Importing contacts but am told that backup.pst is not a .pst?????

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smithieaus - 18 Jun 2005 10:17 GMT

I'm Trying to import my old contact list from my old computer which is saved
on a cd under filename: backup.pst. When I try to import it into Outlook on
my new computer I am told that it is not a personal folders file.

What does this mean and what can I do?

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Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook] - 18 Jun 2005 11:54 GMT

First, since this is a native file, do not import it. Just open it using
Outlook's File > Open command.
Make sure this file resides on your hard drive (not a CD) and that it has no
read only attribute.

Signature

Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

> I'm Trying to import my old contact list from my old computer which is
> saved
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>
> What does this mean and what can I do?

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smithieaus - 18 Jun 2005 12:24 GMT

I'm still getting the same error message. Also another message is saying
"Properties for this information service must be defined prior to use".

> First, since this is a native file, do not import it. Just open it using
> Outlook's File > Open command.
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> >
> > What does this mean and what can I do?

Reply to this Message

Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook] - 18 Jun 2005 13:05 GMT

Verify that you have moved this file to a hard drive and have removed its
read only attribute.
List the steps you used to create and move this file.

Signature

Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

> I'm still getting the same error message. Also another message is saying
> "Properties for this information service must be defined prior to use".
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
>> >
>> > What does this mean and what can I do?

Reply to this Message

smithieaus - 21 Jun 2005 11:15 GMT

My old PC crashed and wouldn't start up so I had to take it to a shop to have
my data files put on disk so I could at least keep working on them with my
son's laptop while waiting for my new PC to arrive.
They gave me my Outlook contacts on a CDR containing a file: "backup.pst".
I copied the file to C:\Documents and Settings\User\Local
Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook\backup.pst.
When I look at the file's attributes the "Read only" checkbox is not checked.
When I try to open or Import it with Outlook I get that error message.

> Verify that you have moved this file to a hard drive and have removed its
> read only attribute.
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
> >> >
> >> > What does this mean and what can I do?

Reply to this Message

Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook] - 21 Jun 2005 11:34 GMT

Never place an Outlook file in the default location because you may end up
overwriting another Outlook file, corrupting both.
Just copy it from the CD to another location. Remove it's read only
attribute (which it will have). Then try to open it, not import it.
If you still can't then you have a corrupt file that you may be able to
repair with the Inbox Repair Tool.

Signature

Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

> My old PC crashed and wouldn't start up so I had to take it to a shop to
> have
[quoted text clipped - 30 lines]
>> >> >
>> >> > What does this mean and what can I do?

Reply to this Message

smithieaus - 21 Jun 2005 20:41 GMT

What is this Inbox Repair Tool?

> Never place an Outlook file in the default location because you may end up
> overwriting another Outlook file, corrupting both.
[quoted text clipped - 36 lines]
> >> >> >
> >> >> > What does this mean and what can I do?

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Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook] - 21 Jun 2005 21:00 GMT

An Office utility.
Look for scanpst.exe

Signature

Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

> What is this Inbox Repair Tool?
>
[quoted text clipped - 46 lines]
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> > What does this mean and what can I do?

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smithieaus - 21 Jun 2005 11:21 GMT

I shoud have mentioned that I was using Office 2000 on my old PC.
Would this cause the problem?

> Verify that you have moved this file to a hard drive and have removed its
> read only attribute.
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
> >> >
> >> > What does this mean and what can I do?

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