Restoring backup Outlook.pst

[Steve]

Here is my problem: I had to do a complete system restore (windows XP) but
before doing so I created a backup copy of Outlook using the back-up tool.
Since then I have dug my self into a bigger and bigger hole. I could not find
a way of restoring this file to Outlook 2003 without creating multiple files.
I even reloaded OFFICE (in the hope that all history would be lost) then I
pasted my Outlook.pst file into the Outlook folder (local
settings/application data/microsoft/outlook) before starting outlook. I then
received a message saying that 'could not find Outlook backup' so I quit and
renamed a copy of my Outlook.pst as backup and pasted this into the folder as
well. Now I have 3 sets of personal identical folders: the main one and two
more. When I want to send an e-mail it seems that I have two "contact"
folders and I get an error message saying that the first one has been moved
or deleted (I can open the second one OK). How can I get rid of the extra
personal folders and revert to just one contacts folder?

Now I have

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

You have used every known technique for corrupting your profile. You might
want to read the Help files or instructions we have posted here for the
correct way to migrate Outlook data. Never just paste a PST file into the
default location. Never just rename a PST file.
Create a new Outlook profile. Just open the PST you want to use in that
profile and set it to be your default, then restart Outlook and close the
PST file that Outlook created when you made the new profile.

 

[Steve]

Thanks Russ: In fact in was trying to follow the instructions suppiled with
the Back-up tool: There is a paragraph that says:

"If you want to recover your entire .pst file, quit Outlook.... rename you
damaged file ... make a copy of your backup .pst file and give that copy the
name of the original .pst file. This file needs to be in the same directory
as the original. That is essentially what I did after reloading OFFICE. "

The exception was that I got the error message concerning the lack of a back
up file and so I pasted this into the same location.

I'll try to find the thread on migrating office data. And I'll try to find
out more about Outlook profiles: but clearly I am not an expert at all this.
I really want to know how to revert to a 'virgin' Outlook and then import my
Outlook file which will then become the only one on the system with the
relevant "default"

You have used every known technique for corrupting your profile. You might
want to read the Help files or instructions we have posted here for the
correct way to migrate Outlook data. Never just paste a PST file into the
default location. Never just rename a PST file.
Create a new Outlook profile. Just open the PST you want to use in that
profile and set it to be your default, then restart Outlook and close the
PST file that Outlook created when you made the new profile.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Here is my problem: I had to do a complete system restore (windows XP) but
before doing so I created a backup copy of Outlook using the back-up tool.
Since then I have dug my self into a bigger and bigger hole. I could not
find
a way of restoring this file to Outlook 2003 without creating multiple
files.
I even reloaded OFFICE (in the hope that all history would be lost) then I
pasted my Outlook.pst file into the Outlook folder (local
settings/application data/microsoft/outlook) before starting outlook. I
then
received a message saying that 'could not find Outlook backup' so I quit
and
renamed a copy of my Outlook.pst as backup and pasted this into the folder
as
well. Now I have 3 sets of personal identical folders: the main one and
two
more. When I want to send an e-mail it seems that I have two "contact"
folders and I get an error message saying that the first one has been
moved
or deleted (I can open the second one OK). How can I get rid of the extra
personal folders and revert to just one contacts folder?

Now I have

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

What those instruction fail to recognize is that if you rename a PST file
that is already connected to an Outlook profile, the connection will remain
and the folder will still appear in that profile even though the connection
is now corrupt. That's what prevents you from being able to close the
reference to the folder and leaves you with duplicate or triplicate folders.

Creating a new profile is easy:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;829918&Product=out2003
and I already told you how to migrate your data correctly in my post.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Thanks Russ: In fact in was trying to follow the instructions suppiled
with
the Back-up tool: There is a paragraph that says:

"If you want to recover your entire .pst file, quit Outlook.... rename you
damaged file ... make a copy of your backup .pst file and give that copy
the
name of the original .pst file. This file needs to be in the same
directory
as the original. That is essentially what I did after reloading OFFICE. "

The exception was that I got the error message concerning the lack of a
back
up file and so I pasted this into the same location.

