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MS Office Forum / Outlook / Contacts / January 2007contacts backup for Outlook 2003
I followed the Office online instructions to "create a backup copy of my Contacts" The backup file is visible in My Documents. But when I try to open the file I"m told that "Windows is attemping to open a file of type " office data file" (.pst) I then select "open with" and several prompts later reach "Windows needs to know what program created it" and I am asked to select "the program that created it" from a list. The first four selections are: Microsoft Office Excel, Office Publisher , Office Word and Office Document Reader. I have tried all four of these and am unable to view the backup file. With Excel data is visible but not is a readable format. With Word all I see are geometric shapes! I also tried 3 or 4 other programs in a secondary list and they did not open the file either. What program created the backup file and how do I open my backup file? My goal is to save the back up file to a CD. You never open PST files from Windows Explorer. You open them in Outlook. File > Open > Outlook Data File.  SignatureRuss Valentine [MVP-Outlook] >I followed the Office online instructions to "create a backup copy of my > Contacts" The backup file is visible in My Documents. But when I try to [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > What program created the backup file and how do I open my backup file? My > goal is to save the back up file to a CD. Thank you. Ignorance is not bliss! I did the following: open Outlook>File>Open>Outlook data file>my documents>dbl L click on the contacts backup icon>a new view pops up with a folder list on it's L side> My Contact Backup>Contacts. I'm embarrased to say how long the last few steps took but success is success. I then tried opening the CD I thought I had loaded the backup contacts onto with Outlook open but run into my previous problem of bieng asked to choose the program I want to open this file and not being successful with any of the options. Any suggestions? Korine > You never open PST files from Windows Explorer. > You open them in Outlook. [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > > What program created the backup file and how do I open my backup file? My > > goal is to save the back up file to a CD. > You never open PST files from Windows Explorer. > You open them in Outlook. [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > > What program created the backup file and how do I open my backup file? My > > goal is to save the back up file to a CD. > I followed the Office online instructions to "create a backup copy of > my Contacts" I'm curious - why would you want to make a backup that includes only your Contacts? Isn't the rest of your Outlook data important as well? SignatureBrian Tillman Simple, I don't want to lose it again! I recently "lost" 300 contacts when my old computer quit functioning. The info could not be retrieved! I just completed entering those 300 contacts into my new computer from an the old fashioned paper copy of the contacts and don't wish to do it again any time soon. I honestly don't use many of the other Outlook functions. I am not a savy computer user and have difficulty finding the time for the learning curve!! It should be very simple to backup the contacts on the hard drive and to a CD! But of course it's not simple or there wouldn't be so may online questions! My ultimate goal is to get the contacts loaded onto a CD so that I can put it in the safe AND have a CD I can use in a computer in another location. I thought I had burned the contacts backup to a CD but now cannot open it. I end up eith the "choose the program you want to open this file" I described earlier. > > I followed the Office online instructions to "create a backup copy of > > my Contacts" > > I'm curious - why would you want to make a backup that includes only your > Contacts? Isn't the rest of your Outlook data important as well? > Simple, I don't want to lose it again! > [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > I honestly don't use many of the other Outlook functions. Not even e-mail? OK. You know best what you need. > I am not a > savy computer user and have difficulty finding the time for the > learning curve!! It should be very simple to backup the contacts on > the hard drive and to a CD! But of course it's not simple or there > wouldn't be so may online questions! I find it very simple. With Outlook closed, I simply drag my PST to the CD burner icon and let it go. Windows takes care of the rest. > I thought I had burned the contacts backup to a CD but now cannot > open it. > I end up eith the "choose the program you want to open this file" I > described earlier. That's because you were trying to use Windows Explorer to open the file. As pointed out, you use Outlook's FIle>Open>Outlook Data File to open a PST Moreover, the PST must be on the hard drive and have the read-only attribute removed before Outlook will be able to open it. SignatureBrian Tillman Mr Valentine, After reading other posts I've tried again to write a CD. I closed Outlook and went to My Documents>Contacts Backup file>file & folder tasks>Copy this file> a ballon from my task bar indicates I have "files waiting to be copied" and they are the contacts backup file. I follow the prompt to click the balloon and the CD writing wizard begins to work. It appears to write the CD. The CD drive door opens when the process is complete. But I cannot open the CD with or with out Outlook open! I again get all of the prompts about needing to know which "program created it". > I followed the Office online instructions to "create a backup copy of my > Contacts" The backup file is visible in My Documents. But when I try to open [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > What program created the backup file and how do I open my backup file? My > goal is to save the back up file to a CD. You can't open PST files on a CD. Outlook must have read/write access to PST files. Move the file to your hard drive and remove its read only attribute. Then open it the way I told you to. SignatureRuss Valentine [MVP-Outlook] > Mr Valentine, > After reading other posts I've tried again to write a CD. I closed [quoted text clipped - 31 lines] >> My >> goal is to save the back up file to a CD. Thank you for bearing with me. Do I move the file from the CD to the hard drive or am I moving the file from My Documents to the CD or from the backup in Outlook? I attempted to move the file from the CD to