Cannot start Microsoft Office Outlook.

[PaulJB]

Hi

When I try and start Outlook 2007, it appears to try and start then it gives
me the following error message "Cannot start Microsoft Office Outlook. The
set of folders cannot be opened. The file C:\Documents and
settings\Administrator\Local Settings\Application
Data\Microsoft\Outlook\Outlook.pst is not a personal folders file.

Yet I actually copied one of the backed up .pst archive files and pasted it
in that directory (is it normal that the Local settings folder is a hidden
folder)

I still cannot start Outlook....

Please can someone help...but in a non-technical way...

Thanks
Paul

 

[DL]

Well copying a backup to the default location is not going to do anything to
help
Locate scanpst.exe and run it against the outlook.pst data file to see if it
can be repaired
Run it several times if it reports & fixes any errors

 

[Brian Tillman [MVP - Outlook]]

When I try and start Outlook 2007, it appears to try and start then it gives
me the following error message "Cannot start Microsoft Office Outlook. The
set of folders cannot be opened. The file C:\Documents and
settings\Administrator\Local Settings\Application
Data\Microsoft\Outlook\Outlook.pst is not a personal folders file.

One thing to point out here: you should not be using the Admonistrator account
as your active account. That account should be password-protected and not use
except to perform administrative actions on the PC.

When Outlook states that a PST is not a personal folders file, that's a string
indication that the PST is toast and cannot be recovered. SCANPST (the Inbox
Repair Tool) won't accept that PST either. Your best hope is to obtain a
commercial PST recovery tool, which may be better able to process the damaged
PST. Start here: http://www.slipstick.com/problems/scanpst.asp

Yet I actually copied one of the backed up .pst archive files and pasted it
in that directory (is it normal that the Local settings folder is a hidden
folder)

This is a sure-fire recipe for damaging your Outlook mail profile. Never
overwrite an active PST with another of the same name. Instead, place it in
some OTHER folder and/or give it a new name, then rename to old PST so Outlook
can't find it. Start Outlook and, when it complains that it can't find its
folders, browse to the other PST and select it. Outlook should open with that
PST as the default folders.

I think that you should start with a new mail profile and configure it to use
the backup PST as its delivery location.

 

[PaulJB]

Hi Brian

I am afraid that is way above my head, I have only faisly basic user
knowledge and based on your response that is a dangerous thing....

How do you think this has happened? It just stopped working one day...

I am the only oe who uses this PC, so I have always used the "Administrator
Account" because that is the only account I have set up.

 

[Brian Tillman [MVP - Outlook]]

I have tried to do that and I cannot see the 'Local Settings' folder as it
is a 'hidden folder' and I have no idea how to browse through hidden folders
using the scanpst.exe tool...

So, don't browse. Open Windows Explorer and, inthe Address field, type the
exact path

"C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Local Settting\Application
Data\Microsoft\Outlook"

and click Go. You can also use Start>Run and enter that path (complete with
quotes) in the Open field, then click OK.

Alternatively, in Windows Explorer, click Tools>Folder Options. Select the
View tab and click the radio button labeled "Show hidden files and folders".
Consider unchecking "Hide extensions for known file types" as well. Click OK.

 

[Brian Tillman [MVP - Outlook]]

How do you think this has happened? It just stopped working one day...

It's impossible to say, except that nothing on a computer "just happens".

I am the only oe who uses this PC, so I have always used the "Administrator
Account" because that is the only account I have set up.

Immaterial. Never use the Administrator account for normal activity if you
value the data on your PC. Some might say I'm overly cautious with this
advice, but it's still my opinion, *especially* if, as you say, your only a
"fairly basic" user.

 

[PaulJB]

Hi Brian

Finding the file n explorer isn't the problem, finding it with the
scanpst.exe repair too is, it only gives you a browse option....

Sorry to seem a little dense

 

[K. Orland]

I agree with Brian. You shouldn't run your PC connected to the internet with
elevated privileges such as Administrator. If your PC is compromised at all,
administrative privileges is just what's needed to do some serious damage.
You should create another user account once you have your Outlook problem
sorted out, an account without administrative privileges.

Outlook can stop working for a number of reasons which is why Brian is
questioning you so carefully. The scanpst.exe utility is used to scan your
PST file (your Outlook data file) for errors and fix them, because it sounds
as though the file has corrupted.

 

[Brian Tillman [MVP - Outlook]]

Finding the file n explorer isn't the problem, finding it with the
scanpst.exe repair too is, it only gives you a browse option....

OK. Open Windows Explorer and click Tools>Folder Options. Select the View
tab and click the radio button labeled "How hidden files and folders".
Consider, also, unchecking the box labeled "Hide file extensions for known
file types". Click OK. You;ll then be able to browse from SCANPST to your
PST.

 

[Brian Tillman [MVP - Outlook]]

OK. Open Windows Explorer and click Tools>Folder Options. Select the View
tab and click the radio button labeled "How hidden files and folders".

Oops. That's "Show hidden files and folders".