Import 2000 pst into 2003 pst - operation failed

[outkast.dallas]

Per msft instructions - I am trying to convert a non uni-code pst file
(outlook 2000 with 2gb storage capacity) into a uni-code (outlook 2003
20gb storage capacity) pst file. They recommend creating a new data
file and then import the files from the previous pst into the new data
file. I do this, it appears to work, but at the end it generates an
error that reads "Operation Failed". Any ideas?

 

[Hal Hostetler [MVP P/I]]

Don't import, it will probably cause a corrupted profile. Outlook 2003 will
happily open and use an ANSI format .PST file. Open your old .PST file,
then COPY everything into the new, unicode file.

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HA010771141033.aspx
Reconnect your old Outlook data file

Hal
--
Hal Hostetler, CPBE -- (e-mail address removed)
Senior Engineer/MIS -- MS MVP-Print/Imaging -- WA7BGX
http://www.kvoa.com -- "When News breaks, we fix it!"
KVOA Television, Tucson, AZ. NBC Channel 4
Still Cadillacin' - www.badnewsbluesband.com

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

Outlook's importing routine is so deeply flawed that we advise no one to use
it.
It is far better to open the old PST file in the same profile as the new
file, and copy what you need from the old to the new.

 

[outkast.dallas]

Outlook's importing routine is so deeply flawed that we advise no one to use
it.
It is far better to open the old PST file in the same profile as the new
file, and copy what you need from the old to the new.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Per msft instructions - I am trying to convert a non uni-code pst file
(outlook 2000 with 2gb storage capacity) into a uni-code (outlook 2003
20gb storage capacity) pst file. They recommend creating a new data
file and then import the files from the previous pst into the new data
file. I do this, it appears to work, but at the end it generates an
error that reads "Operation Failed". Any ideas?

Thanks for the reply guys. MSFT themselves suggested the import routine
that didnt work.
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HP010383511033.aspx
Of course it failed. I also tried copying my folders into the new pst
but they would also fail with errors about not copying into top-folders
or something like that. "A top-level folder can't be copied to one of
its subfolders."

Any ideas?

 

[outkast.dallas]

Don't import, it will probably cause a corrupted profile. Outlook 2003 will
happily open and use an ANSI format .PST file. Open your old .PST file,
then COPY everything into the new, unicode file.

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HA010771141033.aspx
Reconnect your old Outlook data file

Hal
--
Hal Hostetler, CPBE -- (e-mail address removed)
Senior Engineer/MIS -- MS MVP-Print/Imaging -- WA7BGX
http://www.kvoa.com -- "When News breaks, we fix it!"
KVOA Television, Tucson, AZ. NBC Channel 4
Still Cadillacin' - www.badnewsbluesband.com

Hal this is a good articel if I am wanting to keep my original non-uni
code pst file and use it in outlook 2003. However this doesnt increase
the size limit of the original pst to the new 20gb limit. All this does
is allow me to open the old pst in the new app. The reason we upgraded
was for the increased size limit. I cannot find utilities to convert an
old pst to the new format (non-uni to uni). I tried to copy into the
new file and get the top-folder error. Im stumped!

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

Not really. You provided no information on what you are doing or how. Sounds
to me like you are not copying correctly. You do not copy folders. You copy
their contents.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Outlook's importing routine is so deeply flawed that we advise no one to
use
it.
It is far better to open the old PST file in the same profile as the new
file, and copy what you need from the old to the new.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Per msft instructions - I am trying to convert a non uni-code pst file
(outlook 2000 with 2gb storage capacity) into a uni-code (outlook 2003
20gb storage capacity) pst file. They recommend creating a new data
file and then import the files from the previous pst into the new data
file. I do this, it appears to work, but at the end it generates an
error that reads "Operation Failed". Any ideas?

Thanks for the reply guys. MSFT themselves suggested the import routine
that didnt work.
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HP010383511033.aspx
Of course it failed. I also tried copying my folders into the new pst
but they would also fail with errors about not copying into top-folders
or something like that. "A top-level folder can't be copied to one of
its subfolders."

Any ideas?

 

[outkast.dallas]

Not really. You provided no information on what you are doing or how. Sounds
to me like you are not copying correctly. You do not copy folders. You copy
their contents.

Russ - as far as I know there is only one way to "copy". Enlighten me
if that isnt the case. However, to be more clear I will explain the
process I am currently using. Lets assume I have already opened outlook
2003 and created a new uni-code pst, we'll call it 2003. In my folder
view I see My main pst named personal folder, the new pst called 2003.
Now I will open the "old" pst. It is named 2000. So now we have three
PST files opened. One is non-uni and two are uni. Now I will begin the
copy process. Under the 2000 pst folder list there is a folder, we will
call it "users". I right click it, choose Copy "users". I am then asked
where I would like to copy the folder users to - I select 2003 and then
click OK. After a few seconds of processing time Outlook begins the
copy process. At some point in the copy process, but after several
minutes, outlook returns the error "Cant move the items. Unable to move
or copy folders. Cant move folder. A top-level folder cant be moved to
one of it's subfolders. Or, you may not have appropriate permissions
for the folder. To check the permissions for the folder, right-click
the folder, and then click Properties on the shortcut menu." Note -
2003 has been chosen as the pst that mail is delivered into. Thoughts?
Ideas?

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

Suggest reading my post. Answer has already been provided.
You never try to copy an entire PST file, nor even an entire folder.
As I said, you copy the contents of a folder.

 

[outkast.dallas]

Are you saying that to do what I want to do I will need to move each
individual email into the 2003 pst? You cant be serious! What do other
people do? Am I th only person upgrading Outlook 2000 to Outlook 2003?
What and how did they do it?!

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

I'm saying no such thing. Are you not familiar with Copy/Paste operations?
Here is a primer:
1. Open the Folder the contents of which you want to copy
2. Edit > Select All
3. Edit > Copy to Folder...
4. Select the destination Folder
Done.

 

[Brian Tillman]

Are you saying that to do what I want to do I will need to move each
individual email into the 2003 pst? You cant be serious! What do other
people do? Am I th only person upgrading Outlook 2000 to Outlook 2003?
What and how did they do it?!

In addition to Russ's advice, you can also take a look at this:
http://www.maclean.com/upstart/index.html

 

[Pete Maclean]

Per msft instructions - I am trying to convert a non uni-code pst file
(outlook 2000 with 2gb storage capacity) into a uni-code (outlook 2003
20gb storage capacity) pst file. They recommend creating a new data
file and then import the files from the previous pst into the new data
file. I do this, it appears to work, but at the end it generates an
error that reads "Operation Failed". Any ideas?

Please take a look at my Upstart utility. It converts ANSI PSTs to Unicode.

www.maclean.com/upstart

Pete Maclean