Can't delete ghost folder from Mail Navigation Pane

[Learner]

I tried to post this question earlier, but I think it failed to be posted due
to a technical glitch. Rather than wait, I have rewritten the question (this
time saved also in WordPad) and am now reposting it. Sorry for any confusion
called.


I use Outlook 2003 on a stand-alone machine, not networked.

From an old PST file I exported the Contacts folder, saving it also as a PST
file, which I called "Old Contacts". Then I imported that PST file of old
contacts into a new default Personal Folders PST file. Apparently that
succeeded: when I click on the CONTACTS BUTTON at the foot of the Navigation
Pane, the list of Contacts folders displayed in the Navigation Pane includes
one called "Old Contacts", with entries corresponding to the contacts
exported from the old PST file.

However, there's a problem: when I click on the MAIL BUTTON at the foot of
the navigation pane, the list of personal folders displayed in the
Navigation Pane includes one, called "Old Contacts", which contains no
contacts. Moreover, right clicking on that "Old Contacts" folder and
clicking on the "Close 'Old Contacts'" yields an error message saying that no
object can be found.

Going to File / Data Files Management, I see that this "Old Contacts" folder
is not listed among the PST files displayed in the Data Files window.

What can I do to remove that defunct "Old Contacts" entry from the
Navigation Pane?

Learner

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

Exporting and importing are never the correct way to transfer Outlook data.
It creates all sorts of problems. This is only one of them. Your Outlook
profile is corrupt. Create a new one.

 

[Thomas Bartlett]

Through the File menu / New option I have created a new profile. The old
profile's ghost data file called "Old Contacts" is now gone. Thanks for
that tip.

Since exporting and importing are not to be used, then what is the safe way
to transfer folders, messages, calendars, contacts, and rules (for message
handling) into the new default PST file in the new profile? I have several
other recent PST files containing mail, calendar items, contacts, and rules
which I'd like reproduced in the new default PST. Can I drag and drop
folders and messages from non-default PST files into the default PST,
without corrupting it? Or should I use the right-click menu option "Copy",
to make such transfers?

Learner

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

Can't tell what you did, but you cannot create a new Outlook profile from
within Outlook itself and most certainly not from the File > New menu.
Take a look at these pages for info on Outlook data backup or transfer:
http://www.slipstick.com/config/backup.htm
http://www.howto-outlook.com/Howto/backupandrestore.htm
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HA010771141033.aspx

Basically, you simply open the PST file in Outlook. At that point you can
either copy data from it into your current PST file or you can set Outlook
to use it as its new default PST file.

 

[Thomas Bartlett]

You're right: the new Outlook profile was set up through Control Panel >
Mail Setup. Through File > New a new PST file can be created. Thanks for
the references to info on Outlook data back or transfer; I'll pursue those.

Can't tell what you did, but you cannot create a new Outlook profile from
within Outlook itself and most certainly not from the File > New menu.
Take a look at these pages for info on Outlook data backup or transfer:
http://www.slipstick.com/config/backup.htm
http://www.howto-outlook.com/Howto/backupandrestore.htm
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HA010771141033.aspx

Basically, you simply open the PST file in Outlook. At that point you can
either copy data from it into your current PST file or you can set Outlook
to use it as its new default PST file.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Through the File menu / New option I have created a new profile. The old
profile's ghost data file called "Old Contacts" is now gone. Thanks for
that tip.

Since exporting and importing are not to be used, then what is the safe
way to transfer folders, messages, calendars, contacts, and rules (for
message handling) into the new default PST file in the new profile? I
have several other recent PST files containing mail, calendar items,
contacts, and rules which I'd like reproduced in the new default PST.
Can I drag and drop folders and messages from non-default PST files into
the default PST, without corrupting it? Or should I use the right-click
menu option "Copy", to make such transfers?

Learner

 

[Thomas Bartlett]

If exporting and importing is not the way to transfer data in or out of
Outlook, then what's the best way to transfer mail messages from Outlook
Express to Outlook?

