how long does a .pst file take to download to a new computer

[daron]

I have outlook 2007 on my old computer and needed to transfer all the email
and file structure to a new coputer with outlook 2007, THe .pst file was
about 500,000 KB and is now on the new computer but it is taking hours to
download into outlook is this right or is it hung up in some loop thanks

 

[Roady [MVP]]

Download? What exactly are you doing then?
Simply reconnect the pst-file via File-> Open-> Outlook Data File...
It will take only seconds no matter how big the pst-file is.

 

[daron]

new to this stuff, so here goes, loaded the .pst file onto the new computer,
it appears in documents then tried to restore the emails using import and
export in outlook. clicked personal folder file .pst . browsed to where the
file is stored. set the options to include subfolders and import items into
the same folders. it then asks me to press finish to complete the import but
the cursor is in its circle/busy mode and has been for 12hrs, is it
translating the .pst file into email english i.e. downloading the emails
which could take ages........... help
or should i start again and how???

 

[Roady [MVP]]

Hi Daron,

Yeah, at this point it would be better to cancel this process.

1) Go to Control Panel-> Mail-> button Data File...
2) Add the pst-file you tried to import if it is not listed already
3) Set it as the default via the "Set as Default" button
4) Select the previous default pst-file and click Remove
5) Close the open dialogs and start Outlook.

Everything should work as it should now with your data back in place.

If not, it could be that you have damaged your mail profile in the process.
In that case you'll have to start with a new mail profile.
See http://www.howto-outlook.com/faq/newprofile.htm

 

[daron]

thanks very much it worked, I right clicked on outlook at the start menu
then went to properties clicked, then data files and changed the default as
you suggested and it was all there fantastic and it looks like it is still
ok, many thanks

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

Another example of why you never use import to transfer Outlook data.

 

[Roady [MVP]]

You're welcome!

thanks very much it worked, I right clicked on outlook at the start menu
then went to properties clicked, then data files and changed the default
as
you suggested and it was all there fantastic and it looks like it is still
ok, many thanks