trouble importing archived pst files

[Guest]

I recently had to re-install my operating system. Before I did, I saved my
pst files in an external hard drive, then after I re-installed Outlook and
tried to import the archived pst files. I receive an error message that says
Outlook cannot import these files because they are "not compatible with the
personal files folder." What can I do?

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

State how you created and transferred this PST file. State the Outlook
version in which you created it and the version in which you are trying to
access it.

 

[Guest]

I simply copied the file that I found in the path (I've forgotten the exact
path but it was something like ...local settings/appl data/office/outlook)
into my external hard drive. I reinstalled the same version of Outlook that
created the files (2003) and am trying to access the files using the same
version.

State how you created and transferred this PST file. State the Outlook
version in which you created it and the version in which you are trying to
access it.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

I recently had to re-install my operating system. Before I did, I saved my
pst files in an external hard drive, then after I re-installed Outlook and
tried to import the archived pst files. I receive an error message that
says
Outlook cannot import these files because they are "not compatible with
the
personal files folder." What can I do?

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

That error message suggests otherwise. Verify you are actually using the
same version.
You would never use import to access an entire PST file. Just open it and
post any error message you get when you try.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

I simply copied the file that I found in the path (I've forgotten the exact
path but it was something like ...local settings/appl data/office/outlook)
into my external hard drive. I reinstalled the same version of Outlook
that
created the files (2003) and am trying to access the files using the same
version.

State how you created and transferred this PST file. State the Outlook
version in which you created it and the version in which you are trying
to
access it.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
message

I recently had to re-install my operating system. Before I did, I saved
my
pst files in an external hard drive, then after I re-installed Outlook
and
tried to import the archived pst files. I receive an error message that
says
Outlook cannot import these files because they are "not compatible with
the
personal files folder." What can I do?

 

[Guest]

My mistake. I created the file using Outlook 2002 and copied the files to the
external drive, reinstalled Office XP Pro and the current version of Outlook
(same as before - 2002) gives me the error message "The file C:\file_name.pst
is not compatible with this version of the Personal Folders Information
Service. Contact your administrator."

That error message suggests otherwise. Verify you are actually using the
same version.
You would never use import to access an entire PST file. Just open it and
post any error message you get when you try.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

I simply copied the file that I found in the path (I've forgotten the exact
path but it was something like ...local settings/appl data/office/outlook)
into my external hard drive. I reinstalled the same version of Outlook
that
created the files (2003) and am trying to access the files using the same
version.

State how you created and transferred this PST file. State the Outlook
version in which you created it and the version in which you are trying
to
access it.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
message
I recently had to re-install my operating system. Before I did, I saved
my
pst files in an external hard drive, then after I re-installed Outlook
and
tried to import the archived pst files. I receive an error message that
says
Outlook cannot import these files because they are "not compatible with
the
personal files folder." What can I do?

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

Then you now know the answer, right? You must use an installation of Outlook
2003 to open this file, then create a PST in the old format and copy your
data into it.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

My mistake. I created the file using Outlook 2002 and copied the files to
the
external drive, reinstalled Office XP Pro and the current version of
Outlook
(same as before - 2002) gives me the error message "The file
C:\file_name.pst
is not compatible with this version of the Personal Folders Information
Service. Contact your administrator."

That error message suggests otherwise. Verify you are actually using the
same version.
You would never use import to access an entire PST file. Just open it and
post any error message you get when you try.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

I simply copied the file that I found in the path (I've forgotten the
exact
path but it was something like ...local settings/appl
data/office/outlook)
into my external hard drive. I reinstalled the same version of Outlook
that
created the files (2003) and am trying to access the files using the
same
version.

:

State how you created and transferred this PST file. State the Outlook
version in which you created it and the version in which you are
trying
to
access it.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
message
I recently had to re-install my operating system. Before I did, I
saved
my
pst files in an external hard drive, then after I re-installed
Outlook
and
tried to import the archived pst files. I receive an error message
that
says
Outlook cannot import these files because they are "not compatible
with
the
personal files folder." What can I do?

 

[Guest]

Okay. How do I create a pst in the old format? and copy data into it? I did
reinstall Outlook 2003 and imported the pst file into it but it didn't bring
in 99% of my contacts. Is that because I may have created some those in the
old format? How do I get them into the 2003 version?

Then you now know the answer, right? You must use an installation of Outlook
2003 to open this file, then create a PST in the old format and copy your
data into it.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

My mistake. I created the file using Outlook 2002 and copied the files to
the
external drive, reinstalled Office XP Pro and the current version of
Outlook
(same as before - 2002) gives me the error message "The file
C:\file_name.pst
is not compatible with this version of the Personal Folders Information
Service. Contact your administrator."

That error message suggests otherwise. Verify you are actually using the
same version.
You would never use import to access an entire PST file. Just open it and
post any error message you get when you try.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
I simply copied the file that I found in the path (I've forgotten the
exact
path but it was something like ...local settings/appl
data/office/outlook)
into my external hard drive. I reinstalled the same version of Outlook
that
created the files (2003) and am trying to access the files using the
same
version.

:

State how you created and transferred this PST file. State the Outlook
version in which you created it and the version in which you are
trying
to
access it.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
message
I recently had to re-install my operating system. Before I did, I
saved
my
pst files in an external hard drive, then after I re-installed
Outlook
and
tried to import the archived pst files. I receive an error message
that
says
Outlook cannot import these files because they are "not compatible
with
the
personal files folder." What can I do?

 

[Brian Tillman]

Okay. How do I create a pst in the old format? and copy data into it?
I did reinstall Outlook 2003 and imported the pst file into it but it
didn't bring in 99% of my contacts. Is that because I may have
created some those in the old format? How do I get them into the 2003
version?

Don't import. There's never a reason for that when using a PST. Just open
the existing PST with File>Open>Outlook Data File. Then read this:
http://www.howto-outlook.com/howto/downgradefromoutlook2003.htm

 

[Guest]

Very interesting. I'll give this a try.

Don't import. There's never a reason for that when using a PST. Just open
the existing PST with File>Open>Outlook Data File. Then read this:
http://www.howto-outlook.com/howto/downgradefromoutlook2003.htm