[CanvasPhoto]

System died... hard drives still OK, so have data. New pc is 64-bit. I have to install Outlook along with all the other programs, but first I want to know how/where to find the folders on original hard drive (note: can't open Outlook to follow instructions in previous thread explaining migration from old pc to new one). Is it possible to locate the file(s) and simply copy them to known location and then point newly-installed Outlook to that location?

Really need some of those files & folders.

Related question: How to structure a recurring backup that can later be accessed via above procedure, so that a repeat of this problem is more easily handled?

Gracias!

[EAFiedler]

Originally Posted by CanvasPhoto

...... Is it possible to locate the file(s) and simply copy them to known location and then point newly-installed Outlook to that location?
Gracias!

Hi CanvasPhoto

Yes, you can simply copy the .pst file(s) to the new computer and direct Outlook to connect to those .pst file(s).

Do a Search for .pst files on the computer. You may need to enable: Show hidden files and folders

What operating system are you using?
Are you slaving the hard drive to access the files?
What version of Outlook are you using?

After installing Outlook on the new computer, start Outlook and you'll be prompted to enter your e-mail account settings, this will start your new Outlook profile.

Copy the saved .pst file(s) to the new computer and have Outlook connect to the .pst file(s):

File > Open > Outlook Data File
Browse to the location of the .pst file(s) and select a .pst file.
The Personal Folders (.pst file) should then appear in Outlook.
Repeat the above steps for any additional .pst files.

I did a Search for: Recurring backup on Microsoft Offline Online and got this link:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/he...ng+backup&sc=9

This link has a Personal Folders Backup Add-In for Outlook 2007, 2003 and 2002:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en

[DaveA]

I have found the things were real well, if you copy the old PST file to a external device and then import it to the new PST on the new machine, using the import functions of Outlook. This works REAL well when moving up to a newer version also.

[CanvasPhoto]

Thanks everyone... I'll try this later today.
RE: questions - OS is Vista 64-bit (old one was XT). And yes, slaving the old drive C in a 3rd pc (because new pc has only SATA drive connections, no PCI). Outlook is from Office 2000 (I know it's old, but I'll continue to use it as long as it works). Note: when up and running, maybe I'll upgrade to Office 2007 and take advantage of the 'Personal Folders Backup' feature that you mentioned... thanks for that.

Appreciate the good suggestions, sounds like I should be OK later today. Muchas Gracias!

[CanvasPhoto]

Update: Located .PST file on original drive-C, transferred to Desktop of new pc. Opened Outlook for first time since installing Office... it led me thru setup process for email acct. This naturally created the standard folders. Then tried to 'Open Personal Files' and specified the transferred file. Seemed to work, but when I checked some of the items that are easy to verify (such as calendar... none of my scheduled events were there). So I closed Outlook and located its (new) .PST file. Tried to place the original file in same location; could only do it by allowing Vista to rename it as outlook (2).pst. Then tried to delete new one (only 800KB, vs 382MB for original). Unable to delete or rename (says in use by another program, although it isn't). At another point a message said it was created on a different [system?] - sorry, I don't remember the exact wording and can't reproduce this so not sure what I did to get this message. Anyway, Outlook doesn't seem to want to allow a change from its own .pst to any other. Microsoft should be kinder to its users - a simple warning before allowing the change would be sufficient. Any ideas?

[CanvasPhoto]

Update to the update: Could not use the Import procedure... get error that says an error occurred when trying to open Windows Address Book. Unable to find the WAB DLL. Also, BTW, there is a 'Personal Folders' entry in the Folder List of Outlook, but unable to open or expand it. That is when I see the message that the outlook.pst file can't be accessed because another workstation has modified it... close and then restart all mail-enabled applications.

Not looking good for the home team...

[EAFiedler]

You have installed Outlook 2000 on Vista?
See if this thread helps with the Wab errors:
http://forums.techguy.org/business-a...wab-vista.html


I don't currently have Outlook 2000 installed, the following steps are for changing the Personal Folders Default Delivery Location (where messages are delivered) in Outlook 2003:

Tools > E-mail Accounts... > View or change existing e-mail accounts > Next

In the lower section of this window, click the drop down arrow for: Deliver new e-mail to the following location
Select the Personal Folder where you want your messages delivered.
Click Finish

Close and restart Outlook for the changes to take effect.

