Duplicate Personal Folders in Outlook 2003

[Guest]

I have two "Personal Folders" in Outlook Today. I exported .pst files from my
old laptop (using Outlook 2000) into Outlook 2003 on a laptop running XP
Professional. The exported .pst files were stored on a NT desktop computer on
a network. All worked perfectly, and imported data appears in the upper
"Personal Folders."

I read a previously posted message on double "Personal Folders" issue, but
the process of removing the duplicate seemed more complex than it needed to
be.

HERE IS SOMETHING A BIT ODD:
In the second "Personal Folders" there are only two sub-folders, "Search
Folders" and "Deleted Items (empty)." They are only displayed when the
networked NT computer is running, otherwise this error message is displayed:
"Unable to display the folder. Microsoft Office Outlook could not access the
specified folder location. The path specified for the file \\Windows-NT\...
Calendar Backup.pst is not valid." If the remote NT computer is running, and
an attempt to delete the second "Personal Folders" folder is made, the error
message "The operation failed. An object could not be found." I have no idea
why there is a link between the second "Personal Folders" and a Calendar
export file. The exported file does exist on the remote computer. There is no
load of Outlook on the remote computer.

James

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

You corrupted your profile by using import/export. That is never the right
way to transfer Outlook data. Create a new profile. Read the Help files on
the correct way to transfer Outlook data:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HA010771141033.aspx

 

[Guest]

Russ:

You know, how to backup files has always been a mystery to me using Outlook
2000. At the end of the year I like to group archived emails (Jack_INBOX,
Jack_SENT) and save them using the export method as .pst files. This helps
reduce the size of the archive.pst file. I then burn the exports on a CD and
store. When I have needed to restore a specific folder, I copy the file to a
writable medium and import.

I followed the same method for exporting the current files on the old
computer. I am sure something was corrupt as you suggested, as the folder was
strangely linked the second Personal Folders file to the remote computer
where .pst files were stored for import. Error messages were displayed when I
attempted a delete.

So to solve the problem, I made a copy of the .pst file on the new computer
an via the Control Panel/Mail created a new profile. When Outlook 2003 was
opened, it was fresh, with no user date. I established an internet
connection, and then opened the copied data file. All elements (Calendar,
Contacts, Inbox...) were restored. There were still two Personal Folders
files, but this time I was able to close the duplicate.

James

You corrupted your profile by using import/export. That is never the right
way to transfer Outlook data. Create a new profile. Read the Help files on
the correct way to transfer Outlook data:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HA010771141033.aspx
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

I have two "Personal Folders" in Outlook Today. I exported .pst files from
my
old laptop (using Outlook 2000) into Outlook 2003 on a laptop running XP
Professional. The exported .pst files were stored on a NT desktop computer
on
a network. All worked perfectly, and imported data appears in the upper
"Personal Folders."

I read a previously posted message on double "Personal Folders" issue, but
the process of removing the duplicate seemed more complex than it needed
to
be.

HERE IS SOMETHING A BIT ODD:
In the second "Personal Folders" there are only two sub-folders, "Search
Folders" and "Deleted Items (empty)." They are only displayed when the
networked NT computer is running, otherwise this error message is
displayed:
"Unable to display the folder. Microsoft Office Outlook could not access
the
specified folder location. The path specified for the file
\\Windows-NT\...
Calendar Backup.pst is not valid." If the remote NT computer is running,
and
an attempt to delete the second "Personal Folders" folder is made, the
error
message "The operation failed. An object could not be found." I have no
idea
why there is a link between the second "Personal Folders" and a Calendar
export file. The exported file does exist on the remote computer. There is
no
load of Outlook on the remote computer.

James

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

Was there a question here?

--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Russ:

You know, how to backup files has always been a mystery to me using
Outlook
2000. At the end of the year I like to group archived emails (Jack_INBOX,
Jack_SENT) and save them using the export method as .pst files. This helps
reduce the size of the archive.pst file. I then burn the exports on a CD
and
store. When I have needed to restore a specific folder, I copy the file to
a
writable medium and import.

I followed the same method for exporting the current files on the old
computer. I am sure something was corrupt as you suggested, as the folder
was
strangely linked the second Personal Folders file to the remote computer
where .pst files were stored for import. Error messages were displayed
when I
attempted a delete.

So to solve the problem, I made a copy of the .pst file on the new
computer
an via the Control Panel/Mail created a new profile. When Outlook 2003 was
opened, it was fresh, with no user date. I established an internet
connection, and then opened the copied data file. All elements (Calendar,
Contacts, Inbox...) were restored. There were still two Personal Folders
files, but this time I was able to close the duplicate.

James

You corrupted your profile by using import/export. That is never the
right
way to transfer Outlook data. Create a new profile. Read the Help files
on
the correct way to transfer Outlook data:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HA010771141033.aspx
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

I have two "Personal Folders" in Outlook Today. I exported .pst files
from
my
old laptop (using Outlook 2000) into Outlook 2003 on a laptop running
XP
Professional. The exported .pst files were stored on a NT desktop
computer
on
a network. All worked perfectly, and imported data appears in the upper
"Personal Folders."

I read a previously posted message on double "Personal Folders" issue,
but
the process of removing the duplicate seemed more complex than it
needed
to
be.

HERE IS SOMETHING A BIT ODD:
In the second "Personal Folders" there are only two sub-folders,
"Search
Folders" and "Deleted Items (empty)." They are only displayed when the
networked NT computer is running, otherwise this error message is
displayed:
"Unable to display the folder. Microsoft Office Outlook could not
access
the
specified folder location. The path specified for the file
\\Windows-NT\...
Calendar Backup.pst is not valid." If the remote NT computer is
running,
and
an attempt to delete the second "Personal Folders" folder is made, the
error
message "The operation failed. An object could not be found." I have no
idea
why there is a link between the second "Personal Folders" and a
Calendar
export file. The exported file does exist on the remote computer. There
is
no
load of Outlook on the remote computer.

