how to properly create new profile to use with existing pst file

[stef]

OL 2002 SP3
Win XP HE SP1

*Follow-up to: microsoft.public.outlook*

hi,

it is possible that my current (default) OL profile has become corrupted.

i need to create a NEW profile for troubleshooting purposes and see if
it resolves current problems.

the most important issue is:
how do i create this new profile so that it uses my *current* pst file
so that i can have a seamless process and continue where i "left off" in
terms of all of the items contained in the *current* pst file, emails,
appointments, addresses, etc.?

do i just create new profile and tell it to "use *current* pst file to
send receive emails--as opposed to using the new pst file created during
new profile creation process?

if i "tell" OL to use my *current* pst file to receive emails, etc.,
will it then also read all of the addresses, tasks, etc., in the current
pst file--or are all this things handled separately and thus need to be
imported into new profile, etc.?

i am shooting for minimal disturbance between my current setup and what
it will be with new profile.....

thanks.

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

It's done all the time. Just open your previous PST file in the new profile,
designate it to be the default, restart Outlook, and close the new PST file
the new profile created. In detail:
- Go to Tools > Options > Mail Setup > Data Files > Add...
- Add the old PST you'd like as your new default, then Close > OK to exit
the Options dialog
- Go to Tools > E-mail Accounts > View or change existing e-mail accounts
- Select the PST you just added in the "Deliver New e-mail to the following
location" dropdown (it will most likely appear just below the current
default Personal Folders file) > Finish
- Exit and Restart Outlook
- You can now close the previous default PST (R-click on that pst folder
while in Folder View and select "Close <foldername> Folders"). If you have
any information in your former PST that you'd like to transfer to your new
default PST, you can drag and drop from one to the other before you close
the old one.

 

[Oliver Vukovics]

Hi Stef,

at first the most important information:

Before you delete the old profile you could create in addition the new
profile with the same PST file.

In the Control Panel under "Mail" (open this with a doubleclick), you can
click on "Show profiles" and here you can select "prompt this profile" then
Outlook wil aks you which profile you want to use. ;-)

Now you can select the new profile to see if this will work. If this
wouldn´t solve your problem you could delete the new profile and you can
work with the old one.

How to create a new e-mail profile in Outlook 2002?:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=287072

do i just create new profile and tell it to "use *current* pst file to
send receive emails--as opposed to using the new pst file created during
new profile creation process?

No. After you created the new profile you normally get a new PST file. You
can change this new PST file with your old PST file. You must open the old
PST file in Outlook under "File/Open/Personal Folder PST".

Here is a link where Outlook store the PST file:
http://www.slipstick.com/config/backup.htm

After you opend the old PST file you have to change the "delivery folder"
because you have 2 PST file in Outlook open. The old one and the empty new
one..

In Outlook under "Tools/Email accounts/Show existing Email accounts =>
Further, here you can change the delivery folder (in the left corner). Now
you must restart Outlook and you must prompt that Outlook changed the
delivery folder.

Now you can "delete" the empty PST file (click on the empty PST file
"Personal Folder" right mouseclick => Close) and you will have only the old
PST file with all information like emails, calendars, contacts etc..

if i "tell" OL to use my *current* pst file to receive emails, etc.,
will it then also read all of the addresses, tasks, etc., in the current
pst file--or are all this things handled separately and thus need to be
imported into new profile, etc.?

You don´t need to import the items, you can still work with your old PST
file.

What you have to do is to create the email accounts during you create the
new profile.

 

[stef]

Russ, thanks.
When u say: "If you have any information in your former PST that you'd
like to transfer to your new default PST, you can drag and drop from one
to the other before you close the old one." are u referring to Contacts
folders, categories, tasks, etc.
What are we talking about here?

 

[Sanjay Singh]

Create your new Profile.
Quit Outlook
Rename (or delete) the new PST created.
Start Outlook.

It will say that it cannot find the PST file and then give you the option of
choosing one.

 

[Hal Hostetler [MVP P/I]]

See these pages:

http://www.howto-outlook.com/faq/newprofile.htm
Adding/Recreating a Mail Profile
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HA010771141033.aspx
Reconnect your old Outlook data file

Hal
--
Hal Hostetler, CPBE -- (e-mail address removed)
Senior Engineer/MIS -- MS MVP-Print/Imaging -- WA7BGX
http://www.kvoa.com -- "When News breaks, we fix it!"
KVOA Television, Tucson, AZ. NBC Channel 4
Still Cadillacin' - www.badnewsbluesband.com

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

Anything (except categories, which are stored in the registry, not the PST).
If you are closing a new, empty PST, then there is nothing to transfer, of
course.

 

[stef]

OK, so it seems that in my case, there should not be anything to
transfer as i will be using the same pst file (not the newly created one).
however, i WILL have to recreate all the email accounts in new profile,
correct?

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

Yes. It's best just to set up the mail accounts from scratch.