How to import pst file to my Outlook?

copying outlook from one computer to another + corrupt pst file

• want to make carbon copy of outlook from one computer (A) onto another computer (B)- and Computer B will not allow me to import pst files facts: (1) B has corrupt scanpst and I am currently unable to import any pst files. Error message is: "errors have been detected in the file c:\documents and settings\claire\my documents\outlook.pst" Quit all mail enabled applications then use the Inbox Repair tool (2) ran the Inbox Repair tool (scanpst.exe) for two files: c:\documents and settings\claire\my documents\outlook.pst c:\documents and settings\claire\local settings\application data\microsoft\outlook which one is the right one? I get the error message from Inbox Repair Tool "an error has occurred which caused the scan to be stopped. No changes have been made to the scanned file" (3) I am fine with erasing the entire outlook on computer B ? I just want the outlook from A to be on B (4) I am currently copying .pst files from computer A onto a Maxtor external hard drive. My personal folders are over 2 GB ? and I so it appears that I have to split up the .pst files as I export them onto the hard drive. I got to 1,913,024 kB of outlook backup onto my external hard drive, and got the message ?pls delete part of files ? this file is too big? or something like that. I want to know how to: 1. fix the outlook on B - whether it is erasing everything from outlook in B or getting rid of the corrupted file. 2. make carbon copy of outlook from A to outlook of B - currently copying pst files from A onto a Maxtor hard drive (because files are too big to fit on cds) 3. can I simply "import" several pst files from Maxtor hard drive onto computer B and will that make computer B have exactly the same outlook at computer A? Thank you!

• Answer:

  claire... First of all, you're probably getting the error when copying to the Maxtor drive because, like many external drives, it came formatted in FAT32, which has a 2GB partition limit. If you can re-format the entire drive as NTFS, that should resolve the copy error. Secondly, c:\documents and settings\claire\local settings\ application data\microsoft\outlook is your active file - c:\documents and settings\claire\my documents\outlook.pst is a backup copy. Finally, you said: "...I am currently unable to import any pst files. Error message is: "errors have been detected in the file c:\documents and settings\claire\my documents\outlook.pst" ...and: "...ran the Inbox Repair tool (scanpst.exe) for two files: c:\documents and settings\claire\my documents\outlook.pst c:\documents and settings\claire\local settings\application data\microsoft\outlook" ...both of which make it sound like you're attempting to import and repair, on computer B, the .pst files which are already on computer B, and I don't see why you'd be doing that (maybe you're trying to test the import function of the Outlook installation on B?). To make computer B's Outlook installation identical to computer A's, I would (making sure Outlook is not up and running during all this): MOVE outlook.pst from it's present location on B, at: c:\documents and settings\claire\local settings\application data\microsoft\outlook to another location, for safekeeping, until you're sure you don't need it anymore. Then, either copy the outlook.pst from The Maxtor (having succeeded in copying it from A to the Maxtor by reformatting the Maxtor in NTFS) to the location in: c:\documents and settings\claire\local settings\application data\microsoft\outlook Open Outlook and see if the data reflects its use of the new outlook.pst file. I've never tried this method with Outlook, but it works with Outlook Express. Or, use the politically correct method: Having moved the old outlook.pst, open up Outlook on B (which will automatically create a new, default .pst file), go to the toolbar and click on File and then on Import and Export to open the Import and Export Wizard. Highlight Import from another program or file and click on Next. Highlight Personal Folder File (.pst) and click on Next. Under File to import click on Browse and locate your old outlook.pst file on the portable drive. Click on Next and Outlook will import the file from your portable drive to computer B. Here's a page on Technology Q & A that illustrates the latter process: http://www.aicpa.org/pubs/jofa/feb2005/tech_qa.htm That should get you where you want to be! Please do not rate this answer until you are satisfied that the answer cannot be improved upon by way of a dialog established through the "Request for Clarification" process. A user's guide on this topic is on skermit-ga's site, here: http://www.christopherwu.net/google_answers/answer_guide.html#how_clarify sublime1-ga Searches done, via Google: "copy outlook.pst" ://www.google.com/search?q=%22copy+outlook.pst%22