Double mail folders in OL 2003

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Pic

My notebook computer has two folders listed under "All Mail Folders".
Both are named "Desktop Personal Folders." Each shows exactly the
same subfolder when expanded. Each contains exactly the same data.

The only difference is that one has an icon with a picture of a house
and other things next to it, the other has a picture of a box of
folders. When I right-click on either one, "Close Desktop Personal
Folders" is grayed out.

Two questions:
1. How can I get rid of one of them?
2. Aren't these folders supposed to be called simply "Personal
Folders"?

A little info: these computers are on a home network. The Notebook
is called Notebook and the Desktop is called Desktop.

I regularly use a program called "Beyond Compare" to synchronize the
pst files on the two computers so that I always have the same data on
both. It compares the two files and copies the newer one to the
computer that needs updating. Might this have something to do with my
problem.

Thanks in advance for any advice.
Pic
 
B

Brian Tillman

Pic said:
My notebook computer has two folders listed under "All Mail Folders".
Both are named "Desktop Personal Folders." Each shows exactly the
same subfolder when expanded. Each contains exactly the same data.

The only difference is that one has an icon with a picture of a house
and other things next to it, the other has a picture of a box of
folders. When I right-click on either one, "Close Desktop Personal
Folders" is grayed out.

You have corrupted your mail profile. The easiest way to deal with it is to
create a new one with Control Panel>Mail>Show Profiles>Add, pointing that
profile at your existing mesage store so you don't lose anything.
Two questions:
1. How can I get rid of one of them?

See above.
2. Aren't these folders supposed to be called simply "Personal
Folders"?

Not necessarily. They are "personal folders", but the delivery location
folders root is usually "Outlook Today", "Mailbox - yourname", or just "Your
name". For personal folders files that are not your delivery location, you
can give the root file any display name you want and this display name
(i.e., what appears in Outlook's Outlook Bar or Navigation Pane) is
completely independent of the file name as Windows knows it.
I regularly use a program called "Beyond Compare" to synchronize the
pst files on the two computers so that I always have the same data on
both. It compares the two files and copies the newer one to the
computer that needs updating. Might this have something to do with my
problem.

It could. If you copy a PST over the top of an existing PST that is
currently referenced in a mail profile, you run an excellent chance of
corrupting the profile, producing exactly what you see.
 
P

Pic

You have corrupted your mail profile. The easiest way to deal with it is to
create a new one with Control Panel>Mail>Show Profiles>Add, pointing that
profile at your existing mesage store so you don't lose anything.

Not quite sure what you mean by "_pointing_ that profile at your
existing message store." I started the process you suggested and it
seems to be prompting me to start from scratch. Can you be a little
more specific, or point me to a step-by-step description?

Thanks,
Pic
 
B

Brian Tillman

Pic said:
Not quite sure what you mean by "_pointing_ that profile at your
existing message store." I started the process you suggested and it
seems to be prompting me to start from scratch. Can you be a little
more specific, or point me to a step-by-step description?

After you add your profile, you can use the Data Files button to have the
profile reference your existingh PST.
 

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