Outlook 2003 can't find outlook.pst file

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I've reinstalled office 2003 and Outlook doesn't "see" the outlook.pst file.
It's where its supposed to be. I've done the "repair installation" from the
CD twice. (Rebooted each time too!) What registry dive do I have to do to
correct this malfunction?

 

[Diane Poremsky [MVP]]

Did you try a new profile or add it to the existing profile?

What error do you get?
Was it ever stored on a CD? If so, is it marked read only?

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]
Author, Teach Yourself Outlook 2003 in 24 Hours
Coauthor, OneNote 2003 for Windows (Visual QuickStart Guide)
Author, Google and Other Search Engines (Visual QuickStart Guide)



Join OneNote Tips mailing list: http://www.onenote-tips.net/

 

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After I click on the okay button (acknowledging I'v seen the error report)
the program shuts off. I placed a copy of the .pst file elsewhere to copy to
CDRW directory for backup purposes, but, it hasn't made it to the CDRW yet.
Incidently, the install/repair hasn't, lately reinstalled the 40 kb outlook
data file yet. I was able to find that one in my recycle bin and restored
that file, rebooted and still get the same error msg. and the program shuts
off (or down??) thus, torpedoing any chance of modifying or making a new
profile.

Also Diane, when I try to get Outlook to successfully launch via the "back
door" - so to speak - (browse to the location where Outlook Data File is
located and click on it, on the "open with" step, I have to browse to where
the Outlook.exe is located (It should be there in that dialog box but it's
not) and click on that, but the same error msg. comes back (Can't find
Outlook.pst).

Is there a difference between Outlook Data File and Outlook.pst? Win Xp
reports the name as Outlook Data File no matter how I tell it to look at the
file... Outlook is looking for Outlook.pst.

I reinstalled Office Pro (Ent. Edition) as it was starting to run very slow
(even though my MS Spyware (Beta) program reports no spyware on my machine.)
and I thought it COULD be that I used my "Original" copy of Outlook.pst that
I made from Office 2K (To Get that to work, I had to use "open .pst file"
feature.) and had resigned myself to starting over and reinputting EVERYTHING
manually as Office '03 has apparantly changed it's default format for data.

I'm stumped beyond measure and way past sideways...!

As far as I know, I have a legit copy of the program. The CD is properly
hologrammed...

Did you try a new profile or add it to the existing profile?

What error do you get?
Was it ever stored on a CD? If so, is it marked read only?

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]
Author, Teach Yourself Outlook 2003 in 24 Hours
Coauthor, OneNote 2003 for Windows (Visual QuickStart Guide)
Author, Google and Other Search Engines (Visual QuickStart Guide)



Join OneNote Tips mailing list: http://www.onenote-tips.net/

I've reinstalled office 2003 and Outlook doesn't "see" the outlook.pst
file.
It's where its supposed to be. I've done the "repair installation" from
the
CD twice. (Rebooted each time too!) What registry dive do I have to do to
correct this malfunction?

 

[T12String]

One more thing I just noticed... The whole file name for what I see is
Outlook Data File (.nk2). I hope this gives you a clue as to what's going on.

After I click on the okay button (acknowledging I'v seen the error report)
the program shuts off. I placed a copy of the .pst file elsewhere to copy to
CDRW directory for backup purposes, but, it hasn't made it to the CDRW yet.
Incidently, the install/repair hasn't, lately reinstalled the 40 kb outlook
data file yet. I was able to find that one in my recycle bin and restored
that file, rebooted and still get the same error msg. and the program shuts
off (or down??) thus, torpedoing any chance of modifying or making a new
profile.

Also Diane, when I try to get Outlook to successfully launch via the "back
door" - so to speak - (browse to the location where Outlook Data File is
located and click on it, on the "open with" step, I have to browse to where
the Outlook.exe is located (It should be there in that dialog box but it's
not) and click on that, but the same error msg. comes back (Can't find
Outlook.pst).

Is there a difference between Outlook Data File and Outlook.pst? Win Xp
reports the name as Outlook Data File no matter how I tell it to look at the
file... Outlook is looking for Outlook.pst.

I reinstalled Office Pro (Ent. Edition) as it was starting to run very slow
(even though my MS Spyware (Beta) program reports no spyware on my machine.)
and I thought it COULD be that I used my "Original" copy of Outlook.pst that
I made from Office 2K (To Get that to work, I had to use "open .pst file"
feature.) and had resigned myself to starting over and reinputting EVERYTHING
manually as Office '03 has apparantly changed it's default format for data.

