Outlook 2003 - PST file disappearing!?

[Guest]

Hi all,

I've just recently upgraded to Outlook 2003, it's what I use in my other
job, so I figured it'd be a good choice for our PCs at home. However, twice
over the past few days I've had my PST file completely disappear - I go to
run Outlook, and get the following message:

"The file C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Local Settings\Application
Data\Microsoft\Outlook\Personal Folders.pst could not be found.

I'm then offered the chance to browse for it, but I've searched my PC, no
sign of it.

I have AVG Anti Virus on here, and that's not picked up anything. Any
suggestions what the heck's going on?

Thanks in advance,

Russ

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

PST file do not disappear. They are hidden files.
How did you "upgrade" to Outlook 2003? Did you read the Help files on how to
migrate your data correctly to Outlook 2003?
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HA010771141033.aspx

 

[Guest]

I've checked that my PC is set to display hidden files, I've done a full
system search, still nothing.

I've been using Outlook for about 3 weeks, and twice in this time my PST
file has disappeared from where it definitely was before. The upgrade was
actually from Thunderbird - a bit of a lengthy upgrade process, involving
transferring files through Outlook Express, though that went fine.

Russ

PST file do not disappear. They are hidden files.
How did you "upgrade" to Outlook 2003? Did you read the Help files on how to
migrate your data correctly to Outlook 2003?
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HA010771141033.aspx

--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Hi all,

I've just recently upgraded to Outlook 2003, it's what I use in my other
job, so I figured it'd be a good choice for our PCs at home. However,
twice
over the past few days I've had my PST file completely disappear - I go to
run Outlook, and get the following message:

"The file C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Local
Settings\Application
Data\Microsoft\Outlook\Personal Folders.pst could not be found.

I'm then offered the chance to browse for it, but I've searched my PC, no
sign of it.

I have AVG Anti Virus on here, and that's not picked up anything. Any
suggestions what the heck's going on?

Thanks in advance,

Russ

 

[DL]

There is nothing in OL, or MS Office, that can cause a pst to dissappear, or
be deleted.
The pst can only be deleted by either third part software or by a user

I've checked that my PC is set to display hidden files, I've done a full
system search, still nothing.

I've been using Outlook for about 3 weeks, and twice in this time my PST
file has disappeared from where it definitely was before. The upgrade was
actually from Thunderbird - a bit of a lengthy upgrade process, involving
transferring files through Outlook Express, though that went fine.

Russ

PST file do not disappear. They are hidden files.
How did you "upgrade" to Outlook 2003? Did you read the Help files on how to
migrate your data correctly to Outlook 2003?
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HA010771141033.aspx

--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Hi all,

I've just recently upgraded to Outlook 2003, it's what I use in my other
job, so I figured it'd be a good choice for our PCs at home. However,
twice
over the past few days I've had my PST file completely disappear - I go to
run Outlook, and get the following message:

"The file C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Local
Settings\Application
Data\Microsoft\Outlook\Personal Folders.pst could not be found.

I'm then offered the chance to browse for it, but I've searched my PC, no
sign of it.

I have AVG Anti Virus on here, and that's not picked up anything. Any
suggestions what the heck's going on?

Thanks in advance,

Russ

 

[Guest]

If this is the case, and I've done a full spyware / virus scan, how can I
identify what third party software is doing this? I think it's safe to say
that I'm NOT going in and deleting my own PST file, btw!

Also, I don't seem to be the only user that's had this problem - there are a
few message board posts on Google that show the same behaviour happening, but
no one's been able to answer any of them with a root cause.

Russ

There is nothing in OL, or MS Office, that can cause a pst to dissappear, or
be deleted.
The pst can only be deleted by either third part software or by a user

I've checked that my PC is set to display hidden files, I've done a full
system search, still nothing.

I've been using Outlook for about 3 weeks, and twice in this time my PST
file has disappeared from where it definitely was before. The upgrade was
actually from Thunderbird - a bit of a lengthy upgrade process, involving
transferring files through Outlook Express, though that went fine.

