PST back-up file not recognized by Outlook when import attempted

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Guest

I exported my Outlook 2000 records as a .PST file, and reformatted the hard
drive where the original file was located. Now as I attempt to import/restore
the file, I get an error message stating that the file 'is not a personal
folders file.'

I have tried using the scanpst.exe tool and also the pst2gb.exe tool (both
offered as solutions on MS Knowledge Base), but to no avail (i.e. I get the
same error message).

Does anyone have any suggestions on how I might retrieve this data?
 
How did you backup and restore the file? To CD? Make sure the file isn't
marked as "Read Only"

--
Robert Sparnaaij [MVP-Outlook]
www.howto-outlook.com

Tips of the month:
-Properly back-up and restore your Outlook data
-Creating a Permanent New Mail Desktop Alert in Outlook 2003
 
On Mon, 28 Feb 2005 17:49:09 -0800, "micro nomad" <micro
I exported my Outlook 2000 records as a .PST file, and reformatted the hard
drive where the original file was located. Now as I attempt to import/restore
the file, I get an error message stating that the file 'is not a personal
folders file.'

I have tried using the scanpst.exe tool and also the pst2gb.exe tool (both
offered as solutions on MS Knowledge Base), but to no avail (i.e. I get the
same error message).

Does anyone have any suggestions on how I might retrieve this data?
Click to expand...

The .pst file has been transferred back onto your hard drive and the "Read
Only" attribute has been removed? After that is done, what happens when you
try to open the .pst file now?
 
Yes, I copied the .pst file back to the hard drive, and removed the read-only
attribute. When I try to import/open it, I get the message 'the file is not a
personal folders file.'

It appears the file was corrupted during the back-up. It may be due to an
error/defect on the CD-RW itself.

Do you know of any tools out there (apart from pstscan and pst2gb) that
might be able to recover the data?
 
micro nomad said:
Yes, I copied the .pst file back to the hard drive, and removed the
read-only attribute. When I try to import/open it, I get the message
'the file is not a personal folders file.'

It appears the file was corrupted during the back-up. It may be due
to an error/defect on the CD-RW itself.
Click to expand...

One of the errors is that you believe you should ever export or import a
PST. Do that only if you like losing data.

To properly transfer Outlook data from one instance of Outlook to another,
close the source Outlook, copy the PST to the other machine, start Outlook
on the new machine and open the copied PST with FIle>Open>Outlook Data File.
All done.
 
I had a similar problem that was solved by copying the pst
file from the CD to the desktop first and then doing the
import from the desktop.
CBarnes
 
CBarnes said:
I had a similar problem that was solved by copying the pst
file from the CD to the desktop first and then doing the
import from the desktop.
Click to expand...

Never import a PST.
 
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