[tubebender]

This brain dead 69 year old can't help you but I love these threads. It keeps me "young"...

Good luck.

[BuddhaBoy]

This can be tricky.

The default location for your PST file is: C:\Documents and Settings\YOUR PROFILE NAME\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook .

However, unless you have your folders set to show hidden files and folders, you will never see the local settings folder when you go to place the pst file, because it is a hidden folder.

Make sure under "Tools\Folder Options\View, you have "Show hidden files and folders selected. Then place the PST file in the above location, and not in Application Data folder directly under your profile name.

[sigSEGV]

Don't know if this will help.

http://asia.cnet.com/itmanager/netadmin/0,39006400,39048330,00.htm

[mass55th]

Oh dear...another Windows call for help!

[big'ol_freeper]

This will fix your problem.

[SlickWillard]

> 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. Try a manual import of the file. In Outlook:

File | Import and Export | Internet Mail and Addresses

In Outlook Express:

File | Import | Messages...

You might have to fiddle around with things. For instance, you might have to first import to Outlook Express [from Outlook], and then back to Outlook [from Outlook Express]. You also might have to create another user, and use that user as an intermediary for the import [or double import]. My bet would be that if you fiddle around enough, you can salvage the info.

PS: Make multiple backups before you begin!!!

[for-q-clinton]

http://www.exchangeadmin.com/Articles/Index.cfm?ArticleID=13704

[SlickWillard]

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.

Try a manual import of the file. In Outlook:

File | Import and Export | Internet Mail and Addresses

In Outlook Express:

File | Import | Messages...

You might have to fiddle around with things. For instance, you might have to first import to Outlook Express [from Outlook], and then back to Outlook [from Outlook Express]. You also might have to create another user, and use that user as an intermediary for the import [or double import]. My bet would be that if you fiddle around enough, you can salvage the info.

PS: Make multiple backups before you begin!!!

[rdb3]

I'm far better helping folks in Win9x/NT/2K/XP if I'm in front of the box. So tell you what. Since I can't see your machine, go to www.annoyances.org to see if there is a similar problem there. And, no, this URL isn't just about a "slap" to Microsoft.

The very beginning of the site states:

"Annoyances.org is the most complete collection of information assembled for and by actual users of Microsoft Windows."

Hope it helps.

[SamAdams76]

Just IMPORT from your backup.pst. Make sure you check the box "INCLUDE SUBFOLDERS" and point the import to the root ("Outlook Today -Personal Folders").

[krb]

How are you doing your backups? Are you using the "archive" feature, or are you archiving and exporting on a regular basis?

[LibKill]

I don't know the answer, but I just pinged a bunch of geeks who do.

[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.

[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.

[Bigun]

Go to control panel and click on performance and maintenance.

When that opens look on the left side for system restore and click on that.

Pick a restore point prior the the time of your misfortune with the app installer and click restore.

Sit back and relax. When it gets through with the system restore (be patient) your system will be back as it was at the time you selected before your misfortune.