Need help restoring a .pst file

  • Thread starter Thread starter darkwing_duck
  • Start date Start date
D

darkwing_duck

I have Outlook 2k and reformatted and reloaded my machine with WinXP
Pro. Before reformatting, I saved my .pst file off to the side. Now
I don't know how to reload it. When I pull down the File -> Open,
Selected Items and Other Users' Files are greyed out. Only Outlook
Data File is selectable. I tried having Outlook open that, but it
doesn't seem to do anything as there's still no email in the Inbox (or
anything else for that matter). I tried selecting File -> Import and
was unsuccessful as well. I tried importing Internet Mail and
Addresses, selected Outlook Express from the list (there was no
selection for Outlook), took the defaults, and got an error message
telling me "The mail folder could not be opened. If another
application is using this file, please close it and try again". I
tried importing "Internet Mail and Account Settings" and got an error
"No internet accounts were found to import". Suggestions please?

Thanks, Robert
 
You need to use File-> Open-> Outlook Data File...

This will add an extra folderset to your Outlook Folder List

To set it as the default delivery location;
Tools-> E-mail Accounts...-> button Next-> use the dropdownlist below

--
Robert Sparnaaij [MVP-Outlook]
www.howto-outlook.com

Tips of the month:
-What do the Outlook Icons Mean?
-Create an Office 2003 CD slipstreamed with Service Pack 1
 
Yea I did this after I installed office xp
I tried to open an pst file created by outlook 2000 backup and nothing
happens it creates an empty folderset (default folderset)

what do I do now


Roady said:
You need to use File-> Open-> Outlook Data File...

This will add an extra folderset to your Outlook Folder List

To set it as the default delivery location;
Tools-> E-mail Accounts...-> button Next-> use the dropdownlist below

--
Robert Sparnaaij [MVP-Outlook]
www.howto-outlook.com

Tips of the month:
-What do the Outlook Icons Mean?
-Create an Office 2003 CD slipstreamed with Service Pack 1

-----
I have Outlook 2k and reformatted and reloaded my machine with WinXP
Pro. Before reformatting, I saved my .pst file off to the side. Now
I don't know how to reload it. When I pull down the File -> Open,
Selected Items and Other Users' Files are greyed out. Only Outlook
Data File is selectable. I tried having Outlook open that, but it
doesn't seem to do anything as there's still no email in the Inbox (or
anything else for that matter). I tried selecting File -> Import and
was unsuccessful as well. I tried importing Internet Mail and
Addresses, selected Outlook Express from the list (there was no
selection for Outlook), took the defaults, and got an error message
telling me "The mail folder could not be opened. If another
application is using this file, please close it and try again". I
tried importing "Internet Mail and Account Settings" and got an error
"No internet accounts were found to import". Suggestions please?

Thanks, Robert
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
How big is that pst-file? What is the size indicated when you rightclick the
root of the folder-> Properties-> button Folder Size?

--
Robert Sparnaaij [MVP-Outlook]
www.howto-outlook.com

Tips of the month:
-What do the Outlook Icons Mean?
-Create an Office 2003 CD slipstreamed with Service Pack 1

-----
Henry said:
Yea I did this after I installed office xp
I tried to open an pst file created by outlook 2000 backup and nothing
happens it creates an empty folderset (default folderset)

what do I do now


Roady said:
You need to use File-> Open-> Outlook Data File...

This will add an extra folderset to your Outlook Folder List

To set it as the default delivery location;
Tools-> E-mail Accounts...-> button Next-> use the dropdownlist below

--
Robert Sparnaaij [MVP-Outlook]
www.howto-outlook.com

Tips of the month:
-What do the Outlook Icons Mean?
-Create an Office 2003 CD slipstreamed with Service Pack 1

-----
I have Outlook 2k and reformatted and reloaded my machine with WinXP
Pro. Before reformatting, I saved my .pst file off to the side. Now
I don't know how to reload it. When I pull down the File -> Open,
Selected Items and Other Users' Files are greyed out. Only Outlook
Data File is selectable. I tried having Outlook open that, but it
doesn't seem to do anything as there's still no email in the Inbox (or
anything else for that matter). I tried selecting File -> Import and
was unsuccessful as well. I tried importing Internet Mail and
Addresses, selected Outlook Express from the list (there was no
selection for Outlook), took the defaults, and got an error message
telling me "The mail folder could not be opened. If another
application is using this file, please close it and try again". I
tried importing "Internet Mail and Account Settings" and got an error
"No internet accounts were found to import". Suggestions please?

