How do I port over my Outlook 2003 emails/folders/archives?

[Guest]

Sorry - looks like my original message was cut up.

I have Outlook 2003 which works fine for me. I have lots of stored emails
within folders. The drive has become corrupted, so I plan on reinstalling
Outlook 2003 on a new drive. I would very much like to keep Outlook 2003
looking the same as it did originally - same folders and emails.

Is there a way to do this? I either created an archive or backup long ago,
but nothing within the past 1-2 years. How do I recreate my Outlook 2003?
Can I retrieve the folders/emails? What about the archive or backup I
previously created - do I need to port those over as well?

Thanks. I know Outlook 2003 is ancient, but it's just fine for me. Also,
this drive is no longer the primary one; I may it a slave HD while effecting
some repairs. Can I port those folders/emails/archives over without running
the Outlook 2003 program?

Thanks. Any advice out there would be much appreciated; you guys are great.
I would normally search for the answer, but this job is crucial for me and I
don't want to mess it up.

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

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

Note that some of the information on these pages is outdated and no longer
applies to Outlook 2003 or 2007. Specifically:
1. Ignore any advice to copy your PST file to Outlook's default location to
connect it to your profile. Doing so only corrupts your profile. Copy it
anywhere BUT the default location and open it within your Outlook profile.
2. Ignore any advice that tells you to use export or import to transfer
Outlook data. That has never been sound advice, but the process has become
too deeply flawed now to be of any use whatsoever.

 

[Guest]

Russ,

Thanks for the reply. Here's the issue. I'm starting over with Outlook on
a new drive because the old one became corrupted with viruses. I can't boot
the old drive anymore (it just hangs in the pastoral startup screen for
Windows XP), so I've made it a slave drive and am currently using a different
drive for the boot drive.

Is it just a matter of finding the .PST file and copying to a safe place?
Or do I have to find a way to "boot" Outlook 2003 and then save a
backup/archive or something? Can I even access Outlook 2003 if it's not on
my primary drive?

Thanks.

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

Note that some of the information on these pages is outdated and no longer
applies to Outlook 2003 or 2007. Specifically:
1. Ignore any advice to copy your PST file to Outlook's default location to
connect it to your profile. Doing so only corrupts your profile. Copy it
anywhere BUT the default location and open it within your Outlook profile.
2. Ignore any advice that tells you to use export or import to transfer
Outlook data. That has never been sound advice, but the process has become
too deeply flawed now to be of any use whatsoever.


--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Sorry - looks like my original message was cut up.

I have Outlook 2003 which works fine for me. I have lots of stored emails
within folders. The drive has become corrupted, so I plan on reinstalling
Outlook 2003 on a new drive. I would very much like to keep Outlook 2003
looking the same as it did originally - same folders and emails.

Is there a way to do this? I either created an archive or backup long
ago,
but nothing within the past 1-2 years. How do I recreate my Outlook 2003?
Can I retrieve the folders/emails? What about the archive or backup I
previously created - do I need to port those over as well?

Thanks. I know Outlook 2003 is ancient, but it's just fine for me. Also,
this drive is no longer the primary one; I may it a slave HD while
effecting
some repairs. Can I port those folders/emails/archives over without
running
the Outlook 2003 program?

Thanks. Any advice out there would be much appreciated; you guys are
great.
I would normally search for the answer, but this job is crucial for me and
I
don't want to mess it up.