How to import Outlook contacts without .pst file

[erika.morgan]

Hi all,

My computer recently crashed and I had to reinstall Outlook. I
installed it on a new partition on my hard drive (so I still have the
old installation on the other partition).

I am trying to import my old contacts into my newly installed Outlook
but do not have the .pst file since I cannot open the old Outlook
installation in order to create one. Are there any data files I can
move around in order to accomplish this?

Please help.

Thanks,
Erika

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

Yes. The PST file, of course.
Never import Outlook data files. Just open them. What makes you think you
can't open the PST file from your previous installation? There is no reason
you couldn't.

 

[erika.morgan]

Hi Russ,

I have been unable to locate the PST file from my previous
installation. I used searched for "*.pst" and nothing came up. I
thought that unless you specifically created a .pst file via the export
feature in Outlook that you would not have one. Am I mistaken? If so,
where should I be looking for this file?

Erika

Yes. The PST file, of course.
Never import Outlook data files. Just open them. What makes you think you
can't open the PST file from your previous installation? There is no reason
you couldn't.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Hi all,

My computer recently crashed and I had to reinstall Outlook. I
installed it on a new partition on my hard drive (so I still have the
old installation on the other partition).

I am trying to import my old contacts into my newly installed Outlook
but do not have the .pst file since I cannot open the old Outlook
installation in order to create one. Are there any data files I can
move around in order to accomplish this?

Please help.

Thanks,
Erika

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

Outlook always creates a PST file when you use POP/SMTP accounts. It has to.
Otherwise there is no place to store your data. PST files are hidden files.
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]

Hi Russ,

I have been unable to locate the PST file from my previous
installation. I used searched for "*.pst" and nothing came up. I
thought that unless you specifically created a .pst file via the export
feature in Outlook that you would not have one. Am I mistaken? If so,
where should I be looking for this file?

Erika

Yes. The PST file, of course.
Never import Outlook data files. Just open them. What makes you think you
can't open the PST file from your previous installation? There is no
reason
you couldn't.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Hi all,

My computer recently crashed and I had to reinstall Outlook. I
installed it on a new partition on my hard drive (so I still have the
old installation on the other partition).

I am trying to import my old contacts into my newly installed Outlook
but do not have the .pst file since I cannot open the old Outlook
installation in order to create one. Are there any data files I can
move around in order to accomplish this?

Please help.

Thanks,
Erika