Thanks, Robert
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
I have Outlook 2k and reformatted and reloaded my machine with WinXP
Pro. Before reformatting, I saved my .pst file off to the side. Now
I don't know how to reload it. When I pull down the File -> Open,
Selected Items and Other Users' Files are greyed out. Only Outlook
Data File is selectable. I did a File -> Open ->Outlook Data File and
selected the saved .pst file but nothing happens. None of my saved
emails are pulled in (or anything else for that matter). I tried
selecting File -> Import and was unsuccessful as well. I tried
importing Internet Mail and Addresses, selected Outlook Express from
the list (there was no selection for Outlook), took the defaults, and
got an error message telling me "The mail folder could not be opened.
If another application is using this file, please close it and try
again". I tried importing "Internet Mail and Account Settings" and
got an error "No internet accounts were found to import". Suggestions
please?

Thanks, Robert
 
I have Outlook 2k and reformatted and reloaded my machine with WinXP
Pro. Before reformatting, I saved my .pst file off to the side.
Click to expand...

Where, exactly, is "on the side"? Is it on a CD perhaps?
 
You need to use File-> Open-> Outlook Data File...
Click to expand...

I've just been through the same thing. I have OL 2003 running on two
PCs and I wanted to copy the PST from A to B. I copied it, then did
File > Open > Outlook data file. Nothing. The B version remained
unchanged. I've struggled with this for two weeks and just this
morning stumbled on a solution: Import the copy instead of opening it.

This is contrary to the documentation. "Open" should have worked, but
it doesn't.

Dick Evans
 
Normally, open works better than import.
There must be more to this story.
 
Russ Valentine said:
Normally, open works better than import.
There must be more to this story.
Click to expand...

I wish I knew what it was. It's driven me nuts for two weeks. I would
rather use "Open" because it retains my custom views.

In it's simplest form, the story is this:

- I have two PCs on a LAN, A and B. A is my production machine. B is
for backup only.

- I run a utility twice a day to copy the PST from A to B. I have no
real need to use OL on B, unless A fails, so I don't look at it much.

- A couple of weeks ago, I looked at it and found the PST out of date.
The file creation date and size were current, but the data was old.
This includes all items: Mail, Calendar, etc.

- I tried opening the A version of the PST directly from the B version
of OL. Same thing: out of date.

- I searched for duplicate PST files and didn't find any. I did find
several very old ones and renamed all of them.

- I did an export/import from the A file and it worked OK: The B file
was up to date.

- I resumed periodic copies and was back to square one: The data in
the B file never changed.

- On a hunch, I "imported" the most recently copied file instead of
"opening" it and it worked, with the exception that I lost my custom
views.

Dick Evans
 
Something went wrong with your backup utility.
I wouldn't trust anything that copies a PST over another. It's just too easy
to corrupt PST files that way.
I don't usually get so fancy. I just copy my PST to a backup drive every so
often.
 
Russ Valentine said:
Something went wrong with your backup utility.
Click to expand...

I've used both the utility and simple Explorer copies. Same results.
I've tried deleting the target PST before copying the new one. Same
results. I've tried opening the original in place, without copying it.
Same results.

Dick
I wouldn't trust anything that copies a PST over another. It's just too easy
to corrupt PST files that way.
I don't usually get so fancy. I just copy my PST to a backup drive every so
often.
Click to expand...

Doesn't that copy over the previous copy?

Dick
 
No, I never copy over a PST. I remove or rename an old backup before
creating a new one. I've never seen what you're describing. I believe you. I
just can't explain it.
 
Russ Valentine said:
No, I never copy over a PST. I remove or rename an old backup before
creating a new one.
Click to expand...


That wouldn't work for me. My goal is to always have a recent copy
available in case Machine A goes belly up. I've elected to
automatically take copies at 12-hour intervals. I can't very well be
deleting and renaming every 12 hours.

Dick
 
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