(Outlook 2007) Best way to migrate POP3 account info + rules from one computer to another?

[Johnny Fever]

Hi,

I am migrating to a new computer, and would like to transfer my Outlook 2007
stuff.

I already know how to transfer the emails themselves (via archive-pst) but
I'd also like to transfer the various account info (I have a dozen different
POP3 email accounts that Outlook manages) as well as the created RULES I'd
like to keep using on the new machine.

How do I transfer the accounts (all the POP3 info) + various rules?

(I don't think it matters, but just in case : old computer = WinXP 32 / new
computer = Win7 64.)

Thanks!

 

[Russ Valentine]

If you think you should use archive.pst to transfer your emails, then you
are already confused. Archive.pst contains only the email you no longer
need.
Suggest reading the countless posts here that tell you how to transfer your
current Outlook data. That's what you need to do.
You cannot transfer your account data reliably. You should recreate your
accounts from scratch.
Rules will transfer with your PST file, but you will need to reset them to
the new location before they'll work.

 

[Johnny Fever]

I'm not confused, I've always used .PST files to transfer my emails. It even
keeps the folder structure. I'm not saying there's no other way to do it,
but for you to suggest I'm somehow ignorant for doing it this way for the
past 10 years was ignorant in and of itself.

Clearly I'm not going to get much cooperation from Russ, but if anyone else
wants to help me transfer POP account info + rules, I'd appreciate.

 

[Diane Poremsky [MVP]]

The accounts will need to be recreated - they are stored in the registry and
while you could export the registry, doing so can introduce corruption if
the computers are not identical. Rules are stored in the pst. You should
export them to a file, just incase...

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]

Outlook & Exchange Solutions Center: http://www.slipstick.com/

Outlook Tips by email:
mailto:[email protected]

EMO - a weekly newsletter about Outlook and Exchange:
mailto:[email protected]

Do you sync your mailbox with a smartphone or pda?
http://forums.slipstick.com/showthread.php?t=39473

 

[waykone]

The accounts will need to be recreated - they are stored in the registry and
while you could export the registry, doing so can introduce corruption if
the computers are not identical. Rules are stored in the pst. You should
export them to a file, just incase...

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]
Outlook Tips:http://www.outlook-tips.net/
Outlook & Exchange Solutions Center:http://www.slipstick.com/

Outlook Tips by email:
mailto:[email protected]

EMO - a weekly newsletter about Outlook and Exchange:
mailto:[email protected]

Do you sync your mailbox with a smartphone or pda?http://forums.slipstick..com/showthread.php?t=39473

Hi,

I am migrating to a new computer, and would like to transfer my Outlook
2007 stuff.

I already know how to transfer the emails themselves (via archive-pst) but
I'd also like to transfer the various account info (I have a dozen
different POP3 email accounts that Outlook manages) as well as the created
RULES I'd like to keep using on the new machine.

How do I transfer the accounts (all the POP3 info) + various rules?

(I don't think it matters, but just in case : old computer = WinXP 32/
new computer = Win7 64.)

Thanks!

Correct me if I'm wrong! But isn't it as simple as exporting the
account details from Outlook and moving the PST?

 

[Russ Valentine]

I never said not to use PST file. I'm saying your Archive.pst file does not
contain your current data.

 

[Russ Valentine]

You cannot export and transfer account settings.
--
Russ Valentine

The accounts will need to be recreated - they are stored in the registry
and
while you could export the registry, doing so can introduce corruption if
the computers are not identical. Rules are stored in the pst. You should
export them to a file, just incase...

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]
Outlook Tips:http://www.outlook-tips.net/
Outlook & Exchange Solutions Center:http://www.slipstick.com/

Outlook Tips by email:
mailto:[email protected]

EMO - a weekly newsletter about Outlook and Exchange:
mailto:[email protected]

Do you sync your mailbox with a smartphone or
pda?http://forums.slipstick.com/showthread.php?t=39473

Hi,

I am migrating to a new computer, and would like to transfer my Outlook
2007 stuff.

I already know how to transfer the emails themselves (via archive-pst)
but
I'd also like to transfer the various account info (I have a dozen
different POP3 email accounts that Outlook manages) as well as the
created
RULES I'd like to keep using on the new machine.

How do I transfer the accounts (all the POP3 info) + various rules?

(I don't think it matters, but just in case : old computer = WinXP 32 /
new computer = Win7 64.)

Thanks!

Correct me if I'm wrong! But isn't it as simple as exporting the
account details from Outlook and moving the PST?

 

[Brian Tillman [MVP-Outlook]]

I'm not confused, I've always used .PST files to transfer my emails. It even
keeps the folder structure. I'm not saying there's no other way to do it,
but for you to suggest I'm somehow ignorant for doing it this way for the
past 10 years was ignorant in and of itself.

Clearly I'm not going to get much cooperation from Russ, but if anyone else
wants to help me transfer POP account info + rules, I'd appreciate.

You're taking offense unnecessarily. In Outlook's parlance, "archive PST" has
a very specific meaning. It is the PST created and used by the autoarchive
process to store items that haven't been modified for a specified period of
time, removing them from the main folders so they don't take space needed for
active work. When you say "archive PST", we believe that's what you mean and
we can't know that you're using the term in a different way unless you tell
us.

 

[Johnny Fever]

Hi Diane,

I've been manually creating PST files to transfer my email folders and items
for over a decade, but never have the rules migrated with them. Is there
something specific I need to do during either the saving or re-opening
process?

Thanks.

 

[Johnny Fever]

What are the two of you still talking about?

To create my PST's, I have to go to File / Archive. This opens a dialog that
allows me to archive my folder structure and all my email items to PST file.
I don't accept that the expression "Archive PST" in this situation is
unacceptable and should open the door to people suggesting I'm confused or
ignorant.

