, but the name
was missing.

So, I re-rad regedit and found that I missed a few occurrences of the
PST file. Started Outlook again. No change from above.

Re-ran regedit, and found the same few occurences of the PST filename
were still there. Only this time I was sure I hadn't missed them.
Soemthiing, somehow, was reinserting these entries.

What's next?

If that doesn't work, then I know of no alternative but to create a new
profile.

For me, that didn't work, because I don't want to use the PST file
that is automagically created with a new profile.

Before I forget: I'm using OL 2003 under Win XP SP1.

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

I see no reason that creating a new profile wouldn't work.
Explain why.
In no way must you use the new PST file that Outlook creates.

 

[Philip Herlihy]

Thanks, Russ.

I have been trying to "Close" the folders in my folder list, but always get
that error. I did delete all the references to my old PST in that
registry key, but it didn't work. I'm becoming reconciled to typing in all
those account details again. Is there really no way to export them in 2002?

--
####################
## PH, London
####################

Looks like you did everything right and it should have worked.

But you should not be trying to delete this second set of folders, you
should be closing them. Can you do that?

Also, it is not a profile you are tying to delete, but the reference to a
PST file. HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows
NT\CurrentVersion\Windows Messaging Subsystem\Profiles\<your profile name>
Look in the tree under that point (it should be full of keys with long
hexadecimal value names) and look for a section that references the PST
file
you want off of your folder tree. Export that section (for safety) and
then
delete it.

If that doesn't work, then I know of no alternative but to create a new
profile.

--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

I decided to move my Outlook 2002 PST store to another partition for
easier backup. I copied the file, and made changes in
Tools/Options/Mail-Setup/Data Files, where I added the copied PST, later
setting it to be the default for delivery of new mail (via Email
Accounts).

Now I can't delete the original "Personal Folders" in the folder list. I
get the error: "The operation failed: an object could not be found".
Not critical, but annoying.

I've tried hunting for a profile to delete in:
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows
Messaging Subsystem\Profiles\Outlook]
... and hacked out references to the (now-spurious) PST file. That
didn't work. (Since restored).

I've also tried running "Outlook.exe /resetfolders". That didn't work.

I've seen references online to a fix by creating a new profile. I'm
reluctant to do that as I have many email accounts, and there seems to be
no way (in 2002) to export and re-import them (a bizarre "improvement" on
earlier versions).

Any suggestions?

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

There really isn't, at least not that I know of.

--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Thanks, Russ.

I have been trying to "Close" the folders in my folder list, but always
get that error. I did delete all the references to my old PST in that
registry key, but it didn't work. I'm becoming reconciled to typing in
all those account details again. Is there really no way to export them in
2002?

--
####################
## PH, London
####################

Looks like you did everything right and it should have worked.

But you should not be trying to delete this second set of folders, you
should be closing them. Can you do that?

Also, it is not a profile you are tying to delete, but the reference to a
PST file. HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows
NT\CurrentVersion\Windows Messaging Subsystem\Profiles\<your profile
name>
Look in the tree under that point (it should be full of keys with long
hexadecimal value names) and look for a section that references the PST
file
you want off of your folder tree. Export that section (for safety) and
then
delete it.

If that doesn't work, then I know of no alternative but to create a new
profile.

--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

I decided to move my Outlook 2002 PST store to another partition for
easier backup. I copied the file, and made changes in
Tools/Options/Mail-Setup/Data Files, where I added the copied PST, later
setting it to be the default for delivery of new mail (via Email
Accounts).

Now I can't delete the original "Personal Folders" in the folder list.
I get the error: "The operation failed: an object could not be found".
Not critical, but annoying.

I've tried hunting for a profile to delete in:
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows
Messaging Subsystem\Profiles\Outlook]
... and hacked out references to the (now-spurious) PST file. That
didn't work. (Since restored).

I've also tried running "Outlook.exe /resetfolders". That didn't work.

I've seen references online to a fix by creating a new profile. I'm
reluctant to do that as I have many email accounts, and there seems to
be no way (in 2002) to export and re-import them (a bizarre
"improvement" on earlier versions).

Any suggestions?

 

[Philip Herlihy]

Bullet-biting time, then. Any idea why they took this useful facility out?

Meanwhile, I'll enter my accounts into Outlook Express, from where they can
be exported, and from where Outlook will import them. Not being caught out
again!

Thanks for the help!

--
####################
## PH, London
####################

There really isn't, at least not that I know of.

--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Thanks, Russ.

I have been trying to "Close" the folders in my folder list, but always
get that error. I did delete all the references to my old PST in that
registry key, but it didn't work. I'm becoming reconciled to typing in
all those account details again. Is there really no way to export them
in 2002?

--
####################
## PH, London
####################

Looks like you did everything right and it should have worked.

But you should not be trying to delete this second set of folders, you
should be closing them. Can you do that?

Also, it is not a profile you are tying to delete, but the reference to
a PST file. HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows
NT\CurrentVersion\Windows Messaging Subsystem\Profiles\<your profile
name>
Look in the tree under that point (it should be full of keys with long
hexadecimal value names) and look for a section that references the PST
file
you want off of your folder tree. Export that section (for safety) and
then
delete it.

