Problems with reinstalling Outlook - archive folders

[Trent C]

[Running Windows XP Pro SP3, Office 2003 SP3 with all the updates]

I have just gone through the process of formatting and reinstalling Windows
on my machine. Having backed up the PST files for Outlook, I've run into a
minor glitch for which I'd be grateful for some advice.

In the old setup I had two PST files - the main Outlook.pst and Archive.pst.
I'd created a separate, manual archive for old emails and added folders for
years. When I reinstalled Outlook, I copied back both the PST files, and
the main emails, contacts and calendar were picked up, but for some reason
Outlook hasn't recognised and opened the Archive.pst folders.

Do I need to create an archive first in Outlook, then copy across the PST
file? If so, I'd be grateful for any advice, as I'm anxious that this
should be a manual process in the future, rather than automatic.

Many thanks. Hope I made sense - it's been a long day!

Trent

 

[Brian Tillman [MVP - Outlook]]

In the old setup I had two PST files - the main Outlook.pst and Archive.pst.
I'd created a separate, manual archive for old emails and added folders for
years. When I reinstalled Outlook, I copied back both the PST files, and
the main emails, contacts and calendar were picked up, but for some reason
Outlook hasn't recognised and opened the Archive.pst folders.

Dropping PSTs into the folder where Outlook usually creates them does nothing
and could damage your mail profile. Outlook cannot automatically pick up a
connection to a PST that way. You should never overwrite one PST with another
of the same name. Instead, put your PSTs in a folder that doesn't already
contain one (or use the default folder and name your PST differently than any
other PST already there) and use the Mail applet in Control Panel to add the
PSTs to the mail profile. In Outlook, use Tools>Options>Other>AutoArchive to
point to the PST you want Outlook to use for archiving.

Another note: never use export/import for backing up or restoring. Just copy
the PSTs while Outlook is closed and you have a backup.

 

[Trent C]

In the old setup I had two PST files - the main Outlook.pst and

Dropping PSTs into the folder where Outlook usually creates them does
nothing and could damage your mail profile. Outlook cannot automatically
pick up a connection to a PST that way. You should never overwrite one
PST with another of the same name. Instead, put your PSTs in a folder
that doesn't already contain one (or use the default folder and name your
PST differently than any other PST already there) and use the Mail applet
in Control Panel to add the PSTs to the mail profile. In Outlook, use
Tools>Options>Other>AutoArchive to point to the PST you want Outlook to
use for archiving.

Another note: never use export/import for backing up or restoring. Just
copy the PSTs while Outlook is closed and you have a backup.

Many thanks for the suggestion, Brian - much appreciated.

Sorry to sound stupid, but how exactly do I point to the relevant archive
PST file without at the same time setting up Outlook to actually do any
archiving? Since I want to do the archiving manually, I don't want Outlook
to start dragging emails from other folders, but I do want to be able to
access the archive folder, and choose what to add to it once a year.

Ta muchly!

 

[Brian Tillman [MVP - Outlook]]

Sorry to sound stupid, but how exactly do I point to the relevant archive
PST file without at the same time setting up Outlook to actually do any
archiving? Since I want to do the archiving manually, I don't want Outlook
to start dragging emails from other folders, but I do want to be able to
access the archive folder, and choose what to add to it once a year.

Then don't specify any archive folder. Disable autoarchive. When you want to
move something to the "archive" PST, just open it with File>Open>Outlook Data
File and perform your moves. If you wish, you can close the PST again so that
it doesn't show by right-clicking its root and choosing Close.

 

[Trent C]

Many thanks.

Then don't specify any archive folder. Disable autoarchive. When you
want to move something to the "archive" PST, just open it with
File>Open>Outlook Data File and perform your moves. If you wish, you can
close the PST again so that it doesn't show by right-clicking its root and
choosing Close.

 

[Brian Tillman [MVP - Outlook]]

Many thanks.

You're welcome.

 

[wangdong]

Hi Trent
Are you sure your pst files isn't broken or too big? if not, you can
try a tool called Advanced Outlook Repair. You can download a free
demo version at http://www.datanumen.com/aor/aor.exe . I think it is
a useful repair tool for you. It is easy to recover your PST file by
using its wizard. It is a powerful tool to recover messages, folders
and other objects from corrupt or damaged Microsoft Outlook PST
files.

Detailed information about Advanced Outlook Repair can be found at
http://www.datanumen.com/aor/

Wangdong