I Need Computer Help with MS Outlook

[savedbygrace]

I need some advice and help. I just got slammed by a misbehaving app's installer and my WinXP box crashed hard.

I've gotten everything back up, except for one vitally important item. When I started MS Outlook, it could not open my Default pst file. That, of course, has my Calendar and tons of saved email messages.

The last backup I did was 9/26/02, so I've only lost 9 days, but if there's a way to restore the more current, but corrupted, pst file, I'd sure like to do it. Everytime I move that pst back to the Default location, Outlook says it cannot access the pst.

The system is a P3-733, 512MB RAM, WinXP Pro, Office XP Pro.

Computer geniuses - what can I do? I'm ready to provide any other info you need to be able to help me. If it's a lost cause, I'll accept that.

Thanks.

[big'ol_freeper]

Hey, I'm calm...I use a Mac...I don't have these problems. Well thats not true actually. I use a Windows machine at work and have all these same problems I read about on these threads. But when I am home I am real calm because I don't have any headaches on the machine I bought.

[Havoc]

If you can't open it, you will likely not be able to import it. Not that it isn't worth a try. If you import and that fails, at least you have a backup; but, the original data is lost. BUT, you can message your isp and request a restore of your mail file on the server from the date of the incident and if your ISP is worth it's oats, they should be able to get you back any data that was recent.

Beyond that, welcome to the world of MS. Wish you the best.

[Wright Wing]

Replying to myself. Depending on how long ago you got everything back up and running, you may want to try a system restore from a time before you managed to kill XP. Just a thought...

[big'ol_freeper]

BTW...I don't know anybody who uses a Mac who has Microsoft Office. I looked at it but decided it does not offer anything I don't already have since I can read and write from/to any Office products with what I have. Must be why MS is crying about its lousy MS Office for Mac sales.

[BuddhaBoy]

The fact remains; without Office for the Mac, Apple would have gone under long ago.

[for-q-clinton]

Well, that's why I'm asking. Posting a picture of Mac OSX doesn't help provide any help. That's why I asked why it was better.

Is there something wrong with asking you to provide your opinion on why you think it's email client is better?

Which BTW: are you comparing it to Outlook 2000/2002 or Outlook Express?

I'm honestly interested in finding better products, but I don't have time to try every product out there. Especially one that requires me to buy a new computer that runs less software. But if it truly is better I may consider it.

So many times the anti-MS crowd tries to take cheap shots without any supporting info. All I wanted was an honest answer. I guess the fact that you can't back up your claim answers my question.

[Havoc]

What, you'd deprive yourself of MS products and run off to that irrelevant Mac stuff. You must be one of those rabid anti microsoft people (wink). I support the stuff for a living. The only thing you're missing is the heartache and headaches of fixing it everytime it breaks. Be glad you have something functional ;)

[savedbygrace]

I can see it no problem. Thanks.

[savedbygrace]

That might be heading me in the right direction. I think it might be a file structure problem. Still checking.

[rdb3]

Thanx a lot. Since I'm a bonafide "geek," I like to help folks no matter what plat they use. It is indeed a very useful site.

savedbygrace, be sure to bookmark that site. You never know when you'll need it again.

[agrarianlady]

Try this:

Move the .pst file to another folder - a generic location outside your user 'Profile' path. Open Outlook. Click on 'File' 'Open' 'Personal Folders File'. Browse for the new file. It should create another separate .pst file in Outlook with the old information.

What I suspect, (and it might not be true in this case), is that you have a corrupt user profile. That used to happen to my users when I worked on NT Workstations. In that case, you may need to create a new user for yourself, log in as that user, and then try to access the .pst file the way I told you above.

I don't know if it's possible to overwrite a .pst file in a user profile. I don't think Windows likes it when you mess with the files in a User Profile. So I suggest opening up the old .pst file as a second folder in Outlook and moving the old mail folders and messages into the new, empty slots in the new default .pst file.

Of course, it's been 3 years since I've been a sys admin so my memory is faulty. Hope it helps somewhat.

[savedbygrace]

I've also got a G4 DP 1GHz with Jag and a TiPB with 10.1.5. But I still need my WinXP box.

[for-q-clinton]

Hey, I'm calm...I use a Mac...I don't have these problems. Well thats not true actually. I use a Windows machine at work and have all these same problems I read about on these threads. But when I am home I am real calm because I don't have any headaches on the machine I bought.

Buddhaboy in case you were wondering you can usually ignore post like the one posted by Big'ol_freeper. I always love it when people claim they don't have those problems because they use 'XYZ'. Of course they ignore all the features you've come to love and rely on which they just dismiss because they don't know any better. I'm not saying Mac OSX stinks, but as far as email goes Outlook has won that battle time and time again. Anyway, I bet I know why he doesn't have those problems is because the MAC doesn't run any real software ;^)

[krb]

That's cool...thanks for that link. I'll use that feature, but I think I'll also stick with the routine I have come up with since it is clear one needs some redundancy with Outlook...

[Havoc]

The fact remains; without Office for the Mac, Apple would have gone under long ago.

Not quite true. The thing that helped apple stay afloat is when Gates bought apple out of bankruptcy to get something he'd been trying to beat out of them. Mac doesn't need MS vaporware to make it in the market. Mac did all the damage to itself. What has kept mac viable is that there is a staunch Mac following built in due to reliability - even if they have been bilked endlessly for overpriced upgrades and what not. The only thing MS office offers the mac user is the chance to see an application cannibalize itself on a platform other than the one it normally self destructs on.

[savedbygrace]

The file has some serious problems. It has a file size problem and some lost clusters, I think. Dropping back to DOS to run chkdsk or scandisk, whichever it is with this DOS.

[savedbygrace]

As soon as I can fix the problems with the file itself, that's a great suggestion. Thanks.

[for-q-clinton]

BTW...I don't know anybody who uses a Mac who has Microsoft Office. I looked at it but decided it does not offer anything I don't already have since I can read and write from/to any Office products with what I have. Must be why MS is crying about its lousy MS Office for Mac sales.

Did you know Office is the number one selling application suite for the MAC? I guess you don't know many MAC users. In fact, I know many that swear Office for MAC is a lot better then office for Windows.

[savedbygrace]

Yes, I am using Archive. Not very regular. This is a 369MB file. I just can't seem to throw stuff away.

[savedbygrace]

Bookmarked for later. Thanks.