Need Advice with Outlook 2010

[avz10]

The work has recently installed Office 2010 on my laptop as well as Windows 7.

I saved my pst files beforehand and pasted them in the correct folder (C-local disk-users-my name-appl data-local data-microsoft-outlook).

The problems are that when I imported these into Outlook:
I have 2 inboxes
There are no emails in the sent box
I was also thinking of combining all these outlook folders
I have a lot of duplicates of my contacts (this was actually an old problem) (can I use a duplicate finder?)

I attach a screenshot



Thanks for any advice

[dmdougie]

What version of Outlook did you use previously? If needed you can buy a converter to convert older inbox extensions into the newer. Have you tried to import the old .pst files into outlook, or just pasted them into the folder? You WILL need to import them properly to get it to work, simply pasting them won't suffice.

From memory, to import click on the Outlook icon in the uppermost leeft corner. Click on import / export and then choose the type of file to import. In your case, be looking for the option to import .pst's. Then choose the root folder containing the files.

Let me know how you get on.

[avz10]

I used Outlook 2007 in the past. Yes, that was how I imported them- doing the import/export thing.
Apparently there are PST Mergers available, but the price is pretty steep!

[dmdougie]

Yeh I know, though you can run trial versions of the software - they only convert about 20 emails total!

You may not need to use them though. I think I may have been confusing myself with older versions of Outlook migrating to the newer form. Can you follow these instructions and let me know if the problem persists?

[avz10]

Sorry that I responded only today- was away.

What I did was in the tutorial. I only imported.

I went to open;then import; then import from another folder and file; highlighted pst files; then replace duplicates.

I imported all the pst files in this screenshot:



But I still have numerous in boxes. I can access my sent items in one of the sent items folders.





So, these outlook folders are not yet combined and I still have a few in boxes, etc.

Thanks for any advice
I have a lot of duplicates of my contacts

[dmdougie]

Do you still have the .pst files? I would be tempted to do the whole import again, this time choosing the 'No duplicates' rather than the 'replace duplicates'.

[avz10]

My apologies for replying only now! I did not import again, but now I want to fix it, if possible

If I open the outlook file, this is what I see, before today's changes



If I want to export files, these are the two files with all my email (only one email address)



I exported both files to my flash disc- probably heaps of duplicates. This is where the files are presently.



Then I deleted all the files in the Outlook file



And Outlook does not open!



This happened previously as well, and by creating a dummy "outlook.pst" file, Outlook opened.

Now I am stuck!

I only want my one email address with all the Outlook content in it- lately I had to check two inboxes, deleted files, etc.

Please help!!

[dmdougie]

I don't think you needed to delete everything in that folder, just the existing .pst files. It's looking for a .pst file and not finding one. If you have the Outlook disk still, I'd be tempted to uninstall it and reinstall it. Then when you launch it for the first time, setup the email account and then import emails from the .pst you exported previously.

[avz10]

The Office package belongs to our company; they will have a fit!

What about creating a"dummy" pst file- with my email address "avz10...", open outlook and import? But, I'm quite sure I have heaps of duplicates- if I import then, I suppose, go the "do not import duplicates"

Currently my reminder gives me about 10 reminders about one birthday!

[dmdougie]

OK, I've just had to familarise myself with this whole post. I think the problem from multiple inboxes has stemed from the multiple outlook.pst files in the source folder. I think you only need one outlook.pst file and then the one avz10.pst file too.

Why don't you try doing what you suggested in your last post and see if that works at all. I have the feeling you'll have the same problem because the current .pst you have exported contains a snapshot of your mailbox with multiple inboxes. In which case, you'll have to manually delete duplicates...

[dmdougie]

I just installed outlook 2010 on my machine to see what I have in my outlook source folder.



I then went into the folder and removed the Outlook.pst to another folder. I got the same error when I opened outlook saying the outlook.pst couldn't be found. I let it create a new .pst. I then went to the Tools tab and click on Account settings. The email account I had created and synced with outlook before deleting the .pst was still there. I then went to import / export and imported the original .pst from the location I had moved it to. IT worked fine, no duplicates or problems...

[avz10]

Thanks for your trouble.

Just to make sue- I create a "dummy" outlook pst file, and then import everything fro my avz pst file?

Is this correct?

Going to bed now, but let me know

[dmdougie]

When you open Outlook you get the error message saying the Outlook.pst isn't there. Follow the prompts to create a new Personal folder. It prompts you to restart Outlook, and from here import from the avz10.pst you exported in post 7 of this thread.

[avz10]

Hi, this is a long reply!
I imported all my emails:



As expected, there are no email accounts



And only one Outlook file




So I set up an email account:




Here is the account:



But when I go to mail, I again have 2 accounts!!!



My opinion is that if you look at the bottom of the screenshot, the folder is avz..pst.; in stead of outlook and I think this is where the problem is



Also look at my deleted files, my oulook dar file, etc





.

In my ignorance, I think there should only be one Oulook file, but deleting my avz file in the past caused me to loose my email address.

[dmdougie]

i am at work just now but will have a look at mine when I get home. Meanwhile, can you try something for me.

Can you open Outlook and go to Tools > Account settings > Data files tab. Can you make the avz default, exit and open outlook again to see if that worked. If it doesn't, go back to data files and remove the outlook.pst. This will hopefully, just remove the associating of the .pst with the account and not remove it altogether.