Learner

Exporting and importing are never the correct way to transfer Outlook
data. It creates all sorts of problems. This is only one of them. Your
Outlook profile is corrupt. Create a new one.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

I tried to post this question earlier, but I think it failed to be posted
due
to a technical glitch. Rather than wait, I have rewritten the question
(this
time saved also in WordPad) and am now reposting it. Sorry for any
confusion
called.


I use Outlook 2003 on a stand-alone machine, not networked.

From an old PST file I exported the Contacts folder, saving it also as a
PST
file, which I called "Old Contacts". Then I imported that PST file of old
contacts into a new default Personal Folders PST file. Apparently that
succeeded: when I click on the CONTACTS BUTTON at the foot of the
Navigation
Pane, the list of Contacts folders displayed in the Navigation Pane
includes
one called "Old Contacts", with entries corresponding to the contacts
exported from the old PST file.

However, there's a problem: when I click on the MAIL BUTTON at the foot
of
the navigation pane, the list of personal folders displayed in the
Navigation Pane includes one, called "Old Contacts", which contains no
contacts. Moreover, right clicking on that "Old Contacts" folder and
clicking on the "Close 'Old Contacts'" yields an error message saying
that no
object can be found.

Going to File / Data Files Management, I see that this "Old Contacts"
folder
is not listed among the PST files displayed in the Data Files window.

What can I do to remove that defunct "Old Contacts" entry from the
Navigation Pane?

Learner

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

What does that have to do with your question? When transferring from another
program, you must export or import. Those routines work.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

If exporting and importing is not the way to transfer data in or out of
Outlook, then what's the best way to transfer mail messages from Outlook
Express to Outlook?

Learner

Exporting and importing are never the correct way to transfer Outlook
data. It creates all sorts of problems. This is only one of them. Your
Outlook profile is corrupt. Create a new one.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

I tried to post this question earlier, but I think it failed to be posted
due
to a technical glitch. Rather than wait, I have rewritten the question
(this
time saved also in WordPad) and am now reposting it. Sorry for any
confusion
called.


I use Outlook 2003 on a stand-alone machine, not networked.

From an old PST file I exported the Contacts folder, saving it also as a
PST
file, which I called "Old Contacts". Then I imported that PST file of
old
contacts into a new default Personal Folders PST file. Apparently that
succeeded: when I click on the CONTACTS BUTTON at the foot of the
Navigation
Pane, the list of Contacts folders displayed in the Navigation Pane
includes
one called "Old Contacts", with entries corresponding to the contacts
exported from the old PST file.

However, there's a problem: when I click on the MAIL BUTTON at the foot
of
the navigation pane, the list of personal folders displayed in the
Navigation Pane includes one, called "Old Contacts", which contains no
contacts. Moreover, right clicking on that "Old Contacts" folder and
clicking on the "Close 'Old Contacts'" yields an error message saying
that no
object can be found.

Going to File / Data Files Management, I see that this "Old Contacts"
folder
is not listed among the PST files displayed in the Data Files window.

What can I do to remove that defunct "Old Contacts" entry from the
Navigation Pane?

Learner

 

[Thomas Bartlett]

In your first posting in this thread, you wrote "Exporting and importing are
never the correct way to transfer Outlook data." I supposed you meant not
only transfer of data internally within Outlook, but also externally between
Outlook and other programs. So I asked the question about that, to which
your latest posting is a reply. You seem to be surprised at the extent of
my ignorance, for which I apologize. Anyway, this dialogue, pursued step by
step, helps me to understand Outlook better. Thanks very much.

What does that have to do with your question? When transferring from
another program, you must export or import. Those routines work.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

If exporting and importing is not the way to transfer data in or out of
Outlook, then what's the best way to transfer mail messages from Outlook
Express to Outlook?

Learner

Exporting and importing are never the correct way to transfer Outlook
data. It creates all sorts of problems. This is only one of them. Your
Outlook profile is corrupt. Create a new one.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
I tried to post this question earlier, but I think it failed to be
posted due
to a technical glitch. Rather than wait, I have rewritten the question
(this
time saved also in WordPad) and am now reposting it. Sorry for any
confusion
called.


