.NST files

[J Austin]

I have had considerable problems with Outlook Connector and synchronization
issues when using more than 1 computer with Outlook 2003 and the same .msn
account. I recently received a MS dowload notification that there was a new
Outlook Connector (V 1.8) so I deleted the old Connector and installed the
new one. After many, many minutes (thought the process had crashed), it
seemed to be installed and my account (mail, contacts, and calendar) seemed
to open OK in Outlook. When I went and looked for the .OST file it was
completely gone and seems to be replaced with a .NST file. I can find no
information on this file type or what the specifications are.

Questions:
- Do any of the previous tools (SCANPST or SCANOST) work with this file, and
if not are there other new tools?
- Are there any backup procedures for a .NST file? I want to bring up my
other computers with the new Connector but want to be sure I have a good
backup.
- What fields in Outlook are being synchronized with the server when using
Outlook Connector 1.8? Originally I went to Outlook Connector (Outlook
support said it was required) so I could have categories applied to my
e-mail. While the new Connector download write-up says that you will not be
able to see all the Outlook fields when going through IE it does not say what
is actually being synchronized (and therefore available to other computers
using Outlook and the same .msn account). I am reluctant to just try and see
by trial and error without having a good understanding as to what is going on
with the new file structures. Cannot afford to lose my contact information,
and previous experience with synchronization issues gives me great concern.

Thanks,

J. Austin

PS - My wife just opened up her .msn/connector account and cannot proceed
without upgrading to the new Connector. I tried to do a backup to a .csv
file for her contacts before upgrading but it will not permit. MS should
have provided a lot more information on this significant upgrade (maybe they
did but I did not see it).

 

[Brian Tillman]

I have had considerable problems with Outlook Connector and
synchronization issues when using more than 1 computer with Outlook
2003 and the same .msn account. I recently received a MS dowload
notification that there was a new Outlook Connector (V 1.8) so I
deleted the old Connector and installed the new one. After many,
many minutes (thought the process had crashed), it seemed to be
installed and my account (mail, contacts, and calendar) seemed to
open OK in Outlook. When I went and looked for the .OST file it was
completely gone and seems to be replaced with a .NST file. I can
find no information on this file type or what the specifications are.

The NST is the Outlook Connector's version of the OST. Although it speaks
of the Outlook Connector for Domino, some explanation is here:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/orkXP/HA011364481033.aspx
Usually the NST file is for the Outlook Connector for Domino (Lotus Notes).
The Outlook Connector for MSN uses a different file extension for its cache.
Some problems concerning the OC can be found at
http://support.microsoft.com/search...20&ast=1&ast=2&ast=3&ast=4&ast=7&mode=a&adv=1

Questions:
- Do any of the previous tools (SCANPST or SCANOST) work with this
file, and if not are there other new tools?

You shouldn't need a repair tool. You should be able to delete it and the
Outlook Connector should recreate it.

- Are there any backup procedures for a .NST file? I want to bring
up my other computers with the new Connector but want to be sure I
have a good backup.

Again, since the cache file will be rebuilt when you connect to MSN, backups
shouldn't be an issue. Everything's still in the MSN mailbox.

- What fields in Outlook are being synchronized with the server when
using Outlook Connector 1.8? Originally I went to Outlook Connector
(Outlook support said it was required) so I could have categories
applied to my e-mail.

I don't know.

 

[J Austin]

Brian,

Thanks for the response. I tried to track this through the MS Outlook
technical support and they said (confirmed by their research group)
that they had no idea how a .nst file was formed. Was not supposed to work.
Solution was to re-establish the account and
that time, an .ost file was created. Outlook Connector and some of its
vagaries are a real mystery to me.

J. Austin