I'm stumped beyond measure and way past sideways...!

As far as I know, I have a legit copy of the program. The CD is properly
hologrammed...

Did you try a new profile or add it to the existing profile?

What error do you get?
Was it ever stored on a CD? If so, is it marked read only?

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]
Author, Teach Yourself Outlook 2003 in 24 Hours
Coauthor, OneNote 2003 for Windows (Visual QuickStart Guide)
Author, Google and Other Search Engines (Visual QuickStart Guide)



Join OneNote Tips mailing list: http://www.onenote-tips.net/

I've reinstalled office 2003 and Outlook doesn't "see" the outlook.pst
file.
It's where its supposed to be. I've done the "repair installation" from
the
CD twice. (Rebooted each time too!) What registry dive do I have to do to
correct this malfunction?

 

[Diane Poremsky [MVP]]

NK2 is not a data file - at least not the data file type you want. It's
nicknames for autocomplete.

Start by going to Windows Explorer's Tools, options, view and change the
setting that hides file extensions and also undo the option to hide system
files. Outlook stores the data files it used for messages at C:\Documents
and Settings\username\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook.
(You can easily access it by pasting %USERPROFILE%\Local
Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook in the Address bar of your
browser or Windows Explorer.) If your file is elsewhere, browse to it - you
want one ending in *.pst.

Re: the backdoor method - it's never worked very good to do it that way. Add
the pst to the profile, either using File, Open, Outlook data file or
Control panel, Mail if Outlook won't open.


--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]
Author, Teach Yourself Outlook 2003 in 24 Hours
Coauthor, OneNote 2003 for Windows (Visual QuickStart Guide)
Author, Google and Other Search Engines (Visual QuickStart Guide)



Join OneNote Tips mailing list: http://www.onenote-tips.net/

One more thing I just noticed... The whole file name for what I see is
Outlook Data File (.nk2). I hope this gives you a clue as to what's going
on.

After I click on the okay button (acknowledging I'v seen the error
report)
the program shuts off. I placed a copy of the .pst file elsewhere to copy
to
CDRW directory for backup purposes, but, it hasn't made it to the CDRW
yet.
Incidently, the install/repair hasn't, lately reinstalled the 40 kb
outlook
data file yet. I was able to find that one in my recycle bin and restored
that file, rebooted and still get the same error msg. and the program
shuts
off (or down??) thus, torpedoing any chance of modifying or making a new
profile.

Also Diane, when I try to get Outlook to successfully launch via the
"back
door" - so to speak - (browse to the location where Outlook Data File is
located and click on it, on the "open with" step, I have to browse to
where
the Outlook.exe is located (It should be there in that dialog box but
it's
not) and click on that, but the same error msg. comes back (Can't find
Outlook.pst).

Is there a difference between Outlook Data File and Outlook.pst? Win Xp
reports the name as Outlook Data File no matter how I tell it to look at
the
file... Outlook is looking for Outlook.pst.

I reinstalled Office Pro (Ent. Edition) as it was starting to run very
slow
(even though my MS Spyware (Beta) program reports no spyware on my
machine.)
and I thought it COULD be that I used my "Original" copy of Outlook.pst
that
I made from Office 2K (To Get that to work, I had to use "open .pst
file"
feature.) and had resigned myself to starting over and reinputting
EVERYTHING
manually as Office '03 has apparantly changed it's default format for
data.

I'm stumped beyond measure and way past sideways...!

As far as I know, I have a legit copy of the program. The CD is properly
hologrammed...

Did you try a new profile or add it to the existing profile?

What error do you get?
Was it ever stored on a CD? If so, is it marked read only?

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]
Author, Teach Yourself Outlook 2003 in 24 Hours
Coauthor, OneNote 2003 for Windows (Visual QuickStart Guide)
Author, Google and Other Search Engines (Visual QuickStart Guide)



Join OneNote Tips mailing list: http://www.onenote-tips.net/


I've reinstalled office 2003 and Outlook doesn't "see" the
outlook.pst
file.
It's where its supposed to be. I've done the "repair installation"
from
the
CD twice. (Rebooted each time too!) What registry dive do I have to
do to
correct this malfunction?

 

[T12String]

AHA! For the sake of time (I just got home from work a little bit ago) I'll
add my actions alongside or directly underneath what you wrote below, only
I'll have to use all caps. I know it usually means I'm shouting, (I'm not)
but I want to differentiate the font a little.