And I am quite surprised and disappointed that you would align yourself with
that side of the debate. You're a MVP. If anyone should be open and
sympathetic to people referring to the expression "Archive PST" when
referring to "PST" files created through the "Archive" command, it would be
you. It's not like I was referring to ZIP files for crying out loud.

Would your time not have been better served telling me about email account
and rules migration, like Diane did?

Little too late now, but thanks anyway.

 

[Johnny Fever]

I never used the word archive.pst. I referred to archive pst files. You
added the dot, not me.

 

[Diane Poremsky [MVP]]

No, unfortunately. There is a 2step you could do to export them, but its
often easier to let outlook recreate the account, especially if
autodiscovery can find the accounts.

The 2step: on old computer, import accounts into OE/Mail/Live then save the
iaf's for each account. Import them into OE/Mail/LM on the other computer
and then import into Outlook.

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]

Outlook & Exchange Solutions Center: http://www.slipstick.com/

Outlook Tips by email:
mailto:[email protected]

EMO - a weekly newsletter about Outlook and Exchange:
mailto:[email protected]

Do you sync your mailbox with a smartphone or pda?
http://forums.slipstick.com/showthread.php?t=39473

The accounts will need to be recreated - they are stored in the registry
and
while you could export the registry, doing so can introduce corruption if
the computers are not identical. Rules are stored in the pst. You should
export them to a file, just incase...

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]
Outlook Tips:http://www.outlook-tips.net/
Outlook & Exchange Solutions Center:http://www.slipstick.com/

Outlook Tips by email:
mailto:[email protected]

EMO - a weekly newsletter about Outlook and Exchange:
mailto:[email protected]

Do you sync your mailbox with a smartphone or
pda?http://forums.slipstick.com/showthread.php?t=39473

Hi,

I am migrating to a new computer, and would like to transfer my Outlook
2007 stuff.

I already know how to transfer the emails themselves (via archive-pst)
but
I'd also like to transfer the various account info (I have a dozen
different POP3 email accounts that Outlook manages) as well as the
created
RULES I'd like to keep using on the new machine.

How do I transfer the accounts (all the POP3 info) + various rules?

(I don't think it matters, but just in case : old computer = WinXP 32 /
new computer = Win7 64.)

Thanks!

Correct me if I'm wrong! But isn't it as simple as exporting the
account details from Outlook and moving the PST?

 

[Diane Poremsky [MVP]]

No need to use File, Archive - just find the PST your profile uses and copy
it.
See http://www.slipstick.com/config/move_outlook.asp

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]

Outlook & Exchange Solutions Center: http://www.slipstick.com/

Outlook Tips by email:
mailto:[email protected]

EMO - a weekly newsletter about Outlook and Exchange:
mailto:[email protected]

Do you sync your mailbox with a smartphone or pda?
http://forums.slipstick.com/showthread.php?t=39473

 

[Diane Poremsky [MVP]]

Its new to either 2007 or 2003. Plus, you need to move the current pst, not
use Export or Archive to create the pst you are moving as the rules are a
hidden file stored in the default pst.

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]

Outlook & Exchange Solutions Center: http://www.slipstick.com/

Outlook Tips by email:
mailto:[email protected]

EMO - a weekly newsletter about Outlook and Exchange:
mailto:[email protected]

Do you sync your mailbox with a smartphone or pda?
http://forums.slipstick.com/showthread.php?t=39473

 

[Russ Valentine]

Then you're still making a mistake. You do not transfer Outlook data by
creating an archive. You transfer Outlook data by copying your existing
Outlook data file. Creating an archive doesn't transfer all your data. You
wanted to transfer your rules, right? You sure won't transfer rules using
your method.
As I said, the correct methods for data transfer are posted here daily. Feel
free to read those posts.

 

[Russ Valentine]

There is and was no debate. You do not use the archive process to transfer
your Outlook data. That was the confusion I was trying to point out. PST
files contain a lot of data that the archive process leaves behind.
That's why I suggested using one of the correct methods for data transfer
we've documented here countless times. Like copying your Outlook data file
for example.

 

[John]

Just to point out to a few issues, there has been conflicting views expressed here

First, you can actually move your outlook data by archiving them first and importing them back to the new pc. Maybe not the best method but it's quite possible.

Wrong Suggestions
To say that Archiving only means autoarchive. Manual archiving is also possible.

My method will be;
If you're using different version of Outlook on the PCs then;
Make sure you import your old pst files into the new PC's outlook using the import function.

If you're using the same version of Outlook then you just need to copy the files across; eg using xcopy from the new pc.

xcopy "\\Old PC\C$\Documents and Settings\%username%\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook" "C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Outlook" /D /S /E /Y

xcopy "\\Old PC\C$\Documents and Settings\%username%\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook" "C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook" /D /S /E /Y

Let's know if you are able to resolve this.

 

[Gordon]

Just to point out to a few issues, there has been conflicting views
expressed here.

First, you can actually move your outlook data by archiving them first and
importing them back to the new pc.

Wrong. See below as to why not.

My method will be;
If you're using different version of Outlook on the PCs then;
Make sure you import your old pst files into the new PC's outlook using
the import function.

Wrong again. See below.

If you're using the same version of Outlook then you just need to copy the
files across; eg using xcopy from the new pc.

Partially correct solution.

xcopy "\\Old PC\C$\Documents and Settings\%username%\Application
Data\Microsoft\Outlook"
"C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Outlook" /D /S /E /Y

xcopy "\\Old PC\C$\Documents and Settings\%username%\Local
Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook"
"C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook" /D /S /E /Y

Do NOT paste into the default location, particularly if there is a pst file
already there.

(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

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