Outlook.pst - Cannot find on Laptop?

[Charliec]

I'm trying to transfer my outlook.pst file from my desktop to my laptop,
but cannot find the location of the pst file on the laptop. I find it on
the desktop with no problem, but on the laptop, I do a full search of "My
Computer" in an attempt to determine the location of the file and get
nothing.

I have "show hidden files and folders" checked
I search with *.pst and outlook*.* and the pst file does not show
The laptop is a Gateway Solo B866r, with 256mb memory, Windows XP Home with
SP2, Office 2003 (same as desktop).

What could be causing me not to locate the pst file? I search through
"Google Groups", but did not find an answer.

Any help appreciated.
Charlie
******************************************************
Charliec

 

[Philip Herlihy]

If you're using Exchange Server as your mail host on the desktop, there
won't be a PST file! Try exporting emails etc. to a "personal store".

 

[Charliec]

If you're using Exchange Server as your mail host on the desktop, there
won't be a PST file! Try exporting emails etc. to a "personal store".

How does one tell if you're using Exchange Server as the mail host? The
desktop does have a PST file. I copied it to a SanDisk and want to load it
on the laptop, but cannot find the location of the PST file on the laptop.

Not sure what to look for?
Charlie
******************************************************
Charliec

 

[Philip Herlihy]

You'll only be using Exchange Server if you're in a corporate network, and
that's how the administrator has chosen to provide email services.

If I've misread you, and you've already located the "source" PST tile on the
desktop, then it's easiest to run Outlook on the new machine and then Import
from the old PST file. Import is on the File menu.

Otherwise, the usual location of the PST file is:
C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Local Settings\Application
Data\Microsoft\Outlook

 

[Gordon]

the desktop does have a PST file. I copied it to a SanDisk and want to load it
on the laptop, but cannot find the location of the PST file on the laptop.

Don't bother. Copy the pst file to your HDD. Then in Outlook, go to
File-Open-Outlook Data File and navigate to where you copied the old pst
file to. Bingo!

NB - Ignore advice to import - DON'T DO IT!

 

[Brian Tillman]

How does one tell if you're using Exchange Server as the mail host?
The desktop does have a PST file. I copied it to a SanDisk and want
to load it on the laptop, but cannot find the location of the PST
file on the laptop.

There is no fixed location for the PST. You can just open it on the thumb
drive if you want. Start Outlook. If it asks you where the PST is, browse
to the PST on your SanDisk, select it, and click OK. Outlook should open it
just fine. If you don't get asked to browse, click FIle>Open>Outlook Data
File and browse from there.

You can also copy it to any folder to which you have permission. Outlook
doesn't care.

That said, if you create a new PST, the default location will be
%UserProfile%\Local Settings\Application data\Microsoft\Outlook. Just enter
that address into Windows Explorer to see the folder.

 

[Charliec]

Thanks all for your replies. I think I have it fixed now. I can see it in
My Computer (browse to it) and also at File/Open/OutlookData File. Don't
know what was going on before.

But, in My Computer, doing a Search for Files and Folders - looking for
*.pst produces no results, but the file is there and Outlook sees it.
Strange! Searching for other file extentions such as *.jpg produces normal
results.

Charlie

"Brian Tillman" <[email protected]> wrote:

There is no fixed location for the PST. You can just open it on the thumb
drive if you want. Start Outlook. If it asks you where the PST is, browse
to the PST on your SanDisk, select it, and click OK. Outlook should open it
just fine. If you don't get asked to browse, click FIle>Open>Outlook Data
File and browse from there.

You can also copy it to any folder to which you have permission. Outlook
doesn't care.

That said, if you create a new PST, the default location will be
%UserProfile%\Local Settings\Application data\Microsoft\Outlook. Just enter
that address into Windows Explorer to see the folder.

******************************************************
Charliec

 

[Philip Herlihy]

Why not? (I've had no problems doing this, but I don't claim to know
everything!).

 

[Gordon]

Why not? (I've had no problems doing this, but I don't claim to know
everything!).

You'll find that all the Outlook MVPs recommend opening, not importing,
a pst file. I believe possible data corruption is the reason.

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

Here's why. 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.

 

[Brian Tillman]

But, in My Computer, doing a Search for Files and Folders - looking
for *.pst produces no results,

Then I really suspect the advanced search options "Search hidden files and
folders" and "Search subfolders" were not selected.

 

[Charliec]

Then I really suspect the advanced search options "Search hidden files and
folders" and "Search subfolders" were not selected.

Thanks,
You are correct! Search hidden files and folders was not checked. Working
fine now. Thanks
Charlie
******************************************************
Charliec

 

[Gordon]

Here's why. 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.

Thanks for the reasons!

 

[Philip Herlihy]

ditto!