Unable to import contacts saved as pst file

[TG Mat]

I exported contacts to a pst file from laptop using OL 2003 w-Exchange
Server. Now trying to import to PC with OL2002. Error message tells me "pst
file is not compatible with this version of the personal folders information
server, contact administrator. I am the administrator, I think. Is there
way to correct? I also saved the contacts as an Excel file just in case.
Can I use this instead?

I also have OEv6 on PC, is there a way to import to OE then back to OL if
need be? Cannot get back to original laptop, 2000 miles away.

 

[Gordon]

I exported contacts to a pst file from laptop using OL 2003 w-Exchange
Server. Now trying to import to PC with OL2002. Error message tells me
"pst
file is not compatible with this version of the personal folders
information
server, contact administrator. I am the administrator, I think. Is there
way to correct? I also saved the contacts as an Excel file just in case.
Can I use this instead?

Why are you using the import function? just OPEN the pst file in Outlook and
copy the data across. (As posted here on an almost daily basis).
Why not import?
(Courtesy of Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook])

Importing an entire PST may well corrupt your profile and may create a ghost
PST that you can't close. Importing PST's will lose:
1. Custom Forms
2. Custom Views
3. Connections between contacts and activities
4. Received dates on mail
5. Birthdays and anniversaries in calendar
6. Journal connections
7. Distribution Lists

Opening a PST file will preserve all of these. That is why we do not advise
people to import a native file into Outlook.

 

[TG Mat]

when I try to open the pst with OL, I get message that "contacts.pst is not
compatible with this version of Personal Folders information service, please
contact your administrator"
--
Tankman

I exported contacts to a pst file from laptop using OL 2003 w-Exchange
Server. Now trying to import to PC with OL2002. Error message tells me
"pst
file is not compatible with this version of the personal folders
information
server, contact administrator. I am the administrator, I think. Is there
way to correct? I also saved the contacts as an Excel file just in case.
Can I use this instead?

Why are you using the import function? just OPEN the pst file in Outlook and
copy the data across. (As posted here on an almost daily basis).
Why not import?
(Courtesy of Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook])

Importing an entire PST may well corrupt your profile and may create a ghost
PST that you can't close. Importing PST's will lose:
1. Custom Forms
2. Custom Views
3. Connections between contacts and activities
4. Received dates on mail
5. Birthdays and anniversaries in calendar
6. Journal connections
7. Distribution Lists

Opening a PST file will preserve all of these. That is why we do not advise
people to import a native file into Outlook.

 

[Gordon]

when I try to open the pst with OL, I get message that "contacts.pst is
not
compatible with this version of Personal Folders information service,
please
contact your administrator"

Copy the pst file to your HDD and remove any Read-Only attribute.

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

Won't help. User created an UNICODE PST file that he is now trying to open
in Outlook 2002. File must first be opened in Outlook 2003, then copied into
an ANSI PST file (aka "Outlook 97-2002" format).

 

[Gordon]

Won't help. User created an UNICODE PST file that he is now trying to open
in Outlook 2002. File must first be opened in Outlook 2003, then copied
into an ANSI PST file (aka "Outlook 97-2002" format).

I assumed the export function would have given the OP a choice - is that not
so?

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

Not so. It never has. One more reason never to use that option.

 

[Brian Tillman]

I exported contacts to a pst file from laptop using OL 2003 w-Exchange
Server. Now trying to import to PC with OL2002. Error message tells
me "pst file is not compatible with this version of the personal
folders information server, contact administrator. I am the
administrator, I think. Is there way to correct? I also saved the
contacts as an Excel file just in case. Can I use this instead?

The problem is that exporting with OL 2003 creates a Unicode PST, which
earlier versions of Outlook cannot read. You must explicitly create an ANSI
(i.e., Outlook 97-2002) PST in Outlook 2003 and then you can export (or,
better yet, copy) your Outlook data to that PST. Go back to the OL 2003
system. The information here will help:
http://www.howto-outlook.com/howto/downgradefromoutlook2003.htm