Outlook Problem

Discussion in 'Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS), Office 365' started by tripwire45, Oct 27, 2003.

  1. tripwire45
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    tripwire45 Zettabyte Poster

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    We've got a user who, when he tries to open his contacts in Outlook, gets an error message saying that the folder he's trying to access has either moved or been deleted. This guy really wants to have his contacts back and says that the tech I'm temporarily replacing fixed this for him once before.

    One of the server guys just moved all the e-mail acccounts from one Exchange server to another. Most accounts moved ok but there were a few that were a problem. He says that I'll probably have to blow away Outlook on his computer and reinstall it. Like most people, he's got a lot of e-mails on his hard drive he'd like to save. So, where does he save them so that he can restore them later?

    Also, given the problem, does this sound like the "solution of choice"?
     
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  2. Cartman

    Cartman Byte Poster

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    Hi,

    I used to use Outlook hooked to an Exchange Server at my old job - certainly not claiming to be an expert, but did help a few colleagues out from time to time when they moved desks and needed to re-establish connection to the Exchange server - aren't all the mails and contact lists held centrally on the server?
     
  3. Jakamoko
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    Jakamoko On the move again ...

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    Before I say a word, I confess I'm completely shooting in the dark on this one ...

    But last week, I was toasting w2kPro to reinstall w2k Server, and use Outlook (just on the local machine - no Exchange stuff happening yet)

    I HAD to maintain my contacts, so used the Import/Exort facility within Outlook to Export my Contacts and Personal Folders into a .pst file, which I then held on floppy ( :oops: ) until Outlook was back up on the new Server install.

    My point, Trip, being that this User's Contacts must reside somewhere in a .pst file, and when you say a tech has just moved all accounts from one Server to another, would it be too simplistic to suggest doing a search for the %username%.pst file on that new Server ?

    Once again, I know next to zip about this, so ignore this post as you see fit.
     
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  4. tripwire45
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    tripwire45 Zettabyte Poster

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    I got on the mail server (the blessings of having admin privledges) and can find the user by searching active directory. Couldn't find a place to search for a specific file/folder. I opened up something called :

    \\servername\EXMERGEDATA and a file with the users name came up. I tried to open it and got a box saying I'm trying to open a .pst file and do I really want to do it? It also wants to know what program I want to open it with. Wassup? His was the only file in EXMERGEDATA.
     
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  5. Jakamoko
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    Jakamoko On the move again ...

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    If you can get to that stage, Trip - can you then go to the User's machine, then use Import/Export from within Outlook and point it to the \\servername\EXMERGEDATA share, and locate that User's .pst file ?

    I don't think I explained too well earlier ... keep us posted - is this live as we speak ?
     
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  6. tripwire45
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    tripwire45 Zettabyte Poster

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    Probably be into tomorrow at least before I can get to it. I was bushwacked here at City Hall and haven't had a chance to get out.
     
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  7. tripwire45
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    tripwire45 Zettabyte Poster

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    Rather than try the search once out at the user's site, I tried it on my own pc with interesting results. I first searched "*.pst" and came up with:

    anotherusername (nobody associated with the computer I use) in the C:\PCE folder
    Absence in the C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office folder

    and that's it.

    I tried searching under mylastnamefirstinitial.pst
    and %username%.pst

    but came up with no results

    I also tried searching in the "A word or phrase in the file" field but came up with no results. I certainly didn't come across anything with my name on it. I just went to the start button, clicked "search" and did what I do to find any file.

    Now, it did say it's not searching for hidden files so I went into "advanced" and clicked on the checkbox that will cause a search of those files. A bunch of other stuff started coming up with titles like:

    Outlook (came up twice...once in the administrator's profile and once for that one guy's name in his profile)
    Outlook1 (in that guy's name profile)
    archive (in the gal I'm replacing's profile)
    archive1 (same)
    the first two folders I'd mentioned before came up
    and that's it.

    So, since opening these things up seems to be a bit of a chore, how do I tell which one I want to save since none are mine. I am logged on as myself and I do have an Outlook account. Oh..."abscence" comes up in blue text.
     
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  8. Jakamoko
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    Jakamoko On the move again ...

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    This was what I meant by logging on at the User's machine, as the User.

    Then, open Outlook, and from File>Import/Export, search for the related .pst file on the "new" Server.

    If this blindingly obvious, please tell me so, but I think we're heading in the right direction, Trip :)
     
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  9. tripwire45
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    tripwire45 Zettabyte Poster

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    Please, I appreciate your being "blindingly obvious" as I am massively dense. :lol: Thanks, Gav.
     
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  10. Phil
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    Phil Gigabyte Poster

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    Trip,

    If the user is an exchange user his mail should be held on the exchange server not in a file on the PC, the data on the server wouldn't normally by in PST format, Exemerge is a utility used to migrate accounts. It's possible they've created a set of personal folders and moved mail to that which would be held locally. If you want to make sure you have the data before zapping the PC then load outlook, select the folder where the email/contacts/calendar is, go to file - Import and export, select export to a file, select personal folder file (.pst) then follow the wizard. You'll end up with a pst file which you specified in the wizard. You may need to do that several times to get all the data depending how you export the folders. Put all the pst's ina safe location while you zap the PC then follow the same wizard to import the data if you find the Exchange Server really hasn't stored the Data.
     