the hard drive but the computer will not do this. It gave me NO prompt to remove the read only attribute. > You can't open PST files on a CD. Outlook must have read/write access to PST > files. [quoted text clipped - 35 lines] > >> My > >> goal is to save the back up file to a CD. You copy the PST file from the CD to your hard drive (you can't move files from a CD). Then you R click it and use the Context menu to remove its read only attribute. SignatureRuss Valentine [MVP-Outlook] > Thank you for bearing with me. Do I move the file from the CD to the hard > drive or am I moving the file from My Documents to the CD or from the [quoted text clipped - 53 lines] >> >> My >> >> goal is to save the back up file to a CD. Mr. Valentine, I've done as you've instructed many times. However. when I do: Contact backup properties.General>Attributes>read only is NOT checked>apply>OK I am UNABLE to view the file when I doulbe click it. I continue to get the "Windows cannot open this file">select the program from a list>none on the list allow me to view the file. But it just dawns on me-will I never be able to view the file? Will I use the CD to re-load Outlook on my home or away computer? And expecting to view the data when outside of Outlook is impossible? > You copy the PST file from the CD to your hard drive (you can't move files > from a CD). [quoted text clipped - 57 lines] > >> >> My > >> >> goal is to save the back up file to a CD. Of course. That's what I said in my first post. Remember? "You never open PST files from Windows Explorer. You open them in Outlook. File > Open > Outlook Data File." Why would you be trying to open the file outside of Outlook? SignatureRuss Valentine [MVP-Outlook] > Mr. Valentine, I've done as you've instructed many times. However. when I > do: Contact backup properties.General>Attributes>read only is NOT [quoted text clipped - 83 lines] >> >> >> My >> >> >> goal is to save the back up file to a CD. Mr. Valentine, Thanks for all of the help. As I said before you're dealing with a computer illerate! Why would I want to open the file outside of Outlook? Because I move between three houses and having a CD with my address book on it would be a compact way to carry an extensive address book. I assumed I could pop it in the CD drive and easliy view addresses. Not such a quirky idea! A simple idea made complex by the operating system! And having just entered the 300 contacts after losing them on the previous computer I wa looking to "save them" from another technoloby glitch. Thanks again. > Of course. That's what I said in my first post. Remember? > "You never open PST files from Windows Explorer. [quoted text clipped - 89 lines] > >> >> >> My > >> >> >> goal is to save the back up file to a CD. I understand that. I was asking why you were still trying to open an Outlook data file without Outlook after I already told you it could not be done. I was afraid you were not reading or understanding my replies. SignatureRuss Valentine [MVP-Outlook] > Mr. Valentine, > Thanks for all of the help. As I said before you're dealing with a [quoted text clipped - 122 lines] >> >> >> >> My >> >> >> >> goal is to save the back up file to a CD. Korine, Please don't feel like an illerate! I am having the same problem NOW (6/06). I have researched the MS site for hours. Please tell me if you ever found a way to achieve your goal of copying your contacts. I also have tried burning CD, but cannot open the files, and I DO have OUtlook on my computer. I just don't understand exactly what R Valentine was trying to say either. Thanks for any help you can give me in this similar delimma. Josie M > Mr. Valentine, > Thanks for all of the help. As I said before you're dealing with a computer [quoted text clipped - 100 lines] > > >> >> >> My > > >> >> >> goal is to save the back up file to a CD. #1 - If you copy the PST file to a CD - it needs to be copied to a hard drive and the "Read Only" attribute removed a) right click the PST file after it's been copied to the hard drive b) select properties c) uncheck "Read Only" under attributes d) open the pst file in Outlook (*** above assumes you are using "R" CD/DVD media and not "R/W" with software (Roxio/Nero/NTI etc ) that enables you to treat your CD/DVD drive like any other in which case you don't have to worry about the "Read Only" attribute setting) #2 - A PST file is an application specific Outlook file which needs to be opened via Outlook - ergo - there is no "generic" way to simply view the "address list" (unless you use some other specialized software which in 99.99999% cases - is not applicable) Karl Signature_____________________________________________________________ Karl Timmermans - The Claxton Group ContactGenie - Importer 1.3 / DataPorter 2.0 / Exporter "Power contact importers/exporters for MS Outlook '2000/2003" http://www.contactgenie.com > Korine, > Please don't feel like an illerate! I am having the same problem NOW [quoted text clipped - 144 lines] >> > >> >> >> My >> > >> >> >> goal is to save the back up file to a CD. Russ was very clear - what don't you understand? SignatureMilly 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, JosieM asked: | Korine, | Please don't feel like an illerate! I am having the same problem NOW [quoted text clipped - 122 lines] ||||||||| My ||||||||| goal is to save the back up file to a CD. Hello Korine, I understand clearly what you mean. What you need to do is follow the instructions to writte the data in a cd, the same way you would do it with any documents you want to save in a cd. But let me clarify this for you. When you want to backup your data (contacts, messages, calendar, etc) from outlook, the way it works excellent for me is to export your data to a .pst file. Go to File, Import and Export and then follow the instructions in the wizard, for example, select "export to a file", then "personal folder file (.pst) (there you select what you want, but if you choose Personal Folders it includes messages, calendar, tasks and contacts", then check the box "include subfolders" and then choose where you want the file to be saved, like your documents. Then you copy that file to a cd and to view everything again, from a cd, copy the file to your documents and then start the process again, but instead of "exporting a file" you import your file. Hope it helps.... Sorry > Russ was very clear - what don't you understand? > [quoted text clipped - 124 lines] > ||||||||| My > ||||||||| goal is to save the back up file to a CD. |
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