Confounding .pst error

[greg]

hello!

I am attempting to copy all of my emails from one computer to another. Both
PC's are using outlook 2003.

I copy the PST (which is 1.8 gigs) to hard drive of the new machine and when
i try to import it I get the following error: "The file [file path and name]
is not compatable with this version of personal foldes information service.
Contact your adminestrator."

To further complicate the matter I have alread disposed of the other
computer, so this is my only hope at retrieving all of my emails! Augh! Any
assistance would be greatly appreciated.

 

[BillR [MVP]]

You might have an older ANSI format PST with your current installation and
the newer Unicode format with the PST you are trying to import. You could
open the file you are trying to import and copy items over. the problem is
that ANSI only support a max of 2 Gb.
I'd start with a new profile and a new Unicode PST and then open both of the
other PSTs and copy items over.

 

[greg]

I am copying from a work to a personal PC and the version of outlook on the
personal PC is slightly older than the work PC, so i think you are right
about the ANSI vs. Unicode.

it still won't let me open the file I'm trying to import. i created a new
one, but it won't let me open the old. I get the same error again

You might have an older ANSI format PST with your current installation and
the newer Unicode format with the PST you are trying to import. You could
open the file you are trying to import and copy items over. the problem is
that ANSI only support a max of 2 Gb.
I'd start with a new profile and a new Unicode PST and then open both of the
other PSTs and copy items over.

--
Bill R MVP

hello!

I am attempting to copy all of my emails from one computer to another.
Both
PC's are using outlook 2003.

I copy the PST (which is 1.8 gigs) to hard drive of the new machine and
when
i try to import it I get the following error: "The file [file path and
name]
is not compatable with this version of personal foldes information
service.
Contact your adminestrator."

To further complicate the matter I have alread disposed of the other
computer, so this is my only hope at retrieving all of my emails! Augh!
Any
assistance would be greatly appreciated.

 

[BillR [MVP]]

check that older PST is not set as read-only. If it is then remove that
attribute. Then see if running scanpst.exe on the old PST helps.

--
Bill R MVP

I am copying from a work to a personal PC and the version of outlook on the
personal PC is slightly older than the work PC, so i think you are right
about the ANSI vs. Unicode.

it still won't let me open the file I'm trying to import. i created a new
one, but it won't let me open the old. I get the same error again

You might have an older ANSI format PST with your current installation
and
the newer Unicode format with the PST you are trying to import. You could
open the file you are trying to import and copy items over. the problem
is
that ANSI only support a max of 2 Gb.
I'd start with a new profile and a new Unicode PST and then open both of
the
other PSTs and copy items over.

--
Bill R MVP

hello!

I am attempting to copy all of my emails from one computer to another.
Both
PC's are using outlook 2003.

I copy the PST (which is 1.8 gigs) to hard drive of the new machine and
when
i try to import it I get the following error: "The file [file path and
name]
is not compatable with this version of personal foldes information
service.
Contact your adminestrator."

To further complicate the matter I have alread disposed of the other
computer, so this is my only hope at retrieving all of my emails!
Augh!
Any
assistance would be greatly appreciated.