Transfer messages between two separate MS Outlook installs ?

[ASM1]

Following a linux misadventure I have had to reinstall my copy of windows XP
http://www.bleedinedge.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8067

I currently still have my old XP partition on the drive, and am quite happily recovering stuff from it - thank god I have a big enough HD to be able to do this :thumb: (although I am not booting from it, I can see and access it within My Computer) I am using MS Outlook 2003 as my email app (in both cases), aqnd was wondering if there is any way to transfer my old messages/contacts accross to the new partition/copy of outlook, WITHOUT actually having to boot the old XP partition (I'm not sure it will boot - was pretty damaged)

If not, then I guess I'll have to see if I can coax some life into the old install :hide:.

[Snafu]

I believe that you can import your messages under the file menu. Sorry I don't have Outlook on my machine at work to confirm but I have it at home and was able to export messages to a disk and pretty certain there is an import function there as well.

If you can't then run the other Outlook (on the back up) and export your messages, shut it down and run the Outlook on your boot drive to import them.

One possible problem is if the newer Outlook already has messages and contact details. I am not sure if these will be removed when you import or not. It woudl be safe to make a back-up of these first before importing a new file (just in case).

Cheers

[Shayd]

You can open the second PST file with your primary one, and just copy stuff over drag and drop.

[joeMan]

In your old XP partition go to:
START>C: (or your OS location)>Documents and Settings>[your username]>Local Settings>Application Data>Microsoft>Outlook

In that folder you will find your .pst files. You should copy this entire folder to a backup location (not directly to the new XP's same location) - the reason for this is trial and error. You might take a time or two copying stuff over during the profiles setup process and if you screw it up (like I did) a couple times, you have the luxury of just deleting profiles and starting over till you get it all set up right in the new location.

Okay, now in the new XP (assuming Outlook 2003 is installed) go to:
Control Panel>Mail

Here is where you will setup your accounts (which will automatically create your Outlook profiles). Go through and re-setup your mail accounts the same as they were on the old system. You will need to have your POP3 and what not info. ready to roll. Once this is done you will go in and notice that it's all fresh brand new. Now from within that window where you're looking at your new empty profile, go to:
File>Import and Export>Import from another program or file>Personal Folder File (.pst) (browse to the backup location to import your messages from that backup file you made).

When you choose the Personal Folder File (.pst) option you are then given a couple more choices I don't remember exactly but they are along the lines of: "Import to same location, make no duplicates or Import to same locations within this folder and allow duplicates - or something like that. This is where you have to trial and error the process like I did (sorry I don't remember the correct answers here). This gets you 95% there and if you mess up and things look whacked out, then just delete the profile and start over - you always have the backup .pst files sitting there to grab again as needed.

No, you can't just drop the old .pst files into that same file under the new XP install - I tried it and Outlook will not know they are there - you have to do it the Import way, then Outlook knows what's going on.

As far as contacts and/or address book - I think but am not sure that when you succesfully bring in your backed up .pst files into the new setup - your contacts may come too. Otherwise, I think you would have had to succesfully Export from the old Outlook setup your "Contacts" folder into a file called (default) backup.pst (or whatever you choose to name it).

Hope this helps.

[joeMan]

I think Shayd's way would work assuming you have laready setup your new profile(s) on the new Outlook/XP install. If the profile isn't created yet, I don't think it will work, but maybe I'm wrong. Anyway - if you keep that old Outlook file with your .pst files in it as backup, you will always be able to access it till you get it right.

After it is all set up right, bakup those .pst files every time you do your normal backup routine - then you'll never get hosed if everything takes a royal dump.

[Shayd]

:D I was assuming from what I read he had already created his new PST and wanted to bring over the contacts/mail from the previous PST he had used. I have outlook auto-archive stuff for me, but I have the archive linked into my folder view so I can quickly access it I want, without having to dig around for where the PST is each time I need too.

The standard location for the PST under XP is:

C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAMEHERE\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook

You can browse over to your old drive/partion to the simularily named folder and just open the PST. Then pull over what you want. Yes, you could also import it all, but you can be a bit more selective this way. In fact, its all now available, you don't even need to pull it over at all if you don't want, but still be able to see it all. As always your mileage may vary ;)

[joeMan]

:hide: :rock: