Outlook 2007 pst files acting strangely

[pst]

I have the wierdest thing going with Outlook 2007 after using the Win7 File Transfer Program to migrate my old XP notebook docs & settings to a new Win 7 unit.

It appears to have 'virtualised' my two IMAP Accounts in so much as that while the pst files are in the right place > C:\Users\Me\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook they do not appear in the usual places within Outlook.

I can't make changes in Tools/Options/Mail Setup/Data Files.../Data Files (tab) because there are no pst files listed.

In Define Send/Receive Groups (Ctrl+Alt+S) there is also nothing to change!

If I delete the pst files, they simply reappear when Outlook is started. If I delete ANY pst registry entry, it simply reappears when Outlook is started.

The only other files present are the .obi and .dat and a personal folder pst whic I need to keep (and also seems to be 'virtual')

This really has me stumped. I have been looking through the forum for the last few hours and there doesn't appear to be a similar problem.

Thoughts anyone? TIA.

 

[Darryl Licht]

Welcome to the forums pst! Sorry to hear you are having pst issues!

To help please tell us what version of win7 you have, 32 or 64 bit, and where did you get it?

 

[pst]

Thanks for looking. I have preloaded 64b Win7 and I have a boxed retail copy of Outlook 2007. My Win XP Pro was boxed as well. I am going nuts with this, it's so frustrating and I blame WET for it. I have a query in with M$ but they're now a day late with a reply - so maybe they can't replicate the issue. If I solve this or M$ works it out, I'll be sure to post again.

 

[pst]

neglected to mention that my email does work, just can't change the accounts ... go figure

 

[pst]

WET pst issue solved

Problem solved. WET is not perfect and muxes the registry - duh. The traditional and obvious method of controlling pst files does not work. You have to choose Mail (32 bit) from the control panel and delete [IMAP] accounts from there - everything's visible, that's not visible in the usual way. You'll have a sorry ass if you insist on POP3 but if you don't have your own domain or your ISP doesn't allow IMAP then that's the way of the world.

If you have a boxed version of M$ software ... and who doesn't? ... then M$ Australia offers free phone support ... who'd 'a' thought?! I've owned Outlook 2007 since it first came out and didn't think I have a dingo's chance at Ayers Rock for free support. I knew more than the guy on initial email support but he was a bring, pink, yellow dude (it's an oldy but a goody). The phone guy was excellent but still answered me from the sub-continent. Anyway, I hope there're enough key words here to help someone else on a pst error search

 

[tw33k]

I have the wierdest thing going with Outlook 2007 after using the Win7 File Transfer Program to migrate my old XP notebook docs & settings to a new Win 7 unit.

It appears to have 'virtualised' my two IMAP Accounts in so much as that while the pst files are in the right place > C:\Users\Me\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook they do not appear in the usual places within Outlook.

I can't make changes in Tools/Options/Mail Setup/Data Files.../Data Files (tab) because there are no pst files listed.

In Define Send/Receive Groups (Ctrl+Alt+S) there is also nothing to change!

If I delete the pst files, they simply reappear when Outlook is started. If I delete ANY pst registry entry, it simply reappears when Outlook is started.

The only other files present are the .obi and .dat and a personal folder pst whic I need to keep (and also seems to be 'virtual')

This really has me stumped. I have been looking through the forum for the last few hours and there doesn't appear to be a similar problem.

Thoughts anyone? TIA.

This is sooo weird! I fought with this exact problem at work today setting up a new secure imap account. Took me almost 2 hours to figure it out.

 

[CarlTR6]

Thanks for posting the solution. I'm glad you got it ironed out.

 

[Darryl Licht]

Problem solved. WET is not perfect and muxes the registry - duh. The traditional and obvious method of controlling pst files does not work. You have to choose Mail (32 bit) from the control panel and delete [IMAP] accounts from there - everything's visible, that's not visible in the usual way. You'll have a sorry ass if you insist on POP3 but if you don't have your own domain or your ISP doesn't allow IMAP then that's the way of the world.

Did the phone support person tell you that Windows Easy Transfer (WET) was the problem? I have now used it a total of a dozen times and I have had no Outlook 2007 issuses. Ive used it for XP to 7 xfers and Vista to 7 xfers.

I'm sorry you had the issue, but glad you've solved it. Your solution isnt too clear to me... can you give more details on how you solved it? Was it just a case of deleting the mail account, then creating a new one and pointing it to the old pst file?

Also, just for anyone else who may have this issue, you can open the Mail Settings dialog box EITHER by going through control panel --> mail

OR

Directly through Outlook 2007 by clicking on Tools --> Options.

*HINT* In some Outlook installs the menu bar is hidden by default, hit the Alt key and.... poof there it is.