How to reset Outlook 2003 to first-run status?

[Jorg]

Hi,

My OL2003 .PST file list is screwed up. The same .PST file shows up twice in
the OL2003 display tree and when I try to close it, it says, "An object
couldn't be found". Using the File Menu > Manage Files function allows me to
delete one file but not both.

In short: Is there a way to completely re-set OL2003 as if I never had used
it in the first place?

There's a KB article to accomplish this for OL2000, but the steps outlined
there don't seem to have any effect on OL2003:

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=197653

If a complete re-set is not possible, is there a way to make OL2003 "forget"
which .PST files it once called its own? Maybe delete my OL2003 profile? How
would I go about that?

Any method you suggest has to be outside of OL2003's user interface, as my
settings seem so corrupt at this point, that OL2003 is completely confused as
to which files are supposed to be in its list and which aren't.

So I'm looking for something like deleting registry entries or system files.

Thanks!

-Jorg

 

[Ben M. Schorr, MVP]

In short: Is there a way to completely re-set OL2003 as if I never had
used
it in the first place?

Sure. Start Outlook with the /firstrun command-line switch.

More info: http://www.outlook-tips.net/howto/commandlines.htm


--
-Ben-
Ben M. Schorr, MVP-OneNote/Outlook
Operations Coordinator
Stockholm/KSG - Honolulu
http://www.scgab.com

 

[Jorg]

Hi, thanks for replying.

This does create a fresh .PST file in the usual spot, but does not seem to
reset the tree of open files view. Whether the bad .PST file exists or not,
whether I repair it or not (ScanPST), it persistently lingers around in the
left-hand side tree view.

I have also tried uninstall and install and it changes nothing. Outlook's
settings are stored SOMEWHERE but where?

I want to start with a completely clean slate... delete all email
accounts... all ties to old .PST files etc.

How/where exactly does Outlook store email accounts, PST files, etc.?

--Jorg

 

[Ben M. Schorr, MVP]

Create a new profile. Control Panel | Mail.

Hi, thanks for replying.

This does create a fresh .PST file in the usual spot, but does not seem
to
reset the tree of open files view. Whether the bad .PST file exists or
not,
whether I repair it or not (ScanPST), it persistently lingers around in
the
left-hand side tree view.

I have also tried uninstall and install and it changes nothing. Outlook's
settings are stored SOMEWHERE but where?

I want to start with a completely clean slate... delete all email
accounts... all ties to old .PST files etc.

How/where exactly does Outlook store email accounts, PST files, etc.?

--Jorg

--
-Ben-
Ben M. Schorr, MVP-OneNote/Outlook
Operations Coordinator
Stockholm/KSG - Honolulu
http://www.scgab.com

 

[Jorg]

That did it - thank you!
-J

Create a new profile. Control Panel | Mail.




--
-Ben-
Ben M. Schorr, MVP-OneNote/Outlook
Operations Coordinator
Stockholm/KSG - Honolulu
http://www.scgab.com