I'll try to find the thread on migrating office data. And I'll try to find
out more about Outlook profiles: but clearly I am not an expert at all
this.
I really want to know how to revert to a 'virgin' Outlook and then import
my
Outlook file which will then become the only one on the system with the
relevant "default"

You have used every known technique for corrupting your profile. You
might
want to read the Help files or instructions we have posted here for the
correct way to migrate Outlook data. Never just paste a PST file into the
default location. Never just rename a PST file.
Create a new Outlook profile. Just open the PST you want to use in that
profile and set it to be your default, then restart Outlook and close the
PST file that Outlook created when you made the new profile.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Here is my problem: I had to do a complete system restore (windows XP)
but
before doing so I created a backup copy of Outlook using the back-up
tool.
Since then I have dug my self into a bigger and bigger hole. I could
not
find
a way of restoring this file to Outlook 2003 without creating multiple
files.
I even reloaded OFFICE (in the hope that all history would be lost)
then I
pasted my Outlook.pst file into the Outlook folder (local
settings/application data/microsoft/outlook) before starting outlook. I
then
received a message saying that 'could not find Outlook backup' so I
quit
and
renamed a copy of my Outlook.pst as backup and pasted this into the
folder
as
well. Now I have 3 sets of personal identical folders: the main one and
two
more. When I want to send an e-mail it seems that I have two "contact"
folders and I get an error message saying that the first one has been
moved
or deleted (I can open the second one OK). How can I get rid of the
extra
personal folders and revert to just one contacts folder?

Now I have

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

None of this does any damage. You can close any PST file that still has a
valid connection to the profile or that is not your default PST. Removing
files from the profile does not remove the file or its data from your hard
drive.

It's not clear what you want to do now. If the PST file you want to use is
not your default, you can designate it as such in Outlook, restart Outlook,
then close any other PST file you do not want to use.

--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Russ, thanks for your help. I do not know whether I have found a solution
but
what I did after reading some of the links that you sent was the
following: I
went into the Outlook file data management window and reduced the number
of
duplicate files (there were too many outlook.pst files open but strangely
the
default file appeared to be the back up versio of these); then I went
into
Outlook help and looked up removing Contacts folder and removed the first
on
the list which gave me the error message everytime I tried to look up an
address (presumably the default Contacts folder). What happened?

Well I have one just personal folders files (the one with the little house
icon) and the default and only address book is my old one!

Am I deluding myself or have I (for once) done something non-destructive?)

What those instruction fail to recognize is that if you rename a PST file
that is already connected to an Outlook profile, the connection will
remain
and the folder will still appear in that profile even though the
connection
is now corrupt. That's what prevents you from being able to close the
reference to the folder and leaves you with duplicate or triplicate
folders.

Creating a new profile is easy:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;829918&Product=out2003
and I already told you how to migrate your data correctly in my post.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Thanks Russ: In fact in was trying to follow the instructions suppiled
with
the Back-up tool: There is a paragraph that says:

"If you want to recover your entire .pst file, quit Outlook.... rename
you
damaged file ... make a copy of your backup .pst file and give that
copy
the
name of the original .pst file. This file needs to be in the same
directory
as the original. That is essentially what I did after reloading OFFICE.
"

The exception was that I got the error message concerning the lack of a
back
up file and so I pasted this into the same location.

I'll try to find the thread on migrating office data. And I'll try to
find
out more about Outlook profiles: but clearly I am not an expert at all
this.
I really want to know how to revert to a 'virgin' Outlook and then
import
my
Outlook file which will then become the only one on the system with the
relevant "default"

:

