Outlook on 2 PCs

  • Thread starter Thread starter akerr
  • Start date Start date
A

akerr

I have a desktop PC and a laptop (both Win XP)using
Outlook 2000. I am simply trying to update my dektop
Outlook file after travelling by exporting Outlook data
from my laptop and importing it into my desktop. I have
tried Export/Comma Separated Values, and I have tried Tab
Separated Values, not allowing duplicates. Every time I
import, I get emails listed with no dates associated with
them. There is no ability to select Dates Received in
the "Map Custom Fields" box, and the imported emails are
simply listed without dates below old emails on my
desktop. There is no clear information in the "Help"
section in Outlook that simply shows how to update one
Outlook from another Outlook. Surely there must be a
simple way to do this, since there must be tens of
millions of people who have Outlook on both a desktop PC
and a laptop?

I'd appreciate any help.

Alan Kerr
 
I'm not an expert at this, but here's how I handle the problem:

I keep the "real" files on the desktop, and tell the laptop to leave
messages on the server (I'm not running exchange server, just doing a
standalone with a local network to connect the desktop and laptop. It
doesn't sound like you're on an enterprise network with a mail server
either.)

When I need to update the laptop, I export the folders I need to transfer
(file > Import/Export > Export to a file > personal folder file (pst) >
select the folder I want to export from > name the file something like "sent
dec 4" > export to the folder on your laptop that holds your .pst files.
Run "my computer" "search" on *.pst to find out where Windows is putting
your .pst files. Probably will be in your personal folders under your login
name.

Do this for each folder you want to export.

Close Outlook on the desktop. Importing won't work if Outlook is running on
the desktop.

On the laptop, execute the Import from another program sequence. Navigate
to the folder where your .pst files are, click on one of the files you've
put there during exporting. Import the file. If you already have some of
those messages on the laptop, decide whether to allow duplicates or not. If
the same folder (such as "sent") exists on the laptop, tell import to put
the data in the same folder (select it). Otherwise, it might create yet
another sent folder.

Do this for each folder you exported. I keep my contacts updated the same
way, just export/import the contacts folder.

Reverse the process when you get back home. If you leave incoming mail on
the server, all you'll have to update is your desktop's sent file. All new
mail will automatically appear on your desktop when you boot it up and start
Outlook.

Hope this helps. This only works easily if you have your computer networked.
Otherwise, you might have to burn a CD-r or rw with the exported files, then
import from the disk. Floppies won't handle the .pst file sizes.

Samsome
 
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