If that doesn't work, then I know of no alternative but to create a new
profile.

--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
I decided to move my Outlook 2002 PST store to another partition for
easier backup. I copied the file, and made changes in
Tools/Options/Mail-Setup/Data Files, where I added the copied PST, later
setting it to be the default for delivery of new mail (via Email
Accounts).

Now I can't delete the original "Personal Folders" in the folder list.
I get the error: "The operation failed: an object could not be
found". Not critical, but annoying.

I've tried hunting for a profile to delete in:
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows
Messaging Subsystem\Profiles\Outlook]
... and hacked out references to the (now-spurious) PST file. That
didn't work. (Since restored).

I've also tried running "Outlook.exe /resetfolders". That didn't work.

I've seen references online to a fix by creating a new profile. I'm
reluctant to do that as I have many email accounts, and there seems to
be no way (in 2002) to export and re-import them (a bizarre
"improvement" on earlier versions).

Any suggestions?

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

No idea. It never worked very well so maybe they decided to boot it instead
of fix it.

--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Bullet-biting time, then. Any idea why they took this useful facility
out?

Meanwhile, I'll enter my accounts into Outlook Express, from where they
can be exported, and from where Outlook will import them. Not being
caught out again!

Thanks for the help!

--
####################
## PH, London
####################

There really isn't, at least not that I know of.

--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Thanks, Russ.

I have been trying to "Close" the folders in my folder list, but always
get that error. I did delete all the references to my old PST in that
registry key, but it didn't work. I'm becoming reconciled to typing in
all those account details again. Is there really no way to export them
in 2002?

--
####################
## PH, London
####################
Looks like you did everything right and it should have worked.

But you should not be trying to delete this second set of folders, you
should be closing them. Can you do that?

Also, it is not a profile you are tying to delete, but the reference to
a PST file. HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows
NT\CurrentVersion\Windows Messaging Subsystem\Profiles\<your profile
name>
Look in the tree under that point (it should be full of keys with long
hexadecimal value names) and look for a section that references the PST
file
you want off of your folder tree. Export that section (for safety) and
then
delete it.

If that doesn't work, then I know of no alternative but to create a new
profile.

--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
I decided to move my Outlook 2002 PST store to another partition for
easier backup. I copied the file, and made changes in
Tools/Options/Mail-Setup/Data Files, where I added the copied PST,
later setting it to be the default for delivery of new mail (via Email
Accounts).

Now I can't delete the original "Personal Folders" in the folder list.
I get the error: "The operation failed: an object could not be
found". Not critical, but annoying.

I've tried hunting for a profile to delete in:
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows
NT\CurrentVersion\Windows Messaging Subsystem\Profiles\Outlook]
... and hacked out references to the (now-spurious) PST file. That
didn't work. (Since restored).

I've also tried running "Outlook.exe /resetfolders". That didn't
work.

I've seen references online to a fix by creating a new profile. I'm
reluctant to do that as I have many email accounts, and there seems to
be no way (in 2002) to export and re-import them (a bizarre
"improvement" on earlier versions).

Any suggestions?

 

[I live on Quicken and Outlook]

There really isn't, at least not that I know of.

Well, there is a "sort of"way to export account details.

Open up the email accounts window and then do an ALT-PRINTSCREEN.
Then open up Wordpad or Word and do a PASTE operation. You should end
up with a screenshot of the email accounts window.

I know this is a real jackleg way to do things, or as my son would put
it, real "ghetto" but it does work. Sort of.

ILOO.

 

[Jerry]

Just had a similar problem; I created a new profile and
was able to delete the old one.

I also had the challenge of re-creating all the accounts,
and apparently you can do it by exporting the key
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows Messaging Subsystem\
Profiles\<profile name>, replacing all occurrences
of the <profile name> in the .reg file (using a text editor)
with a new name, and finally importing this in the registry.

The above method I just applied yesterday. Although it seems
to work so far, I am not sure it's taking care of absolutely everything.


The professional way to store your account setup is to use a PRF file.
Have look at:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HA011403051033.aspx

Also:
http://www.outlook-tips.net/howto/prf.htm


| On Tue, 22 Feb 2005 08:26:43 -0500, "Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]"
|
| >There really isn't, at least not that I know of.
|
| Well, there is a "sort of"way to export account details.
|
| Open up the email accounts window and then do an ALT-PRINTSCREEN.
| Then open up Wordpad or Word and do a PASTE operation. You should end
| up with a screenshot of the email accounts window.
|
| I know this is a real jackleg way to do things, or as my son would put
| it, real "ghetto" but it does work. Sort of.
|
| ILOO.

 

[Philip Herlihy]

Well, I've now sorted mine out. Before creating the new profile I brought
up the account details using the old one, and copied them (eye to keyboard)
into Outlook Express. When done and tested, I exported the account files
from OE for long term storage. Then, when I created the new Outlook
profile, it imported all the accounts from OE instantly. But I now have all
the accounts backed up. If this comes up again, I'll certainly look into
..PRF files, though.