Outlook Problem - a real git too...

[neil_cardiff]

I've just rebuilt my father in laws pc (xp pro, with office xp) after a major 'feature' manifested itself...

I did a .pst of his mailbox (pop3) and wrote it to a cd - ready to copy back once the pc was rebuilt.

When I did this, in the usual way by importing the .pst file, it then kicked an error up saying that the .pst file is not a valid Personal Folders File.

Now I have full rights on the .pst, so there is no read only problems on the file.

Now does anybody here know - aside from the scanpst.exe file that is supplied, which doesn't work - how I can 1. read the bloody file some other way or 2. Does anybody work or know someone who can recover the .pst file?

Help - it's got all of his email etc etc in and he's a bit pissed to say the least...

[plotloss]

Are you importing it directly off the CD or have you copied it to the HDD first?

Matt.

[neil_cardiff]

plotloss said: Are you importing it directly off the CD or have you copied it to the HDD first?

Matt.

Copied to hard drive, and I made sure there is no read only issues by taking ownership of the file.

[CarZee]

errr.. check the attributes.. As in R/A/S/H, not as in NT permissions.. (on the front propery page for the object).

if you copy a file from a CD it'll have the R attribute and hence Outlook won't open it..

[neil_cardiff]

CarZee said: errr.. check the attributes.. As in R/A/S/H, not as in NT permissions.. (on the front propery page for the object).

if you copy a file from a CD it'll have the R attribute and hence Outlook won't open it..

Can you give me a walkthrough - I'm not that dos savvy...ta!

[plotloss]

Open a dos box.

attrib -r [filename]

Matt.

[neil_cardiff]

plotloss said: Open a dos box.

attrib -r [filename]

Matt.

Removed all the attributes, but still no joy.

[plotloss]

Was the mailbox created originally with Outlook XP?

Not that this should make any difference, but I am just thinking out loud here.

Matt.

[neil_cardiff]

plotloss said: Was the mailbox created originally with Outlook XP?

Not that this should make any difference, but I am just thinking out loud here.

Matt.

Yup. I initially thought it could be a machine name thing but everything I've read up on says that .pst's are not machine dependant.

I'm getting quite stressed about this - Google isn't helping at all - everybody had the permission prob - but I think this is different. I have found a forum with the same problem, but no solution...

[Terminator]

Have you tried this one?

www.annoyances.org/exec/forum/winxp/t1035137368

[neil_cardiff]

Terminator said: Have you tried this one?

www.annoyances.org/exec/forum/winxp/t1035137368

Nope OE 6 in XP dosent allow importing of .pst's.

So no.

But thanks anyway!

[andyf007]

Try this

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;287837

It may have some relevance.

Andy

[Psychobert]

Had something like this problem a while ago; can't remember the solution I'm afraid, but I did find it through the microsoft knowledge base.

It was a bit of a git as I recall, but simple once you know how..

Sorry, that may not help much..

[neil_cardiff]

andyf007 said: Try this

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;287837

It may have some relevance.

Andy

Although this does cure that particluar problem it still dosen't recognise the file.

Ngggghh!

[pdv6]

Another "thinking out loud"-type of reply, but have you tried:
File-->Open-->Personal Folders File
as well as:
File-->Import and Export?

[neil_cardiff]

pdv6 said: Another "thinking out loud"-type of reply, but have you tried:
File-->Open-->Personal Folders File
as well as:
File-->Import and Export?

Yup! Judging by your 'thinking out aloud' responses - I think I might have got a few of you thinking hard there - Thanks

p.s. do your bosses know your'e doing somebody else IT support?!

>> Edited by neil_cardiff on Wednesday 8th January 16:43

[andyf007]

neil_cardiff said:

pdv6 said: Another "thinking out loud"-type of reply, but have you tried:
File-->Open-->Personal Folders File
as well as:
File-->Import and Export?

Yup! Judging by your 'thinking out aloud' responses - I think I might have got a few of you thinking hard there - Thanks

p.s. do your bosses know your'e doing somebody else IT support?!

>> Edited by neil_cardiff on Wednesday 8th January 16:43

Good point, we should be charging you for this.

[pdv6]

neil_cardiff said:p.s. do your bosses know your'e doing somebody else IT support?!

Hmmm. I think I should be submitting a monthly invoice to MrsV6's employers...

[neil_cardiff]

pdv6 said:

neil_cardiff said:p.s. do your bosses know your'e doing somebody else IT support?!

Hmmm. I think I should be submitting a monthly invoice to MrsV6's employers...

My bill is along the lines of:

Call Out - @ £45
1hr min' Charge @ £45
£45 per hour thereafter

I wish...

[andyf007]

OK, I'm thinking that the file probably didn't burn correctly, so you may, sadly, have lost it all. Can you try importing it on another PC somewhere to test this is the case? Any machine running Outlook 2002 would be good, but it may import in Outlook 2000 aswell. How big is it, can you mail a copy to me to try?

Andy