O2003, pst corrupted?

[StargateFan]

I had trouble with a fresh install of O2003 after an hdd
wipe/reinstall. I messed up in that I didn't import the PST. I set
it as the target PST first only. _Then_ I tried importing it.
Somehow that seems to have screwed things up. After importing, I only
got the calendar and tasks but no emails. And I forgot to make a copy
first (I know, bad!).

Is there anything that can be done to salvage this? I've been
battling this since day before yesterday and haven't come up with a
way to get my emails back. Thx. D

 

[Roady [MVP]]

Importing and overwriting pst-files are two of the things you should never
ever do in order to restore from a backup. It's posted here multiple times
per day.

Instead use File-> Open-> Outlook Data File...
After that, set it as the default delivery location or move the items you
want.

 

[DL]

Use the Mail applet in the control panel to create a new data file & set
this as default.
Copy your old data file from wherever you stored it origonally to your
Documents folder, ensure any read only attribute is off, if you copied via
cd.
If you dont have the origonal pst copy, then your probably stuffed.
Then within OL, File>Open>Data File..........browse to its location & open
it

 

[StargateFan]

Use the Mail applet in the control panel to create a new data file & set
this as default.

Thanks, same process, different way but followed this again.

Copy your old data file from wherever you stored it origonally to your
Documents folder, ensure any read only attribute is off, if you copied via
cd.

Yeah, did this again, too.

If you dont have the origonal pst copy, then your probably stuffed.
Then within OL, File>Open>Data File..........browse to its location & open
it

I do. That's what is baffling. The old PST file shows the same size,
yet no matter what I do, I don't get my folders and messages from
before.

I used the data file process this time around and I'm screwed. I paid
attention from all the warnings about importing PST files and yet the
first time I do this after all the years of importing PSTs, and it
doesn't work!

I went online and searched and searched but I don't see what to do.
What I don't have is a backup copy of either of the 2 PST files so if
something has been "corrupted" in them, in that case, yes I'm
"stuffed", as you say <g>.

Nothing gets copied the data file way, yet only 1 folder gets
retrieved re the "importing PST" way. What's up with this, anyone
know?

Thx.

 

[DL]

So if you open this old data file within OL, nothing is visible?
You are looking at the correct set of Personal Folders?
What size is this data file?

 

[StargateFan]

So if you open this old data file within OL, nothing is visible?

OL? I haven't been able to access the contents of the files in any
way that I know how. I don't know what this OL is. When I've used
both PST files, nothing happened. No new user acct or anything
appeared, that's the thing. Literally, nothing.

You are looking at the correct set of Personal Folders?

Yes and no. When I named it something else in the data folder, I'd
get that rather than "Personal Folders". But no matter what I called
it, nothing appears other than the basic folders that were there at
Outlook install. None of mine comee up.

What size is this data file?

98 megs! All my original stuff is there, it feels like. It's just
not coming out. Drat that I would choose to do the data file thing
this time around rather than importing my PST file as I've always
done, and contrary to all the doom and gloom, have never had a problem
with <sigh>. 8 or 9 years of no problems only to be faced with a huge
problem the minute I do what I'm allegedly _supposed_ to do <grrr>.

The data is in there, otherwise, the size would have changed, I'm
guessing. Last few installs have been O2003 vs. O2K and I imported
with no problems. The files were fine. But have this problem now.
Can anything be done?

I will be setting up a script and somehow automating back up of the
pst in future by some criteria on a regular basis. Since nothing
works seamlessly between installs, I'll be setting up something
probably in AutoIt that I can then plug into a standalone
scheduler/launcher that I use which is just a shortcut into the
startup folder after an hdd wipe/reinstall. That will ensure that the
backup occurs no matter what, and that will prompt me when and if
there are any problems. I'm not going to go through this type of
thing again.

But what can be done in the meantime?

Thanks. D

 

[DL]

OL = Outlook
You have yet to explain what happens, if, in outlook you use File>Open>Data
File.......browse to and open your old data file.

Lets start again - slowly & step by step.
1) Do you have a copy of your origonal data file, on media?
2) Assuming yes, copy that to your Documents Folder - nowhere else & dont
rename it
If you used cd, check its file properties that the read only attribute is
off
3) Start Outlook, then within Outllook, File>Open>Data File........browse to
& open this data File.
4) In folder view you should then see two sets of Personal Folders do you?
(I assume initially only a single set was open)
Are you able to expand that set of Personal Folders and see your old mail?
Forget about renaming anything.
User accounts are not contained within the data file & never have been.

There is a free OL backup adding available on MS OL site, no need to
script/automate anything, or you could include OL data in your normal backup
routine