Let us know what happens.

[Rich-M]

Don't try to put it in the same folder just move the access to where the .pst file is. You are confusing the program. I am on 2007 so I am not sure it is the same place but go to Account Settings and change the email folder to where your pst file is and I would put it in a separate folder on C drive for now. Then go back and delete the new pst file and then you can move the old one there and change back the location in Account Settings.

[CanvasPhoto]

This is interesting... The next time I opened Outlook, it didn't open - instead, it wnt to the startup wizard as though I had not already configured E-Mail. This time when I configured it I selected "Corporate" option, which changed the menus a little. To get to the email account setup: Tools > Services (instead of Accounts)... set up email accounts again. Closed, to enable the changes/additions. When reopened, it again went to startup wizard. This is like Groundhog Day. It never opens, just goes to setup. So far I made no change to .pst file (all I did was put my old .pst file into a new folder on C: drive in preparation to point Outlook to that location (unable to figure out how to redirect to that folder, so just closed Outlook).
Summary: two questions at this point: (1) how to end this Groundhog Day scenario, and (2) how to redirect to the folder with the "old" .pst file?

[EAFiedler]

Verify the steps given in this link, to reconfigure the installation mode for Outlook 2000:
How to switch from one installation type to another in Outlook 2000

OL2000: Reconfigure Mail Support to Internet Only Does Not Work


Once that is done you connect Outlook to additional Personal Folders (.pst files) this way:

File > Open > Personal Folder or (Outlook Data File)
Browse to the location of the Personal Folder (.pst file) and select it.
The Personal Folders should appear in Outlook.

Or it could be this:
File > Open Special Folder > Personal Folder or (Outlook Data File)
Browse to the location of the Personal Folder (.pst file) and select it.
The Personal Folders should appear in Outlook.

Let us know how that works for you.

[CanvasPhoto]

Progress... Not sure how this happened, but I somehow ended up with two Personal Folders entries in Tools > Services. Properties showed paths for each. I deleted the new one, leaving the other (orig) one assigned. Now have all the folders I needed (whew, what a relief).

Next issue: apparently contacts are not part of the folders... must be in a different file other than .pst. If you know the name of the contacts file I'll try to repeat the process for it.

Meanwhile, I guess the Groundhog Day will just have to continue. Every time I open Outlook it goes to the startup wizard. Next screen says there was a previous version of Outlook installed and asks if I want to use the same configuration as it had used... as long as I say Yes, it should be OK.

[EAFiedler]

Can you upload a screen shot of the message you see when starting Outlook 2000?

Yes, there is a Contacts folder in the Default Personal Folders.
The Default Personal Folders is the delivery location for your messages, any additional Personal Folders are just extra. Only one Personal Folder can be configured to receive messages in an Outlook profile.

Are you able to Send and Receive messages?

[CanvasPhoto]

Sorry, I don't know how to upload a screen shot.... but the screen has OL logo on banner followed by Outlook 2000 Startup. Text says Welcome to the Outlook Startup Wizard, which will guide you through the process of configuring Outlook 2000. Buttons: Next + Cancel + Help.
The next screen says Outlook Mail Message. The message is: Another version of Outlook was installed on your machine prior to installing Outlook 2000. Did you use that version of Outlook to read electronic mail? Answer Yes to use the same configuration as the previously installed version of Outlook. I answer Yes in order to keep the .pst file that has the right folders. If I answer No, it takes me through the configuration and recreates everything new.
I can send and receive messages... everything seems to be working OK and I do have the calendar events that I needed, etc. I think the only misstep now is the contact info that is missing.

[CanvasPhoto]

... and also missing: all of the signatures. I use them to insert repetitive and sometimes complex details such as hours of operation, directions to the store, pricing, etc. Could recreate, but much better if I can recover from the original Outlook.

[EAFiedler]

Are you saying you are missing previous contact information? Or that there is not a Contacts folder to create contact information?