I use Outlook 2003 on a stand-alone machine, not networked.

From an old PST file I exported the Contacts folder, saving it also as
a PST
file, which I called "Old Contacts". Then I imported that PST file of
old
contacts into a new default Personal Folders PST file. Apparently that
succeeded: when I click on the CONTACTS BUTTON at the foot of the
Navigation
Pane, the list of Contacts folders displayed in the Navigation Pane
includes
one called "Old Contacts", with entries corresponding to the contacts
exported from the old PST file.

However, there's a problem: when I click on the MAIL BUTTON at the
foot of
the navigation pane, the list of personal folders displayed in the
Navigation Pane includes one, called "Old Contacts", which contains no
contacts. Moreover, right clicking on that "Old Contacts" folder and
clicking on the "Close 'Old Contacts'" yields an error message saying
that no
object can be found.

Going to File / Data Files Management, I see that this "Old Contacts"
folder
is not listed among the PST files displayed in the Data Files window.

What can I do to remove that defunct "Old Contacts" entry from the
Navigation Pane?

Learner

 

[Brian Tillman [MVP - Outlook]]

In your first posting in this thread, you wrote "Exporting and importing
are never the correct way to transfer Outlook data." I supposed you meant
not only transfer of data internally within Outlook, but also externally
between Outlook and other programs. So I asked the question about that,
to which your latest posting is a reply. You seem to be surprised at the
extent of my ignorance, for which I apologize. Anyway, this dialogue,
pursued step by step, helps me to understand Outlook better. Thanks very
much.

It is proper (actually necessary) to use export/import for transferring data
to or from another program and improper for transferring data between
Outlook instances.

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

I see. I was just looking for clarification because you were first asking
about Outlook, but now were asking about Outlook Express. I wanted to make
sure we were on the same page here and that you hadn't been using Outlook
Express all this time. Outlook Express has nothing whatsoever to do with
Outlook. Export or Import should only be used for transferring data from
other programs or non-Outlook files so you would use it to transfer from
Outlook Express.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

In your first posting in this thread, you wrote "Exporting and importing
are never the correct way to transfer Outlook data." I supposed you meant
not only transfer of data internally within Outlook, but also externally
between Outlook and other programs. So I asked the question about that,
to which your latest posting is a reply. You seem to be surprised at the
extent of my ignorance, for which I apologize. Anyway, this dialogue,
pursued step by step, helps me to understand Outlook better. Thanks very
much.

What does that have to do with your question? When transferring from
another program, you must export or import. Those routines work.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

If exporting and importing is not the way to transfer data in or out of
Outlook, then what's the best way to transfer mail messages from Outlook
Express to Outlook?

Learner


Exporting and importing are never the correct way to transfer Outlook
data. It creates all sorts of problems. This is only one of them. Your
Outlook profile is corrupt. Create a new one.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
I tried to post this question earlier, but I think it failed to be
posted due
to a technical glitch. Rather than wait, I have rewritten the
question (this
time saved also in WordPad) and am now reposting it. Sorry for any
confusion
called.


I use Outlook 2003 on a stand-alone machine, not networked.

From an old PST file I exported the Contacts folder, saving it also as
a PST
file, which I called "Old Contacts". Then I imported that PST file of
old
contacts into a new default Personal Folders PST file. Apparently
that
succeeded: when I click on the CONTACTS BUTTON at the foot of the
Navigation
Pane, the list of Contacts folders displayed in the Navigation Pane
includes
one called "Old Contacts", with entries corresponding to the contacts
exported from the old PST file.

However, there's a problem: when I click on the MAIL BUTTON at the
foot of
the navigation pane, the list of personal folders displayed in the
Navigation Pane includes one, called "Old Contacts", which contains no
contacts. Moreover, right clicking on that "Old Contacts" folder and
clicking on the "Close 'Old Contacts'" yields an error message saying
that no
object can be found.

Going to File / Data Files Management, I see that this "Old Contacts"
folder
is not listed among the PST files displayed in the Data Files window.

What can I do to remove that defunct "Old Contacts" entry from the
Navigation Pane?

Learner