.pst File will not open or import after re-install of software

[Thomas Byrne]

Due to a virus infection, I had to reinstall all the software on my machine.

Using Outlook 2000 in Windows 2000, I exported all of my outlook data to a
..pst file. After backing up the files, I re-formatted the hard drive and
installed Windows XP. I've reloaded Outlook 2000 and have tried the
following to get my outlook information back.

(1) Tried opening the .pst file from Outlook. Received error message:
"Properties for this service must be defined..." then was told the .pst file
in not compatible.

(2) Tried importing the .pst file, with the same result.

(3) Made sure the .pst file had read/write. It is not read only.

(4) Have applied all updates to Office 2000 and Windows XP.

(5) Have checked this forum, but have not found anything exactly on point.
This is the same version of Outlook that I created the .pst file in.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,
Thomas --

 

[Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]]

Why did you export and not simply copy your .pst file?

--
Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]

Post all replies to the group to keep the discussion intact. All
unsolicited mail sent to my personal account will be deleted without
reading.

After furious head scratching, Thomas Byrne asked:

| Due to a virus infection, I had to reinstall all the software on my
| machine.
|
| Using Outlook 2000 in Windows 2000, I exported all of my outlook data
| to a .pst file. After backing up the files, I re-formatted the hard
| drive and installed Windows XP. I've reloaded Outlook 2000 and have
| tried the following to get my outlook information back.
|
| (1) Tried opening the .pst file from Outlook. Received error
| message: "Properties for this service must be defined..." then was
| told the .pst file in not compatible.
|
| (2) Tried importing the .pst file, with the same result.
|
| (3) Made sure the .pst file had read/write. It is not read only.
|
| (4) Have applied all updates to Office 2000 and Windows XP.
|
| (5) Have checked this forum, but have not found anything exactly on
| point. This is the same version of Outlook that I created the .pst
| file in.
|
| Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
|
| Thanks,
| Thomas --

 

[DL]

Probably the Export corrupted the pst, and as posted daily Export/Import is
not the way to deal with native OL data

 

[ritzput]

i have done many many full recoveries with both xp and vista and have
positive results everytime but using outlook 2003 and 2007. The key is being
sure you have properly backed up all your files! My first question is why
would you have exported the outlook data to another pst file? i have never
heard of that? if you didn't export to either your desktop and saved to
another drive or simply directly saved to another drive....you probably lost
all info unless you had someone back up files on your hard drive before doing
the system recovery.

What i have done successfully every time is open outlook and go to file/
import and export/export to a file/ personal folder file (pst)/ scroll up and
highlight personal folders/ click on browse button, click on desktop and
name file outlook.(date), be sure "replace duplicates with items exported" is
checked and leave password section blank/click finish and keep file name
defaulted to "personal folders"

You should then see the "outlook.11.19.pst" on your desktop or drive you
saved to. . I would then highly recommend you save this to either an empty
thumb drive or a portable mini hard drive. you can then import from where
you saved and you shouldn't have any problems expect that your signatures
will be lost.........see my other email of how to import signatures via
Brian!!!!!

 

[ritzput]

Found web site that says outlook 2000 is compatible with xp
http://www.microsoft.com/office/com...b1e9&catlist=&dglist=&ptlist=&exp=&sloc=en-us

response posted 11/1/07:

Yes it is compatible with XP. All versions of Office at least since 4.3
(Word 6 from 1994) will install and operate properly on Windows XP. There
may be a few things that won't work as expected but I haven't run across any
personally.

You didn't say what version of O2K you have, OEM or retail but just in case,
if it is OEM and has been installed on another machine, you can't install on
a different machine "legally."