You have used every known technique for corrupting your profile. You
might
want to read the Help files or instructions we have posted here for
the
correct way to migrate Outlook data. Never just paste a PST file into
the
default location. Never just rename a PST file.
Create a new Outlook profile. Just open the PST you want to use in
that
profile and set it to be your default, then restart Outlook and close
the
PST file that Outlook created when you made the new profile.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Here is my problem: I had to do a complete system restore (windows
XP)
but
before doing so I created a backup copy of Outlook using the back-up
tool.
Since then I have dug my self into a bigger and bigger hole. I could
not
find
a way of restoring this file to Outlook 2003 without creating
multiple
files.
I even reloaded OFFICE (in the hope that all history would be lost)
then I
pasted my Outlook.pst file into the Outlook folder (local
settings/application data/microsoft/outlook) before starting
outlook. I
then
received a message saying that 'could not find Outlook backup' so I
quit
and
renamed a copy of my Outlook.pst as backup and pasted this into the
folder
as
well. Now I have 3 sets of personal identical folders: the main one
and
two
more. When I want to send an e-mail it seems that I have two
"contact"
folders and I get an error message saying that the first one has
been
moved
or deleted (I can open the second one OK). How can I get rid of the
extra
personal folders and revert to just one contacts folder?

Now I have

 

[Steve]

Thanks Russ for your help! At the moment everything appears to be fine; I'll
test the e-mail to make sure that it arrives in the inbox. Certainly now when
I want to send a message the correct Contacts Folder is opened and I only
have one set of personal folders in my folder list. I guess the real test
will come when I install active sysnc and try to synchronise with my pda.

None of this does any damage. You can close any PST file that still has a
valid connection to the profile or that is not your default PST. Removing
files from the profile does not remove the file or its data from your hard
drive.

It's not clear what you want to do now. If the PST file you want to use is
not your default, you can designate it as such in Outlook, restart Outlook,
then close any other PST file you do not want to use.

--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Russ, thanks for your help. I do not know whether I have found a solution
but
what I did after reading some of the links that you sent was the
following: I
went into the Outlook file data management window and reduced the number
of
duplicate files (there were too many outlook.pst files open but strangely
the
default file appeared to be the back up versio of these); then I went
into
Outlook help and looked up removing Contacts folder and removed the first
on
the list which gave me the error message everytime I tried to look up an
address (presumably the default Contacts folder). What happened?

Well I have one just personal folders files (the one with the little house
icon) and the default and only address book is my old one!

Am I deluding myself or have I (for once) done something non-destructive?)

What those instruction fail to recognize is that if you rename a PST file
that is already connected to an Outlook profile, the connection will
remain
and the folder will still appear in that profile even though the
connection
is now corrupt. That's what prevents you from being able to close the
reference to the folder and leaves you with duplicate or triplicate
folders.

Creating a new profile is easy:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;829918&Product=out2003
and I already told you how to migrate your data correctly in my post.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Thanks Russ: In fact in was trying to follow the instructions suppiled
with
the Back-up tool: There is a paragraph that says:

"If you want to recover your entire .pst file, quit Outlook.... rename
you
damaged file ... make a copy of your backup .pst file and give that
copy
the
name of the original .pst file. This file needs to be in the same
directory
as the original. That is essentially what I did after reloading OFFICE.
"

The exception was that I got the error message concerning the lack of a
back
up file and so I pasted this into the same location.

I'll try to find the thread on migrating office data. And I'll try to
find
out more about Outlook profiles: but clearly I am not an expert at all
this.
I really want to know how to revert to a 'virgin' Outlook and then
import
my
Outlook file which will then become the only one on the system with the
relevant "default"

:

You have used every known technique for corrupting your profile. You
might
want to read the Help files or instructions we have posted here for
the
correct way to migrate Outlook data. Never just paste a PST file into
the
default location. Never just rename a PST file.
Create a new Outlook profile. Just open the PST you want to use in
that
profile and set it to be your default, then restart Outlook and close
the
PST file that Outlook created when you made the new profile.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Here is my problem: I had to do a complete system restore (windows
XP)
but
before doing so I created a backup copy of Outlook using the back-up
tool.
Since then I have dug my self into a bigger and bigger hole. I could
not
find
a way of restoring this file to Outlook 2003 without creating
multiple
files.
I even reloaded OFFICE (in the hope that all history would be lost)
then I
pasted my Outlook.pst file into the Outlook folder (local
settings/application data/microsoft/outlook) before starting
outlook. I
then
received a message saying that 'could not find Outlook backup' so I
quit
and
renamed a copy of my Outlook.pst as backup and pasted this into the
folder
as
well. Now I have 3 sets of personal identical folders: the main one
and
two
more. When I want to send an e-mail it seems that I have two
"contact"
folders and I get an error message saying that the first one has
been
moved
or deleted (I can open the second one OK). How can I get rid of the
extra
personal folders and revert to just one contacts folder?