James

 

[Guest]

No Russ, no question. Just wanted you to know the method I used to solve the
problem - I've learned a lot. Perhaps MS can make these
import/export/backup/restore operations easier to figure out the first time a
user works in this area.

Thanks - James

Was there a question here?

--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Russ:

You know, how to backup files has always been a mystery to me using
Outlook
2000. At the end of the year I like to group archived emails (Jack_INBOX,
Jack_SENT) and save them using the export method as .pst files. This helps
reduce the size of the archive.pst file. I then burn the exports on a CD
and
store. When I have needed to restore a specific folder, I copy the file to
a
writable medium and import.

I followed the same method for exporting the current files on the old
computer. I am sure something was corrupt as you suggested, as the folder
was
strangely linked the second Personal Folders file to the remote computer
where .pst files were stored for import. Error messages were displayed
when I
attempted a delete.

So to solve the problem, I made a copy of the .pst file on the new
computer
an via the Control Panel/Mail created a new profile. When Outlook 2003 was
opened, it was fresh, with no user date. I established an internet
connection, and then opened the copied data file. All elements (Calendar,
Contacts, Inbox...) were restored. There were still two Personal Folders
files, but this time I was able to close the duplicate.

James

You corrupted your profile by using import/export. That is never the
right
way to transfer Outlook data. Create a new profile. Read the Help files
on
the correct way to transfer Outlook data:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HA010771141033.aspx
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
I have two "Personal Folders" in Outlook Today. I exported .pst files
from
my
old laptop (using Outlook 2000) into Outlook 2003 on a laptop running
XP
Professional. The exported .pst files were stored on a NT desktop
computer
on
a network. All worked perfectly, and imported data appears in the upper
"Personal Folders."

I read a previously posted message on double "Personal Folders" issue,
but
the process of removing the duplicate seemed more complex than it
needed
to
be.

HERE IS SOMETHING A BIT ODD:
In the second "Personal Folders" there are only two sub-folders,
"Search
Folders" and "Deleted Items (empty)." They are only displayed when the
networked NT computer is running, otherwise this error message is
displayed:
"Unable to display the folder. Microsoft Office Outlook could not
access
the
specified folder location. The path specified for the file
\\Windows-NT\...
Calendar Backup.pst is not valid." If the remote NT computer is
running,
and
an attempt to delete the second "Personal Folders" folder is made, the
error
message "The operation failed. An object could not be found." I have no
idea
why there is a link between the second "Personal Folders" and a
Calendar
export file. The exported file does exist on the remote computer. There
is
no
load of Outlook on the remote computer.

James

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

Importing and exporting used to work (even though a lot of data was changed
or lost). But starting with Outlook 2003 importing an entire PST is a total
non-starter and always corrupts a profile, so that's why you have to use the
explicit instructions in the article I posted to migrate data. That's always
been the only supported way to migrate Outlook data in any version.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

No Russ, no question. Just wanted you to know the method I used to solve
the
problem - I've learned a lot. Perhaps MS can make these
import/export/backup/restore operations easier to figure out the first
time a
user works in this area.

Thanks - James

Was there a question here?

--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Russ:

You know, how to backup files has always been a mystery to me using
Outlook
2000. At the end of the year I like to group archived emails
(Jack_INBOX,
Jack_SENT) and save them using the export method as .pst files. This
helps
reduce the size of the archive.pst file. I then burn the exports on a
CD
and
store. When I have needed to restore a specific folder, I copy the file
to
a
writable medium and import.

I followed the same method for exporting the current files on the old
computer. I am sure something was corrupt as you suggested, as the
folder
was
strangely linked the second Personal Folders file to the remote
computer
where .pst files were stored for import. Error messages were displayed
when I
attempted a delete.

So to solve the problem, I made a copy of the .pst file on the new
computer
an via the Control Panel/Mail created a new profile. When Outlook 2003
was
opened, it was fresh, with no user date. I established an internet
connection, and then opened the copied data file. All elements
(Calendar,
Contacts, Inbox...) were restored. There were still two Personal
Folders
files, but this time I was able to close the duplicate.

James

:

You corrupted your profile by using import/export. That is never the
right
way to transfer Outlook data. Create a new profile. Read the Help
files
on
the correct way to transfer Outlook data:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HA010771141033.aspx
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
message
I have two "Personal Folders" in Outlook Today. I exported .pst files
from
my
old laptop (using Outlook 2000) into Outlook 2003 on a laptop
running
XP
Professional. The exported .pst files were stored on a NT desktop
computer
on
a network. All worked perfectly, and imported data appears in the
upper
"Personal Folders."

I read a previously posted message on double "Personal Folders"
issue,
but
the process of removing the duplicate seemed more complex than it
needed
to
be.

HERE IS SOMETHING A BIT ODD:
In the second "Personal Folders" there are only two sub-folders,
"Search
Folders" and "Deleted Items (empty)." They are only displayed when
the
networked NT computer is running, otherwise this error message is
displayed:
"Unable to display the folder. Microsoft Office Outlook could not
access
the
specified folder location. The path specified for the file
\\Windows-NT\...
Calendar Backup.pst is not valid." If the remote NT computer is
running,
and
an attempt to delete the second "Personal Folders" folder is made,
the
error
message "The operation failed. An object could not be found." I have
no
idea
why there is a link between the second "Personal Folders" and a
Calendar
export file. The exported file does exist on the remote computer.
There
is
no
load of Outlook on the remote computer.

James