The new question becomes: Why didn't setup place the empty .pst file where
its supposed to, to begin with? (I guess it's rhetorical at this point!)

NK2 is not a data file - at least not the data file type you want. It's
nicknames for autocomplete. I DIDN'T KNOW THAT...

Start by going to Windows Explorer's Tools, options, view and change the
setting that hides file extensions

FOUND IT AND UNCHECKED.
and also undo the option to hide system

files.

ALREADY SET LIKE THAT.
Outlook stores the data files it used for messages at C:\Documents

and Settings\username\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook.
(You can easily access it by pasting %USERPROFILE%\Local
Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook in the Address bar of your
browser or Windows Explorer.) If your file is elsewhere, browse to it - you
want one ending in *.pst.

I WAS BROWSING TO C:\DOCUMENTS AND SETTINGS\USERNAME\APPLICATION
DATA\MICROSOFT\OUTLOOK... KNOW WHAT I MISSED?

(YES I FEEL LIKE THE PROVERBIAL FOOL!)

i MISSED "LOCAL SETTINGS" IN THE FILE PATH!

Re: the backdoor method - it's never worked very good to do it that way. Add
the pst to the profile, either using File, Open, Outlook data file

CAN'T DO THAT AS THE PROGRAM NEVER STARTED.
or

Control panel, Mail if Outlook won't open. THE PROFILE WAS THERE AND IT WAS CORRECT.

ONCE I COPY/PASTED OUTLOOK.PST TO THE CORRECT FILE PATH (IT WASN'T THERE)
OUTLOOK FINALLY FOUND WHAT IT WAS LOOKING FOR.

THANKS FOR YOUR EFFORTS AND TIME! (*yawn* I gotta hit the sack) THANKS AGAIN

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]
Author, Teach Yourself Outlook 2003 in 24 Hours
Coauthor, OneNote 2003 for Windows (Visual QuickStart Guide)
Author, Google and Other Search Engines (Visual QuickStart Guide)



Join OneNote Tips mailing list: http://www.onenote-tips.net/

One more thing I just noticed... The whole file name for what I see is
Outlook Data File (.nk2). I hope this gives you a clue as to what's going
on.

After I click on the okay button (acknowledging I'v seen the error
report)
the program shuts off. I placed a copy of the .pst file elsewhere to copy
to
CDRW directory for backup purposes, but, it hasn't made it to the CDRW
yet.
Incidently, the install/repair hasn't, lately reinstalled the 40 kb
outlook
data file yet. I was able to find that one in my recycle bin and restored
that file, rebooted and still get the same error msg. and the program
shuts
off (or down??) thus, torpedoing any chance of modifying or making a new
profile.

Also Diane, when I try to get Outlook to successfully launch via the
"back
door" - so to speak - (browse to the location where Outlook Data File is
located and click on it, on the "open with" step, I have to browse to
where
the Outlook.exe is located (It should be there in that dialog box but
it's
not) and click on that, but the same error msg. comes back (Can't find
Outlook.pst).

Is there a difference between Outlook Data File and Outlook.pst? Win Xp
reports the name as Outlook Data File no matter how I tell it to look at
the
file... Outlook is looking for Outlook.pst.

I reinstalled Office Pro (Ent. Edition) as it was starting to run very
slow
(even though my MS Spyware (Beta) program reports no spyware on my
machine.)
and I thought it COULD be that I used my "Original" copy of Outlook.pst
that
I made from Office 2K (To Get that to work, I had to use "open .pst
file"
feature.) and had resigned myself to starting over and reinputting
EVERYTHING
manually as Office '03 has apparantly changed it's default format for
data.

I'm stumped beyond measure and way past sideways...!

As far as I know, I have a legit copy of the program. The CD is properly
hologrammed...

:

Did you try a new profile or add it to the existing profile?

What error do you get?
Was it ever stored on a CD? If so, is it marked read only?

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]
Author, Teach Yourself Outlook 2003 in 24 Hours
Coauthor, OneNote 2003 for Windows (Visual QuickStart Guide)
Author, Google and Other Search Engines (Visual QuickStart Guide)



Join OneNote Tips mailing list: http://www.onenote-tips.net/


I've reinstalled office 2003 and Outlook doesn't "see" the
outlook.pst
file.
It's where its supposed to be. I've done the "repair installation"
from
the
CD twice. (Rebooted each time too!) What registry dive do I have to
do to
correct this malfunction?