Re-installing saved pst files

[Guest]

O/S Windows 2000; Outlook 2000

After exporting my inbox pst (including sub-folders) and sent items pst to
external hard drive I then had to format my hard drive and reinstall my O/S
and Outlook 2000.

On trying to import or open these files (I copied them back to my C drive
first and they are not read only) I get a personal folder directory, with
either inbox or send folders, but the files are empty. I tried ScanPST on
both (copied) versions and both found no errors ( and did find the folders
within).

Inbox pst is 12Mb and sent pst is 6.7Mb so I'm assuming emails are still in
there. The inbox file contains registration details that I'm keen to retrieve
- any help would be greatly appreciated.

regards

 

[Brian Tillman]

O/S Windows 2000; Outlook 2000

After exporting my inbox pst (including sub-folders) and sent items
pst to external hard drive I then had to format my hard drive and
reinstall my O/S and Outlook 2000.

Never export to or import from a PST. It's unnecessary and may have
unwanted side-effects. Just copy the existing PST or, if using Exchange,
create a new PST and copy the folders. Always make sure Outlook is closed
when you copy PSTs.

On trying to import or open these files (I copied them back to my C
drive first and they are not read only) I get a personal folder
directory, with either inbox or send folders, but the files are
empty. I tried ScanPST on both (copied) versions and both found no
errors ( and did find the folders within).

Sounds like Outlook might not have been closed when the PSTs were copied.
Why do you have more than one? You shouldn't have one for Inbox and one for
Sent Items. You should have a single PST (the original) with all your
Outlook data (Inbox, Sent Items, Calendar, Contacts, etc.) in it.

Inbox pst is 12Mb and sent pst is 6.7Mb so I'm assuming emails are
still in there. The inbox file contains registration details that I'm
keen to retrieve - any help would be greatly appreciated.

I'd say your PSTs are toast.

 

[Guest]

Brian

Thanks for the reply.

I exported my inbox and sub-folders as a pst file, along with a separate
sent items pst file, these obviously being separate from the single outlook
pst. I've used this format a few times without error.

I'll try the pst's on my office laptop but, as you say, they may be toast.