Importing .pst file - file cannot be found!

[Bazza_k]

Hi - I have 2 computers and I exported an Outlook .pst file from one,
copied it onto the other computer and imported it into Outlook. After
the import I deleted the file. The export and imports worked ok and the
mail messages are now in the correct folders but when I start Outlook I
get the message: "The file c:\\Users\Bazza\Deaktop\Inbox.pst cannot be
found". If I press "OK" it goes to the open file box but still cannot
find the file and I press cancel & everything works fine.

How can I get rid of this message?

Thanks

 

[Gordon]

Hi - I have 2 computers and I exported an Outlook .pst file from one,
copied it onto the other computer and imported it into Outlook. After
the import I deleted the file. The export and imports worked ok and the
mail messages are now in the correct folders but when I start Outlook I
get the message: "The file c:\\Users\Bazza\Deaktop\Inbox.pst cannot be
found". If I press "OK" it goes to the open file box but still cannot
find the file and I press cancel & everything works fine.

How can I get rid of this message?

In addition to what Christian said - as posted here almost on a daily
basis - you do NOT use the import/export function to transfer data from one
Outlook to another!
For future reference, see here for how to migrate Outlook data correctly:

take a look here:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/outlook/HA010771141033.aspx

more info here:

http://www.slipstick.com/config/backup.htm
http://www.howto-outlook.com/Howto/backupandrestore.htm

HTH

 

[John Mayson]

In addition to what Christian said - as posted here almost on a daily
basis - you do NOT use the import/export function to transfer data from
one Outlook to another!

At one point I had three different machines. I generally had Outlook
running on one at any given time, so I put my .pst file on a thumb drive
and moved it from computer to computer. I was careful to close and open
it properly. Was this bad?

 

[Gordon]

At one point I had three different machines. I generally had Outlook
running on one at any given time, so I put my .pst file on a thumb drive
and moved it from computer to computer. I was careful to close and open
it properly. Was this bad?

(Courtesy of Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook])

Importing an entire PST may well corrupt your profile and may create a ghost
PST that you can't close. Importing PST's will lose:
1. Custom Forms
2. Custom Views
3. Connections between contacts and activities
4. Received dates on mail
5. Birthdays and anniversaries in calendar
6. Journal connections
7. Distribution Lists
8. Connection between Contacts and Addressbook view

Opening a PST file will preserve all of these. That is why we do not advise
people to import a native file into Outlook.

 

[John Mayson]

I understand. I was using the term "import" a lot more loosely than what
the term means in this context.

 

[Brian Tillman [MVP - Outlook]]

Hi - I have 2 computers and I exported an Outlook .pst file from one,
copied it onto the other computer and imported it into Outlook. After
the import I deleted the file. The export and imports worked ok and the
mail messages are now in the correct folders but when I start Outlook I
get the message: "The file c:\\Users\Bazza\Deaktop\Inbox.pst cannot be
found". If I press "OK" it goes to the open file box but still cannot
find the file and I press cancel & everything works fine.

How can I get rid of this message?

One of the many reasons we advise people every day to never use export/import
when transferring data from one Outlook instance to another. There's just no
need and it has side-effects, like always losing data.