How do I access emails which have been auto archived?

[Guest]

Outlook 2003 performs an auto archive. When I follow the path to archive.pst
I can't access contents of the archive. Microsoft says it doesn't know the
program that created the file, and no matter what program I try I can't open
the file.

 

[Brian Tillman]

Outlook 2003 performs an auto archive. When I follow the path to
archive.pst I can't access contents of the archive. Microsoft says
it doesn't know the program that created the file, and no matter what
program I try I can't open the file.

In Outlook, click File>Open>Outlook Data File, browse to the archive PST,
select it, and click OK.

 

[Guest]

Thank you Brian. Your instructions open my archive folders but the "auto
archived" emails are not in those folders. I can't find where Outlook auto
archive has hidden them.

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

Outlook "hid" them where you told it to.
Look and see.
Tools > Options > Other > Autoarchive...

 

[Guest]

Thanks Russ, but now I have come full circle. If you check my original post,
when I follow the path to the archive.pst I can't access the contents;
Microsoft says it can't open the file. So, effectively, anything auto
archived is no longer available to me. It seems I will have to keep
everything, in case I need it in the future. Geez this drives me crazy.

Outlook "hid" them where you told it to.
Look and see.
Tools > Options > Other > Autoarchive...
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Thank you Brian. Your instructions open my archive folders but the "auto
archived" emails are not in those folders. I can't find where Outlook auto
archive has hidden them.

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

Why can't you?
I can.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Thanks Russ, but now I have come full circle. If you check my original
post,
when I follow the path to the archive.pst I can't access the contents;
Microsoft says it can't open the file. So, effectively, anything auto
archived is no longer available to me. It seems I will have to keep
everything, in case I need it in the future. Geez this drives me crazy.

Outlook "hid" them where you told it to.
Look and see.
Tools > Options > Other > Autoarchive...
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Thank you Brian. Your instructions open my archive folders but the
"auto
archived" emails are not in those folders. I can't find where Outlook
auto
archive has hidden them.

:


Outlook 2003 performs an auto archive. When I follow the path to
archive.pst I can't access contents of the archive. Microsoft says
it doesn't know the program that created the file, and no matter
what
program I try I can't open the file.

In Outlook, click File>Open>Outlook Data File, browse to the archive
PST,
select it, and click OK.

 

[Guest]

Beats me. I give up.

Why can't you?
I can.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Thanks Russ, but now I have come full circle. If you check my original
post,
when I follow the path to the archive.pst I can't access the contents;
Microsoft says it can't open the file. So, effectively, anything auto
archived is no longer available to me. It seems I will have to keep
everything, in case I need it in the future. Geez this drives me crazy.

Outlook "hid" them where you told it to.
Look and see.
Tools > Options > Other > Autoarchive...
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Thank you Brian. Your instructions open my archive folders but the
"auto
archived" emails are not in those folders. I can't find where Outlook
auto
archive has hidden them.

:


Outlook 2003 performs an auto archive. When I follow the path to
archive.pst I can't access contents of the archive. Microsoft says
it doesn't know the program that created the file, and no matter
what
program I try I can't open the file.

In Outlook, click File>Open>Outlook Data File, browse to the archive
PST,
select it, and click OK.

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

But you haven't told us anything yet. Provide the steps you are using and
what happens including exact error messages.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Beats me. I give up.

Why can't you?
I can.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Thanks Russ, but now I have come full circle. If you check my original
post,
when I follow the path to the archive.pst I can't access the contents;
Microsoft says it can't open the file. So, effectively, anything auto
archived is no longer available to me. It seems I will have to keep
everything, in case I need it in the future. Geez this drives me crazy.

:

Outlook "hid" them where you told it to.
Look and see.
Tools > Options > Other > Autoarchive...
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Thank you Brian. Your instructions open my archive folders but the
"auto
archived" emails are not in those folders. I can't find where
Outlook
auto
archive has hidden them.

:


Outlook 2003 performs an auto archive. When I follow the path to
archive.pst I can't access contents of the archive. Microsoft
says
it doesn't know the program that created the file, and no matter
what
program I try I can't open the file.

In Outlook, click File>Open>Outlook Data File, browse to the
archive
PST,
select it, and click OK.

 

[bawpolak]

I and all the coworkers I have talked to have at least a very similar issue:

The detailed steps we are following include:
1) finding the .pst file
a) Tools>Options>Other>[AutoArchive]
Settings include: clean out items older than 12 months, Move old items to:
C:\Documents and Settings\...\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook\archive.pst

2) Opening the .pst file
a) Start>[Run] :C:\Documents and Settings\bpolak\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook
In which there are 13 files, 2 of them hidden, and 1 notably large of size 682 MB and of type "Microsoft Office Outlook Offline Folders", opening with an unknown application.

Using "Open With" with the large file and with "Archive.pst" each behave the same.
Open With> Browse>Program Files>
microsoft office>office 12>OUTLOOK

This generates the error message:
"The command line argument is not valid. Verify the switch that you are using."


b) Alternately, trying to open the archive directly:
Start>[Run]: C:\Documents and Settings\...\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook\archive.pst

This generates the message:
Caution
You are attempting to open a file of type 'Microsoft Outlook Personal Folders' (.pst)
These files are used by the operating system and by various programs. Editing or modifying them could damage your system.
If you still wish to open the file, click Open With, otherwise click Cancel.

Open With generates this message:

Windows cannot open this file:

File: Archive.pst

etc

This then redirects back to Microsoft outlook, which on a search for "Opening Autoarchive" directs to articles that explain autoarchiving as being accessible through the "Autoarchive folders"
These however, upon scrolling down to the bottom of the folder explorer, display only
Archive Folders > Deleted Items
Archive Folders > Sent Items
Archive Folders > Search Folders (not accessible)
all of which are empty

What would be some next steps to solve this issue?

Thank you