Cannot get Outlook to set up in a single data file.

[musiclover7]

No matter how I try on this machine, I wind up with 2 separate data files, one called personal folders, and one labeled after my email accnt. This is frustrating.. I also cannot make my email data file primary. The option is greyed out. So I wipe my profile, rename all the data files to end with the .old extension, refire Outook, enter my accnt details, and then wind up somehow in the same mess. Please help me find the solution.. Thanks in advance..!!

 

[Disk4mat]

I had that problem once when I set up an IMAP account. I did manage to fix it but it was a real pain. Here is what I did...

While Outlook was closed I deleted the personal folders pst. Then in regedit I navigated to: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\12.0\Outlook\Catalog

and deleted the key that went with that pst file. Started up oulook and it complained it couldnt find the file and to browse for/open a pst file to use. I pointed it to the new account I created (in your case the one with the email address in the file name) and it loaded.

Then I had to cleanup the mess left behind from that. Set my prefered account as the default and goto Data Files tab (within accounts) to cleanup file paths that were obsolete.

After restarting outlook again, all was well and as it should be. I dont reccomend this method since it requires so much effort. I'll see if there is a better way to work around the problem.

 

[musiclover7]

Well.. after following those steps, I somehow wound up with two folder trees, both pointing to the exact same .pst. I tried to set one as default, but the option does not exist, and I cannot remove the other, so I am left with both.. Any idea how to get rid of the second.. thanks for the help so far. Would not have found that registry key without assistance..

 

[musiclover7]

The thing is, Even if I delete all profiles, data files, and reinstall outlook. It comes up, I create the new profile, then add my settings, and then wind up with 2 mail folders. One labled after my email, the other called personal folders. In the mail control panel>data files area, I am unable to make my email data file the default, nor can I remove the default file, that is currently serving no purpose. Very perplexing indeed. You are right though, it is an IMAP mail file..

 

[Disk4mat]

The way to remove the duplicate folder tree is to goto the Accounts dialog. Then click on the data tab. There you should see two entries for what would be the same PST file. Remove teh second one and restart Outlook.

The remaining PST file in the data tab will then be the default. Since no other will remain.

 

[musiclover7]

I tried that before as well.. Unfortunately, I cannot remove either data file.. One cannot be removed because it is default. The other cannot be removed because it states it is tied to an email account. This second, unfortunately for some reason, cannot be made default. The only way to delete it is to delete the email account settings. Then when I add them again, I wind up in the same situation..

 

[Disk4mat]

Thats good to know but it dosent help you any I realize. The only difference so far I see between what I did and what you did is that I have an additional POP email account.

Do both data files (which are teh same) appear in the registry under the catalog key? If so, remove one of them. Since both point to the same file it wont matter which one.

 

[musiclover7]

No good.. It just brings it back.. What I really need, is a way to set the actual email folder as "Default". Is there a registry setting that will allow or that? I cannot do it in the data files, because for some reason the option is greyed out.. Outlook seems to not want to open without a default folder, so it creates one every time the program opens.. Thanks for sticking with me on this.. I think getting the mail folder to default, would solve this one.. just no idea how to make that happen..

 

[Disk4mat]

Your welcome! I'll poke around today and see what I can come up with. Im sure there is a way to set it as the default folder. I'll resetup my IMAP acct and try to better retrace my steps. I must have forgot a step some where along the way.

 

[musiclover7]

I guess another possibility would be to completely remove Outlook, and start over.. but I mean completely remove outlook. I recall the first time I logged into outlook, I chose not to set up my email accnt right away.. Instead, I first tried to import my data files that were previously backed up. Then, when I set up my email accnt, it came up as a separate data file.. I have been stuck in this predicament ever since. I tried uninstalling, reinstalling, but it came up with the same thing. Somehow, I think if I could fully wipe the slate clean, and bring it up that first time, input my accnt info, and then import my old data files into my current default data file which was also my email accnt.. I would be good.. Any thoughts on how to do this?

 

[Disk4mat]

The only problem is when you create your account, before you have the chance to import anything... The personal folders pst will be created. Thats more or less where you were in the begining.

With the exception that you can change the pst file thats created (with your email address) to point to a different pst.

Which it occured to me. Looking at my first post, what about changing the email address pst to point to personal folders.pst? At least then you would have a single file. I can rework the procedure if you like.

 

[musiclover7]

In 2007, it does not give me the option to pnt the email address to a different pst. I wish it did, but I do not see that option..

 

[Disk4mat]

We can accomplish that using the same method in my first post. Just using diff file names...

While Outlook is closed delete (rename) the pst file with your email address. Open regedit and navigate to: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\12.0\Outlook\Catalog

Deleted the key that corresponds with the pst file (email address). Start Oulook and it will tell you it couldnt find the file and to browse for/open a pst file to use.

Browse/choose either the personal folders pst or another pst file that you would like to use.

In the email accounts, data files tab you can remove any obsolete pst files.

 

[musiclover7]

Unbelievably, I still cannot get this to work. If I follow those last instructions to the wrote, it simply comes up and creates a brand new pst file every time for my email address, and the other default pst also shows.. I tried uninstalling microsoft office completely using online instructions, and am getting the same results.. I am completely at a loss.

 

[musiclover7]

What I need is a way to backend change the default pst file so that I can make my email file the default, then delete the non-default empty pst that I cannot currently get rid of..

 

[Disk4mat]

This problem has proved to be a real challenge. I was hoping that of all the users on this forum someone might have more insight than myself. I keep thinking I am over looking something.

But I have not given up yet. Still searching and testing.

 

[boardmonkey]

This is expected behaviour. I recently built a machine for someone who likes to use Outlook and I was also confused for a while. The IMAP pst is really only a cache for the server data. The personal folders pst is where contacts are stored permanently.

Outlook Tips : Tip 558: Move an IMAP *.PST is a useful reference.

 

[musiclover7]

Yes but is there a way to make an IMAP pst the default mail folder in Outlook?

 

[boardmonkey]

Having chased the same objective recently I'm not sure you can. I gave up as I realised it's only a user education issue.

 

[musiclover7]

The only thing is, it used to be possible, at least in XP running Office 2007. In other words, she used to have this capability, but now in Windows 7, for the life of me I cannot get her IMAP file to be default.. Not sure what would be different in 7. I run gmail which I understand is IMAP, and have no problems running it with Outlook in Windows 7 in just 1 default folder... This problem may be specific to AOL.. I do not know..