Moving PST file from one machine to another to make it the primary

[John Sullivan]

My hard drive crashed, but I have a backup of the PST file that was on that
crashed hard drive's machine. After installing Office 2007 again on a new
drive, I want Outlook to use the backup file as the main PST file. I know
that when Outlook installs for the first time, it creates its own PST file,
so I want to replace the PST that it automatically creates and replace it
with the backup PST that I now have so that the backup PST is the main PST
file that opens. Please advise how to do this. Thanks.

 

[Snakefist]

Okay,

While in Outlook click on the file button at the top right hand corner of
the window.

There should be an option labeled "Data File Management", click on that

From there a new window will pop up and you should see the PST's mapped to
your mailbox. If there are any that you don't want there click on them and
click "Remove", don't worry it wont delete the file just the mapping.

Now click on"Add" and navigate to the location you saved your backed up PST
and double click it. Follow the next prompts as needed, ie giving or setting
up password if that is your situation. either way once completed with the
process click on "OK" and then you should see your desired PST now available
in the folder list.

 

[K. Orland]

Hi John,

If the PST is burned to a CD, copy it to your PC/laptop and remove the read
only attribute from it. When Outlook is open, use File > Open and browse to
the PST to open it.

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

Both of the previous replies are a way to start, but will not accomplish
what you asked. The first reply ignores the fact that you cannot close or
remove the PST file that Outlook creates because it will be set as your
default.
So you must first open the old PST you would like to use in your new
profile, then set it as your default. Then you must restart Outlook. Only
then can you close the first PST file that Outlook created.