Now I have

 

[Steve]

Russ, thanks again for your help. I have just noticed one possible issue.
Although every thing appears to be OK, on my start-up screen I get a message
that there is an e-mail waiting for me. I cannot find this e-mail in OUTLOOK
and so I guess it was received when I was fooling around with the .pst files.
How can I either open it or delete (and forget it) from the start-up screen?
Or would my best bet be to start right back from the beginning either with a
re-install of OUTLOOK or a complete system restore?

None of this does any damage. You can close any PST file that still has a
valid connection to the profile or that is not your default PST. Removing
files from the profile does not remove the file or its data from your hard
drive.

It's not clear what you want to do now. If the PST file you want to use is
not your default, you can designate it as such in Outlook, restart Outlook,
then close any other PST file you do not want to use.

--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Russ, thanks for your help. I do not know whether I have found a solution
but
what I did after reading some of the links that you sent was the
following: I
went into the Outlook file data management window and reduced the number
of
duplicate files (there were too many outlook.pst files open but strangely
the
default file appeared to be the back up versio of these); then I went
into
Outlook help and looked up removing Contacts folder and removed the first
on
the list which gave me the error message everytime I tried to look up an
address (presumably the default Contacts folder). What happened?

Well I have one just personal folders files (the one with the little house
icon) and the default and only address book is my old one!

Am I deluding myself or have I (for once) done something non-destructive?)

What those instruction fail to recognize is that if you rename a PST file
that is already connected to an Outlook profile, the connection will
remain
and the folder will still appear in that profile even though the
connection
is now corrupt. That's what prevents you from being able to close the
reference to the folder and leaves you with duplicate or triplicate
folders.

Creating a new profile is easy:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;829918&Product=out2003
and I already told you how to migrate your data correctly in my post.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Thanks Russ: In fact in was trying to follow the instructions suppiled
with
the Back-up tool: There is a paragraph that says:

"If you want to recover your entire .pst file, quit Outlook.... rename
you
damaged file ... make a copy of your backup .pst file and give that
copy
the
name of the original .pst file. This file needs to be in the same
directory
as the original. That is essentially what I did after reloading OFFICE.
"

The exception was that I got the error message concerning the lack of a
back
up file and so I pasted this into the same location.

I'll try to find the thread on migrating office data. And I'll try to
find
out more about Outlook profiles: but clearly I am not an expert at all
this.
I really want to know how to revert to a 'virgin' Outlook and then
import
my
Outlook file which will then become the only one on the system with the
relevant "default"

:

You have used every known technique for corrupting your profile. You
might
want to read the Help files or instructions we have posted here for
the
correct way to migrate Outlook data. Never just paste a PST file into
the
default location. Never just rename a PST file.
Create a new Outlook profile. Just open the PST you want to use in
that
profile and set it to be your default, then restart Outlook and close
the
PST file that Outlook created when you made the new profile.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Here is my problem: I had to do a complete system restore (windows
XP)
but
before doing so I created a backup copy of Outlook using the back-up
tool.
Since then I have dug my self into a bigger and bigger hole. I could
not
find
a way of restoring this file to Outlook 2003 without creating
multiple
files.
I even reloaded OFFICE (in the hope that all history would be lost)
then I
pasted my Outlook.pst file into the Outlook folder (local
settings/application data/microsoft/outlook) before starting
outlook. I
then
received a message saying that 'could not find Outlook backup' so I
quit
and
renamed a copy of my Outlook.pst as backup and pasted this into the
folder
as
well. Now I have 3 sets of personal identical folders: the main one
and
two
more. When I want to send an e-mail it seems that I have two
"contact"
folders and I get an error message saying that the first one has
been
moved
or deleted (I can open the second one OK). How can I get rid of the
extra
personal folders and revert to just one contacts folder?

