Importing Outlook Files to new PC

tonymc

Hi,

Having taken the plunge and bought a new PC, I have managed to get most of the data/files transferred over.

However, I am having problems importing Outlook files.

I have exported them from the old PC and it has generated an outlook.pst file. When it comes to importing them to the new PC, none of the e-mail programmes under File Import will allow me to import.

Can any kind soul take pity on me and advise what I should be doing?

Many thanks.

alanclose

Try file and open

tonymc

Alan,

Thanks for the quick response but no joy. Cannot open the file either from Outlook or within Explorer!!

alanclose

You have tried File - Import- Import from another program or file - Personal Folder File?

If yes and still no luck the only thing I can think of is that the file is still on CD you used to transfer, copy to desktop and try again

tonymc

Alan,

Still no joy - cannot go down the "File - Import- Import from another program or file - Personal Folder File" route (am using Outlook Express) as this option doesn't appear.

Chippy_Minton

Correct me if I'm wrong: you have emails in Outlook Express on your old computer and you want to transfer them to Outlook on your new computer.

As different computers are involved you first have to transfer all .dbx files from OE's Store Folder on the old computer to the new computer and tell OE to use them. From there you can import them into Outlook.

See http://office.microsoft.com/en-gb/outlook/HA010943871033.aspx?pid=CH011031181033 for the steps required.

tawnyowls

Edit: Chippy, if the OP's got a .pst file, then he must be transferring from Microsoft Outlook (the proper program) into Outlook Express (the crappy one.) I do have OE - comes in handy for these sort of questions, and that's about all - and I've checked it, and it does have File -> Import -> Messages, which should work. Assuming the .pst file has been exported properly, obviously.

tonymc, is there any particular reason why you're using OE rather than MO, as presumably you had MO on the previous PC? It would be a lot easier with that, as all you'd have to do is open the .pst file from within MO.

Cypher

It been a while since I have done this as I don;t use Outlook / Outlook Express any more. When I did I just used to copy the whole data store. I always store all my data on Drive D (a seperate, or partitioned HDD) which makes life so much easier for backing up etc.

This assumes you are going from Outlook Express to Outlook Express. Not sure it will work if the version numbers are different so it my be worth upgrading the old one to the same version number first.

On the old computer. If you go into Outlook Express and go to the TOOLS menu. Select OPTIONS, in here go to Maintenance tab and click on Store Folder.

Note down the full path to your store location. You can Cancel and close Outlook Express now.

In Windows Explorer navigate to that folder and copy the folder to a CD or Pen Drive etc so you can move it over to the New PC.

On the New PC, copy the folder into the root of C: Drive (or where every you wish). By default the folder should be called "Outlook Express" You can rename it if you like.

For this explaination I will copy this folder to C:\ and rename it to OEStore
C:\OEStore

Open Outlook Express on the new PC and go to TOOLS / OPTIONS / select Maintenance Tab, and Store Folder.

This time select the option to CHANGE and navigate to your C:\OEStore folder. Click OK. Outlook Express will warn you that it contains files do you want to keep them. Say Yes and you should then be prompted to close OE and on reopening your e-mails should be restored.

I think this should still work, like I say it has been a while since I have done it this way.

I think it is a similar process in Outlook (not 100% sure)

tonymc

Hi,

Apologies for not getting back on sooner. I am actually transferring from OE to OE, but when I exported the mail messages it created a .pst file - apologies if this has caused the confusion.

I have followed Cyphers advice and many thanks, the files have now all been transferred over.

Thanks again.