Accessing Outlook contacts from old harddrive

[MikeL]

My desktop computer running XP recently died but the hard drive was OK. I
bought a new computer with Vista. I have the hard drive from the old
computer attached as an external drive. How do I get access to my contacts?
When I try to import the backup.pst file it says I don't have permission to
access the file.

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

You never transfer Outlook data by importing.
The file you need is your Personal Folders file (*.pst) It's where all the
mail, calendar, contacts etc are stored.

Take a look at these pages for info on Outlook data backup or transfer:
http://www.slipstick.com/config/backup.htm
http://www.howto-outlook.com/Howto/backupandrestore.htm
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HA010771141033.aspx

 

[Brian Tillman]

My desktop computer running XP recently died but the hard drive was
OK. I bought a new computer with Vista. I have the hard drive from
the old computer attached as an external drive. How do I get access
to my contacts? When I try to import the backup.pst file it says I
don't have permission to access the file.

Follow Russ' advice, but be aware that I've had issues with Vista reading
the Windows Profile folders under x:\Documents and Settings\username; I've
encountered the same permissions problems you face. I simply haven't
bothered to research them yet because I don't need access to the old files
yet.

 

[MikeL]

This information helped me locate the correct file and get it transferred.
In the end I had to access the properties for the file and change the
permissions in the security tab to allow my access. Seems like that would've
happened by default since I am the system administrator but it didn't. In
any event, I got access to the data. Thanks for your help.

You never transfer Outlook data by importing.
The file you need is your Personal Folders file (*.pst) It's where all the
mail, calendar, contacts etc are stored.

Take a look at these pages for info on Outlook data backup or transfer:
http://www.slipstick.com/config/backup.htm
http://www.howto-outlook.com/Howto/backupandrestore.htm
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HA010771141033.aspx


--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

My desktop computer running XP recently died but the hard drive was OK. I
bought a new computer with Vista. I have the hard drive from the old
computer attached as an external drive. How do I get access to my
contacts?
When I try to import the backup.pst file it says I don't have permission
to
access the file.

 

[dm36415]

I have a similar problem, and am getting a permissions error. Can you
elaborate how you changed permissions? I thought I did that, but I may have
done it incorrectly as I am still receiving the error.

I have gone from XP to Vista, but still have the same version of Outlook.

This information helped me locate the correct file and get it transferred.
In the end I had to access the properties for the file and change the
permissions in the security tab to allow my access. Seems like that would've
happened by default since I am the system administrator but it didn't. In
any event, I got access to the data. Thanks for your help.

You never transfer Outlook data by importing.
The file you need is your Personal Folders file (*.pst) It's where all the
mail, calendar, contacts etc are stored.

Take a look at these pages for info on Outlook data backup or transfer:
http://www.slipstick.com/config/backup.htm
http://www.howto-outlook.com/Howto/backupandrestore.htm
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HA010771141033.aspx


--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

My desktop computer running XP recently died but the hard drive was OK. I
bought a new computer with Vista. I have the hard drive from the old
computer attached as an external drive. How do I get access to my
contacts?
When I try to import the backup.pst file it says I don't have permission
to
access the file.