Russ

PST file do not disappear. They are hidden files.
How did you "upgrade" to Outlook 2003? Did you read the Help files on how to
migrate your data correctly to Outlook 2003?
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HA010771141033.aspx

--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Hi all,

I've just recently upgraded to Outlook 2003, it's what I use in my other
job, so I figured it'd be a good choice for our PCs at home. However,
twice
over the past few days I've had my PST file completely disappear - I go to
run Outlook, and get the following message:

"The file C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Local
Settings\Application
Data\Microsoft\Outlook\Personal Folders.pst could not be found.

I'm then offered the chance to browse for it, but I've searched my PC, no
sign of it.

I have AVG Anti Virus on here, and that's not picked up anything. Any
suggestions what the heck's going on?

Thanks in advance,

Russ

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

This sounds like end user error. Third party software didn't do this. You
did. The only thing that deletes a PST file automatically is reformatting
your hard drive. You'll need to provide more information if you want us to
help. You've left something out and you answered none of my questions.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

If this is the case, and I've done a full spyware / virus scan, how can I
identify what third party software is doing this? I think it's safe to
say
that I'm NOT going in and deleting my own PST file, btw!

Also, I don't seem to be the only user that's had this problem - there are
a
few message board posts on Google that show the same behaviour happening,
but
no one's been able to answer any of them with a root cause.

Russ

There is nothing in OL, or MS Office, that can cause a pst to dissappear,
or
be deleted.
The pst can only be deleted by either third part software or by a user

I've checked that my PC is set to display hidden files, I've done a
full
system search, still nothing.

I've been using Outlook for about 3 weeks, and twice in this time my
PST
file has disappeared from where it definitely was before. The upgrade
was
actually from Thunderbird - a bit of a lengthy upgrade process,
involving
transferring files through Outlook Express, though that went fine.

Russ

:

PST file do not disappear. They are hidden files.
How did you "upgrade" to Outlook 2003? Did you read the Help files on how to
migrate your data correctly to Outlook 2003?
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HA010771141033.aspx

--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Hi all,

I've just recently upgraded to Outlook 2003, it's what I use in my other
job, so I figured it'd be a good choice for our PCs at home.
However,
twice
over the past few days I've had my PST file completely disappear -
I go to
run Outlook, and get the following message:

"The file C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Local
Settings\Application
Data\Microsoft\Outlook\Personal Folders.pst could not be found.

I'm then offered the chance to browse for it, but I've searched my
PC, no
sign of it.

I have AVG Anti Virus on here, and that's not picked up anything.
Any
suggestions what the heck's going on?

Thanks in advance,

Russ

 

[Guest]

Hi Russ,

I'm going to have to be quite firm on this one - I do NOT believe this to be
user error. I've been working with Outlook for about 8 years (since Outlook
98) at home and BT in the UK as a technical support helpdesk supervisor,
supporting around 100 users at my site on day-to-day issues with Microsoft
software. I know exactly what's going on with a PST file under normal
circumstances.

It sounds a lot to me like no one's unable to shed any real light on this
issue, or think of any way to really dig deep and investigate this, so just
like the other threads around this issue I've found on message boards dotted
around the 'net, it's going to have to remain unsolved.

Russell

This sounds like end user error. Third party software didn't do this. You
did. The only thing that deletes a PST file automatically is reformatting
your hard drive. You'll need to provide more information if you want us to
help. You've left something out and you answered none of my questions.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

If this is the case, and I've done a full spyware / virus scan, how can I
identify what third party software is doing this? I think it's safe to
say
that I'm NOT going in and deleting my own PST file, btw!

Also, I don't seem to be the only user that's had this problem - there are
a
few message board posts on Google that show the same behaviour happening,
but
no one's been able to answer any of them with a root cause.

Russ

There is nothing in OL, or MS Office, that can cause a pst to dissappear,
or
be deleted.
The pst can only be deleted by either third part software or by a user

I've checked that my PC is set to display hidden files, I've done a
full
system search, still nothing.

I've been using Outlook for about 3 weeks, and twice in this time my
PST
file has disappeared from where it definitely was before. The upgrade
was
actually from Thunderbird - a bit of a lengthy upgrade process,
involving
transferring files through Outlook Express, though that went fine.

Russ

:

PST file do not disappear. They are hidden files.
How did you "upgrade" to Outlook 2003? Did you read the Help files on
how to
migrate your data correctly to Outlook 2003?
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HA010771141033.aspx

--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
message
Hi all,

I've just recently upgraded to Outlook 2003, it's what I use in my
other
job, so I figured it'd be a good choice for our PCs at home.
However,
twice
over the past few days I've had my PST file completely disappear -
I
go to
run Outlook, and get the following message:

"The file C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Local
Settings\Application
Data\Microsoft\Outlook\Personal Folders.pst could not be found.

I'm then offered the chance to browse for it, but I've searched my
PC,
no
sign of it.

I have AVG Anti Virus on here, and that's not picked up anything.
Any
suggestions what the heck's going on?

Thanks in advance,

Russ

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

We have. PST files do not disappear.
You are probably not searching correctly. Enabling hidden files to appear
will not return them on a search. Make sure you search for hidden files, not
system files.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Hi Russ,

I'm going to have to be quite firm on this one - I do NOT believe this to
be
user error. I've been working with Outlook for about 8 years (since
Outlook
98) at home and BT in the UK as a technical support helpdesk supervisor,
supporting around 100 users at my site on day-to-day issues with Microsoft
software. I know exactly what's going on with a PST file under normal
circumstances.

It sounds a lot to me like no one's unable to shed any real light on this
issue, or think of any way to really dig deep and investigate this, so
just
like the other threads around this issue I've found on message boards
dotted
around the 'net, it's going to have to remain unsolved.

Russell

This sounds like end user error. Third party software didn't do this. You
did. The only thing that deletes a PST file automatically is reformatting
your hard drive. You'll need to provide more information if you want us
to
help. You've left something out and you answered none of my questions.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

If this is the case, and I've done a full spyware / virus scan, how can
I
identify what third party software is doing this? I think it's safe to
say
that I'm NOT going in and deleting my own PST file, btw!

Also, I don't seem to be the only user that's had this problem - there
are
a
few message board posts on Google that show the same behaviour
happening,
but
no one's been able to answer any of them with a root cause.

Russ

:

There is nothing in OL, or MS Office, that can cause a pst to
dissappear,
or
be deleted.
The pst can only be deleted by either third part software or by a user

message
I've checked that my PC is set to display hidden files, I've done a
full
system search, still nothing.

I've been using Outlook for about 3 weeks, and twice in this time my
PST
file has disappeared from where it definitely was before. The
upgrade
was
actually from Thunderbird - a bit of a lengthy upgrade process,
involving
transferring files through Outlook Express, though that went fine.

Russ

:

PST file do not disappear. They are hidden files.
How did you "upgrade" to Outlook 2003? Did you read the Help files
on
how to
migrate your data correctly to Outlook 2003?
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HA010771141033.aspx

--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
message
Hi all,

I've just recently upgraded to Outlook 2003, it's what I use in
my
other
job, so I figured it'd be a good choice for our PCs at home.
However,
twice
over the past few days I've had my PST file completely
disappear -
I
go to
run Outlook, and get the following message:

"The file C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Local
Settings\Application
Data\Microsoft\Outlook\Personal Folders.pst could not be found.

I'm then offered the chance to browse for it, but I've searched
my
PC,
no
sign of it.

I have AVG Anti Virus on here, and that's not picked up
anything.
Any
suggestions what the heck's going on?

Thanks in advance,

Russ

 

[sardoggy]

UPdated info: I have a Windows XP running SP3 with Outlook 2003 installed. Just upgraded the AVG anti-virus to the computer. Bam, lost both outlook.pst and archive.pst. Did a Easy Recovery from another machine to the hard drive and and still could not find the right one. No worries, I got a backup Seagate drive that I verified with my laptop that I have a recent backup of both my .PST files there. Connected the Seagate external hard drive to the Windows XP computer and navigated to the file location. Found it. Copied location to clipboard. Left windows open on desktop screen. Opened new window for where I wanted it pasted. Rt click and Paste and error message: Can not copy file: Can not read from the file or source disk. I go back to the windows that is to my Seagate external hard drive and the files have vanished. Only thing I have done is upgraded my AVG just before my original .PST's disappeared. So yes it can happen as I just watched it happened to me.

FYI..I am a full time computer technician for the last 10years. Yet I am at a lose except to think that AVG's active scanner could not scan the file so it deleted it. I've seen some other posts on other sites stating the same thing about some other software. Any help would be welcome.