Strange symbols instead of readable text?

[Ute]

I have this huge Outlook XML (732 pages) ... they are priceless old emails
.... however, the whole document is written in some kind of code I can not
identify ... there are bunches of 'y's and
'%'__1_Õ5ž$______@Å______P___1_Õ5¤$_______b(_____À ... what is that???? How
do I change that???? Please help me!!!!

 

[Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]]

Where did that file come from? Outlook stores none of its data in XML files.

--
Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
Author of Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003

and Microsoft Outlook Programming - Jumpstart for
Administrators, Power Users, and Developers

 

[Ute]

I have no idea how in the world I managed to do that ... it used to be a
pst.file ... saved before pc was reformatted by a tech ... I believe I tried
to open it with 'Words' after I was unable to import the file to Outlook ...
just was desperate to regain access to my things ... tried many different
things, and now I have this on my hands ... what a mess ... what to do???

 

[Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]]

You should search for the .pst file.

--
Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
Author of Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003

and Microsoft Outlook Programming - Jumpstart for
Administrators, Power Users, and Developers

 

[Ute]

I have the pst file in My Documents. I have tried 'this' over and over again:
open outlook, import pst file, place in folder, finish. But ... after
'finish' there is no pst file to be found 'anywhere' ... all the folders in
the left pane are empty. That is what lead to the other experimenting ... i'm
lost.

 

[Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]]

Who said anything about importing? You should simply use the File | Open | Outlook Data File command and then display the Folder List navigation pane. If the file appears corrupted, then try running scanpst.exe against it. See http://www.slipstick.com/problems/scanpst.htm

--
Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
Author of Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003

and Microsoft Outlook Programming - Jumpstart for
Administrators, Power Users, and Developers

 

[Patrick Schmid]

If you can't find a pst, try changing the extension of the file to pst
and opening it with Outlook (File, Open, Outlook Data File). If this was
a pst-file originally then I really hope you didn't press save in Word.
If you did, there is a very good chance that Outlook will not open the
file.
You really need the original pst file and open that one.

Patrick Schmid

 

[Ute]

Thank you, I am making progress. Did as you said, a Recovered Personal Folder
appeared in the folder pane ... however, there is nothing in there ... it
says 0 items. When I click properties of the pst file in My Documents, it
says 265 KB ... I ran the scan.exe and it says it scanned 6 folders and no
errors found. I don't know where to go from here?

 

[Ute]

Wait, ... when I click on Settings for the Recovered Foler it says; Format:
Personal Folder (97 - 2002) ... does that make a difference?? Now what?

 

[Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]]

Try alternating Scandisk.exe with Scanpst.exe 3-4 times Were hard drive problems the reason for the original reformatting? If so, then they may have contributed to corruption of the .pst file.

Patrick's idea about changing the file extension for the .xml file to ..pst is also worth trying.

--
Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
Author of Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003

and Microsoft Outlook Programming - Jumpstart for
Administrators, Power Users, and Developers

 

[Ute]

I will try those three things ... thank you so much for helping me with this
nightmare ... I've been messing with this for weeks.

 

[Ute]

Hi, thank you for your patience ... I'm still working on this ... I have
tried to change the xml to pst ... I don't understand what they want me to do
.... what do I type into the new command? Edit?
Also. when I click on Settings for the Recovered Foler it says; Format:
Personal Folder (97 - 2002) ... does that make a difference?? Now what? I
have Office 2003.