Bringing Outlook 2002 emails, tasks, folders, etc into Outlook 200

[Janna]

I currently have Office XP Professional 2002 on my Windows XP Home Edition
(SP3) PC and plan to do a full, new install of Office Professional 2007 (not
an upgrade) onto that machine. I'll then switch over to using Office 2007.
My question is how do I bring my Outlook 2002 (SP3) emails, tasks, calendar,
and personal folder contents into Outlook 2007. I'd hate to lose those
emails and tasks. Thanks.

 

[Brian Tillman [MVP - Outlook]]

I currently have Office XP Professional 2002 on my Windows XP Home Edition
(SP3) PC and plan to do a full, new install of Office Professional 2007 (not
an upgrade) onto that machine. I'll then switch over to using Office 2007.
My question is how do I bring my Outlook 2002 (SP3) emails, tasks, calendar,
and personal folder contents into Outlook 2007. I'd hate to lose those
emails and tasks. Thanks.

Just open the old PST in the new Outlook. File>Open>Outlook Data File.

 

[Janna]

I've read a few things on the Discussion Groups that have confused me, so I'd
like to clarify what you just wrote - if I open this file as you instructed,
the old .pst file will be there, not a new one created by the 2007 install?

And, I've read that you should not import the .pst file - so, is there a way
to back up my old emails, tasks, etc, in case something goes wrong?

(just trying to anticipate potential problems before they happen).

Thanks!

 

[Brian Tillman [MVP - Outlook]]

I've read a few things on the Discussion Groups that have confused me, so
I'd
like to clarify what you just wrote - if I open this file as you instructed,
the old .pst file will be there, not a new one created by the 2007 install?

Usually, installing Outlook and configuring it for the first time will,
indeed, create a mail profile and a PST. You can open the old PST as I
describe and copy the contents of its folders to the corresponding folders in
the default PST you'll have. You can also, if you like, make the original PST
the delivery location, but it will still have the 2GB size limit whereas a new
PST won't.

And, I've read that you should not import the .pst file - so, is there a way
to back up my old emails, tasks, etc, in case something goes wrong?

Just make an extra copy of the PST.

 

[Janna]

Thanks for your patience, Brian, while I ask more logistical questions:

(1) I guess my real question was, will creating the new PST for Outlook 2007
overwrite the existing PST from Outlook 2002? And, if not, how do I know
which is the old and which is the new? Wouldn't looking for the PST in
Outlook 2007 by default take me to the new one it's created, and not the old
one from 2002?

(2) About making a copy as backup: Although when I open Outlook (2002) and
look in File > Open > Outlook Data File, I can see the .pst file and the
path, when I look in My Computer, that path doesn't exist and I can't find
the file. Therefore, how do I make a copy as backup?

 

[Brian Tillman [MVP - Outlook]]

(1) I guess my real question was, will creating the new PST for Outlook 2007
overwrite the existing PST from Outlook 2002? And, if not, how do I know
which is the old and which is the new? Wouldn't looking for the PST in
Outlook 2007 by default take me to the new one it's created, and not the old
one from 2002?

Not likely, but don't take a chance. Put the old PST in My Documents so
Outlook doesn't know it's there when you're configuring it. After Outlook is
configured, you can open that old PST right where it is. There's nothing
magic about where a PST can be located. You can have one in any folder to
which you have read/write/create permission.

(2) About making a copy as backup: Although when I open Outlook (2002) and
look in File > Open > Outlook Data File, I can see the .pst file and the
path, when I look in My Computer, that path doesn't exist and I can't find
the file. Therefore, how do I make a copy as backup?

The default location for PSTs Outlook creates is below a hidden folder (Local
Settings is hidden by default). You can enable viewing hidden files and
folders in Control Panel's Folder Options or you can simply open Windows
Explorer and in the Address bar, type the complete path:
C:\Documents and Settings\yourname\Local Settings\Application
Data\Microsoft\Outlook
Click Go.