Now I have

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

Never use system restore to solve Outlook problems. System restore does
nothing to your data file.
Exactly what type of message are you getting and when? What type of mail
account do you have and what happens when you poll it?
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Russ, thanks again for your help. I have just noticed one possible issue.
Although every thing appears to be OK, on my start-up screen I get a
message
that there is an e-mail waiting for me. I cannot find this e-mail in
OUTLOOK
and so I guess it was received when I was fooling around with the .pst
files.
How can I either open it or delete (and forget it) from the start-up
screen?
Or would my best bet be to start right back from the beginning either with
a
re-install of OUTLOOK or a complete system restore?

None of this does any damage. You can close any PST file that still has a
valid connection to the profile or that is not your default PST. Removing
files from the profile does not remove the file or its data from your
hard
drive.

It's not clear what you want to do now. If the PST file you want to use
is
not your default, you can designate it as such in Outlook, restart
Outlook,
then close any other PST file you do not want to use.

--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Russ, thanks for your help. I do not know whether I have found a
solution
but
what I did after reading some of the links that you sent was the
following: I
went into the Outlook file data management window and reduced the
number
of
duplicate files (there were too many outlook.pst files open but
strangely
the
default file appeared to be the back up versio of these); then I went
into
Outlook help and looked up removing Contacts folder and removed the
first
on
the list which gave me the error message everytime I tried to look up
an
address (presumably the default Contacts folder). What happened?

Well I have one just personal folders files (the one with the little
house
icon) and the default and only address book is my old one!

Am I deluding myself or have I (for once) done something
non-destructive?)

:

What those instruction fail to recognize is that if you rename a PST
file
that is already connected to an Outlook profile, the connection will
remain
and the folder will still appear in that profile even though the
connection
is now corrupt. That's what prevents you from being able to close the
reference to the folder and leaves you with duplicate or triplicate
folders.

Creating a new profile is easy:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;829918&Product=out2003
and I already told you how to migrate your data correctly in my post.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Thanks Russ: In fact in was trying to follow the instructions
suppiled
with
the Back-up tool: There is a paragraph that says:

"If you want to recover your entire .pst file, quit Outlook....
rename
you
damaged file ... make a copy of your backup .pst file and give that
copy
the
name of the original .pst file. This file needs to be in the same
directory
as the original. That is essentially what I did after reloading
OFFICE.
"

The exception was that I got the error message concerning the lack
of a
back
up file and so I pasted this into the same location.

I'll try to find the thread on migrating office data. And I'll try
to
find
out more about Outlook profiles: but clearly I am not an expert at
all
this.
I really want to know how to revert to a 'virgin' Outlook and then
import
my
Outlook file which will then become the only one on the system with
the
relevant "default"

:

You have used every known technique for corrupting your profile.
You
might
want to read the Help files or instructions we have posted here for
the
correct way to migrate Outlook data. Never just paste a PST file
into
the
default location. Never just rename a PST file.
Create a new Outlook profile. Just open the PST you want to use in
that
profile and set it to be your default, then restart Outlook and
close
the
PST file that Outlook created when you made the new profile.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Here is my problem: I had to do a complete system restore
(windows
XP)
but
before doing so I created a backup copy of Outlook using the
back-up
tool.
Since then I have dug my self into a bigger and bigger hole. I
could
not
find
a way of restoring this file to Outlook 2003 without creating
multiple
files.
I even reloaded OFFICE (in the hope that all history would be
lost)
then I
pasted my Outlook.pst file into the Outlook folder (local
settings/application data/microsoft/outlook) before starting
outlook. I
then
received a message saying that 'could not find Outlook backup'
so I
quit
and
renamed a copy of my Outlook.pst as backup and pasted this into
the
folder
as
well. Now I have 3 sets of personal identical folders: the main
one
and
two
more. When I want to send an e-mail it seems that I have two
"contact"
folders and I get an error message saying that the first one has
been
moved
or deleted (I can open the second one OK). How can I get rid of
the
extra
personal folders and revert to just one contacts folder?

Now I have