Outlook 2002 2gb problem, copy to Outlook 2003 anyway?

BlondeHeadOn

I have just returned from holiday, and the amount of email has taken my Outlook 2002 over the 2gb limit - which I didn't even know it had, but I'm learning fast!

I'm now getting an error message when I try to delete or move anything in my Inbox, but I have managed to delete a load of Spam/unwanted emails using permanant delete (shift-delete). So my .pst file now below 2gb, but still have error message when I try to delete or move anything, and it won't download any more emails (though bizarrely it will send emails, but not then delete them from my Outbox folder....happy days).

However... I am about to move to a different computer this week anyway, which has Outlook 2003 installed and waiting. So I am thinking: can I just copy my (now apparently corrupted) 2002 Outlook.pst and link to it in the 2003 version as normal? Or would I have to do something else instead? I'm not sure how badly corrupted the 2002 .pst file is likely to be.

Does anyone have any helpful suggestions please? All help gratefully accepted...

fwor

I can't recall now if the .pst files for 2000/2002 are compatible with 2003, but I can recall having the same problem of not being able to delete emails.

I would try to fix the corruption first before attempting the move to Outlook 2003. Have you tried the MS guide on fixing .pst problems?

http://office.microsoft.com/en-gb/outlook/HA010563001033.aspx

There are also quite a few other third-party pst repair tools out there, though if given the choice I'd prefer to stick with MS ones.

KathysBoy

Rather than transfer your old 2002 file you would be better to import from it to your new 2003 file. It's an option on the File menu, although you need to know where the file is stored, so you can point to it. you can select what to import, and its quite easy to do.

I have moved my Outlook file to a seperate partition (along with all my other documents etc) so I can see the file size all the time. Occasionally I create a new file and import from the old one (except deleted items, etc) to clean it up and reduce the file size.

PROLIANT

Outlook 2003 can cope with up to a theoretical file size of 16TB.

posted_2

Run scanpst on your pst file, then delete excess stuff and compress it.

BlondeHeadOn

KathysBoy wrote: »

Rather than transfer your old 2002 file you would be better to import from it to your new 2003 file. It's an option on the File menu, although you need to know where the file is stored, so you can point to it. you can select what to import, and its quite easy to do.

I have moved my Outlook file to a seperate partition (along with all my other documents etc) so I can see the file size all the time. Occasionally I create a new file and import from the old one (except deleted items, etc) to clean it up and reduce the file size.

This sounds like as good move, thank you - I will try this.

The good news is that I am not using the new computer for anything yet, so I can try things out and see what works. I haven't yet configured the 2003 Outlook to find my POP server, and I can read emails by directly logging onto my ISP anyway. Thus hopefully gives me some wriggle-room for to trial-and-error.

:T

[Deleted User]

Your answer is here:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/296088

Used this technique dozens of times.

One thing to note is unfortunately you can decide which mails get lost during the truncation and Microsoft being Microsoft thought it was a good idea to trim off the newest mails, not the oldest...

[Deleted User]

posted wrote: »

Run scanpst on your pst file, then delete excess stuff and compress it.

Wrong.

If you run the Inbox Repair Tool (Scanpst.exe), the file does not resolve the problem.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/296088

posted_2

An arrogant correction. Suggest you read the OP's post again, the pst is under 2GB, so doesn't need truncation. I have used the technique dozens of times too, without any data loss. The Microsoft link you posted is a guide to what to do IF scanpst doesn't work.

OP I suggest you copy the pst first before running any tool on it, and fix the corruption before you import.

[Deleted User]

posted wrote: »

OP I suggest you copy the pst first before running any tool on it, and fix the corruption before you import.

It gives you the option to back it up anyway.

prowla

I use multiple pst files with Outlook, so I can separate mails into different categories, and I can swap them across PCs if I choose to.