outlook 2007; corrupt Profile; restore data file

[kwgwynn]

After browsing existing questions in this group to see why my Contacts and
AddressBook were not in sync, I followed the various directions for creating
a new Profile. When I reopened Outlook, my mail files were gone. So I
followed the steps for opening my mail file into this new profile.

Also, I don't think I followed all the steps correctly for correcting
original problem because I found a variety of "answers" that did not point to
sufficient --and consistant -- steps for all of this, so I really have no
idea whether I did all the steps properly or not.

Now I have two "Personal Folders" in my email: a blank one and the one with
my data.

How do I get rid of the empty "Personal Folders"? Do I need to start all
over again? And if so, please provide a good set of instructions.

 

[Jocelyn Fiorello]

When you created your new Outlook profile it created a blank .PST file and
I'm guessing you overwrote that one with your old .PST. Don't overwrite one
..PST with another -- that's the kind of problem you'll get. Create yet
another Outlook profile and just point it to your old .PST file somewhere
else on your hard drive -- you can put it where you want it.

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

Also, instead of just saying "I don't think I followed all the steps
correctly," tell us what steps you did follow. We have no other way to help
you keep from making the same mistake.
The instructions posted on how migrate Outlook data are consistent. They
just vary with each version.
For Outlook 2007:
Outlook 2007 is extremely intolerant of any PST file migration method other
the one documented here:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HA010771141033.aspx
For best results make sure you check your PST file for errors just before
you migrate it and do NOT copy it into Outlook's default folder where you
may inadvertently overwrite another PST file.

I know of at least 4 ways that users can migrate PST files improperly that
will result in duplicate files or other problems:
a. Importing an entire PST file.
b. Opening a previous PST file in an unsupported scenario (such as on a
network drive or in a shared folder located on another drive).
c. Overwriting a profile’s default PST file.
d. Renaming a profile’s default PST then redirecting Outlook to a new PST on
re-launch.