RIP Data File Won't Go Gently Into That Good Night

[Guest]

I once had a datafile named DLU.

It was removed from being active via data file management, and then the PST
file was deleted.

Yet DLU remains in the left hand file list with a minus sign indicating
nothing beneath it. I cannot get scanpst to open it as there is no file to
open.

When I recreated a DLU datafile it was seen as new -- I could not confuse
Outlook into thinking it was the old DLU datafile. So I removed then deleted
the second DLU datafile (with no problem)

When I click on the remaining "phantom" DLU, an error message appears that
it cannot open folders. I cannot deleted DLU from the file menu.

Your advice is appreciated.

 

[Vince Averello [MVP-Outlook]]

Can you right click on it and choose "Close" to remove it from the folder
list?

 

[Guest]

Hi Vince:

No, I cannot close it. Is the folder list in the registry? I know hacking
the registry is not a recommended practice, but it might be the simplist way
out of this mess.

Thanks

 

[Vince Averello [MVP-Outlook]]

I don't think so but I'm not sure. You could search the registry for the
file name and see what shows up but be very careful

 

[Guest]

Vince:

I think that I have really badly messed things up in trying to fix this
problem. Now I have several "Personal Folders" none of which will open and
none will close.

How can I get Outlook 2003 back to its "virgin" state prior to my
importation of old items?

Many thanks

 

[Vince Averello [MVP-Outlook]]

You can try setting up a fresh profile in the Control Panel's Mail applet

 

[Guest]

I am going to try to uninstall and reinstall Outlook. I don't see another
alternative.

 

[Brian Tillman]

How can I get Outlook 2003 back to its "virgin" state prior to my
importation of old items?

Never import a PST. You've corrupted your mail profile and you need to
create a new one. To open old PSTs, use File>Open>Outlook Data File.