PST file problems

[Pierre Levesque, AIA]

I have copied my outlook.pst and archive.pst files from my
Win98SE/Outlook2000 to CD.

I then did a clean install of WinXP on the system. After installing
Office2K, I transferred the files from the CD to the dexktop and proceeded
to open Outlook and tried to open/import the PST files back to my new
version of Outlook2000.

First I got the common "properties for this information must be defined
prior to use" messages and ".is not a personal folders file". So I checked
the files to assure that the files weren't "read-only". They weren't.
Still couldn't open/import them.

So I assumed that somehow the files might be corrupted. I ran scanpst and
the files came back repaired. They opened but only a new folder structure
came back (recovered personal folder) with no sub-folders.

I then did a scandisk and retry of scanpst as suggested by
www.slipstick.com/problems/scanpst.htm but ened up with the same results.

It looks like I'll be down to either get the "2 GB Truncation tool
(Pst2gb.exe)" or send to files to someone to manually recover the data
using a hex editor unless there is something else I can try before going
this route...

Can anyone suggest anything else?

The original outlook.pst file is 109,089KB
The original archive.pst file is 456,576KB

Please include (e-mail address removed) for replies to this message.

TIA,

Pierre Levesque, AIA
c. 917.577.8780
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t. 212-982-5619
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[Brian Tillman]

I have copied my outlook.pst and archive.pst files from my
Win98SE/Outlook2000 to CD.

I then did a clean install of WinXP on the system. After installing
Office2K, I transferred the files from the CD to the dexktop and
proceeded to open Outlook and tried to open/import the PST files back
to my new version of Outlook2000.

First I got the common "properties for this information must be
defined prior to use" messages and ".is not a personal folders file".
So I checked the files to assure that the files weren't "read-only". They
weren't. Still couldn't open/import them.

Was Outlook closed when you copied them to CD? If not, that could explain
it. How did you copy it to the CD? Perhaps your burning software mangled
the file. I've heard of it happening.

 

[Pierre Levesque, AIA]

Was Outlook closed when you copied them to CD? If not, that could explain
it. How did you copy it to the CD? Perhaps your burning software mangled
the file. I've heard of it happening.

Hi Brian, thanks for replying.

I don't remember if Outlook was closed or not when copying to CD but it
probably was. I doubt the burning software mangled the files because I
burned 16 CD's worth of files and all are fine but these files.

What happens if the files were copied while Outlook was open?

The only other things I can think of is that the new version of MSOffice2K
is a different one from the version that was on the other system. But the
other version was also MSOffice2K. Both were approved educational versions
of the software. Could this possibly make a difference? I don't see how
but I'm running out of options...

Please include (e-mail address removed) in replies

Thanks,


--
Pierre Levesque, AIA
c. 917.577.8780
------------------------------------------------------------------
connections architectural
a division of ConnArch Inc
329 East 10th Street, Suite 6
t. 212-982-5619
f. 212-673-6331
c. 917-577-8780

www.connarch.com
------------------------------------------------------------------

 

[Brian Tillman]

What happens if the files were copied while Outlook was open?

You can see exactly the symptoms you're seeing: Outlook complaining that the
file is not a valid PST.

The only other things I can think of is that the new version of
MSOffice2K is a different one from the version that was on the other
system. But the other version was also MSOffice2K. Both were
approved educational versions of the software. Could this possibly
make a difference? I don't see how but I'm running out of options...

I don't see how, either.

Please include (e-mail address removed) in replies

Ask here, get an answer here.

 

[Brian Tillman]

First I got the common "properties for this information must be
defined prior to use" messages

This is an indication that one of the normal Outlook services wasn't defined
in your mail profile.

If SCANPST repaired your PST and it opens as empty, then it truly is toast.
Something like the following might help, although it's a long shot:
http://www.howto-outlook.com/howto/restoredeleteditemsfromanoutlookpst.htm

 

[Pierre Levesque, AIA]

You can see exactly the symptoms you're seeing: Outlook complaining that
the file is not a valid PST.


I don't see how, either.


Ask here, get an answer here.

You'd be surprised to know that I do get email cc'd on about 75% of the
replies...

 

[Pierre Levesque, AIA]

This is an indication that one of the normal Outlook services wasn't
defined in your mail profile.

If SCANPST repaired your PST and it opens as empty, then it truly is
toast. Something like the following might help, although it's a long shot:
http://www.howto-outlook.com/howto/restoredeleteditemsfromanoutlookpst.htm

I'd tend to agree that the file is "toast" except that its a 500MB file so
it surely can't be empty... I'll try the Hex editor.

thx PL

 

[Brian Tillman]

You'd be surprised to know that I do get email cc'd on about 75% of
the replies...

That wouldn't suprise me, but it's not my practice.