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  11. tripwire45
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    tripwire45 Zettabyte Poster

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    Ok, I tried this on my work PC to see what would happen. I opened outlook, selected the "contacts" folder and followed your instructions. I didn't see an option as to where I could send the contacts and they ended up being named "backup" and stored in

    C:\\Documents and Settings\myusename\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook.

    Of course, I didn't have anything actually stored there myself so there's nothing to get lost.

    If I understand what you're saying at this point, I could blow away and reinstall Outlook then (somehow) import the backup.pst file back into the user's contacts and all would be right with the world. Is that right?

    EDIT: Well, I selected my contacts folder (I decided not to get carried away with the lab and didn't blow away and reinstall Outlook on my machine) from file, I selected import/export...but there doesn't seem to be a way to reach out to my backup file (tho there must be). The Import and Export Wizard opens but gives me a limited number of options. The only two that seem half likely (and neither works) is 'Import Internet Mail Account Settings" and " Import Internet Mail and Addresses". Guess I really am a blockhead. What's next?
     
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  12. Jakamoko
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    Jakamoko On the move again ...

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    Thats the one we're after, Trip - if you can select it, then it will reload all folders and contacts you chose to export in the first place. I think ....
     
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  13. Phil
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    Phil Gigabyte Poster

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    Sorry Gav, I don't think you're right. To import your PST what you need to do is go to file - Import/Export, select "from another program or file" and click next, select personal folder file (pst) from the list of file types then click next, the next page on the wizard should be where you tell it where to find your pst, next select where you want the import to go.

    HTH
     
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  14. Jakamoko
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    Jakamoko On the move again ...

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    No probs , Phil - I did chuck in a disclaimer when I first posted on this one :oops:

    I'm clearly missing the point, tho', as I'm sure that what I did last week (ie Export my Contacts and Personal Folders to a .pst file, then send that to Floppy, then Import back from there from within the "new" Outlook) is broadly similar to what we're saying here, isn't it ?

    I'm quite willing to believe I'm barking up the monkey tree here, but I would like to know where I'm going wrong, for personal reference, so if you can be bothered to bash my head against the wall, I'll be grateful :)

    And besides, I still make a great Chilli !!! :chef :P
     
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  15. tripwire45
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    tripwire45 Zettabyte Poster

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    Ok Phil, it's beginning to make sense. I created a contact in my contact's folder and did the export to a file thing. I chose a .pst file in the wizard and hit next. I selected my contacts folder to export from...next. I saved it in the same backup folder I created earlier in my profile, allowing duplicates to be created and hit finish. I was surprised to see that my contact was still in my contacts folder. I assumed that if it was "exported", it would be gone.

    Ok, now for the reverse. Import from another program or file. I chose the .pst file. Chose the same backup folder and allowed duplicates to be created. For "select the folder to import items from", I'm only allowed Personal Folders with sub-folders "contacts" or "deleted items". "Include subfolders" is checked and "Import items into the same folder in "Mailbox - myname" is selected. Other options are "personal folders and "public folders. Finish. Now there are three contacts for me in the contacts folder. Something worked but, was it the right thing?
     
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  16. AJ

    AJ 01000001 01100100 01101101 01101001 01101110 Administrator

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    Just for info here folks

    At the school I work at the Director od IT refuses to pay Uncle Bill a lot of money for exchange, so we are forced to use a nasty app called CommuniGate made by Stalker (I hadn't heard of it either). It runs on a Linux box. This mail app normally runs through a web based front end for the students. The teachers use email like this as well however some of them like to use Outlook Express. This is were it gets messy, as no-one is allowed to have access to the local drive (group policy), so as all users are given a roaming profile this is a problem. We have found that Outlook Express have to be set up as an IMAP user as OE stores its folders in your profile and if you use POP mail the folders will stay in the local profile and will be transfered when the user logs off.

    Some of use, who are allowed, do use Outlook. This is a lot easier as when you set up the account in Outlook you can choose where the personal folders are stored. For us this will be in the users home folders which is mapped (H:\) using a logon script.

    Anyway, enough of my drivel. I'm sure that this has not helped but info for another time.

    TTFN

    Andrew
     
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  17. Phil
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    Phil Gigabyte Poster

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    I think you've got it Trip, the reason you have 3 contacts now is because when you tried to back up the contacts folder this time it appended to the original PST you created, you allowed duplicates to be created, so that file now has to contacts exactly the same. When you imported you again allowed duplicates so the import threw the pst file with two contacts into the contacts folder with a contact already there, so giving you three contacts at the end of the process.

    Gav, we are talking about the same thing, the only part I disagreed with you about was when you said to import the pst file using the Import Internet Mail and Addresses option. This will migrate data from an existing mail application on the PC into outlook. Of course, if this also imports pst files then I'll be the one going :oops: :)

    Andrew, how do you get round the OE wanting to save to the local drive issue for those users who can't use outlook?
     
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  18. Jakamoko
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    Jakamoko On the move again ...

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    Ermm, I hate to say this, Phil, but I'm afraid it does, as I imported direct from the file on my floppy - nowt else was set up in either Outlook or OE.

    Still, this was a good learning curve for me, so I'm happy :thumbleft
     
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  19. Phil
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    Phil Gigabyte Poster

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    :tomato oh well, live and learn :D
     
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  20. Jakamoko
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    Jakamoko On the move again ...

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    Pheew - I'm glad that went OK - I feared a small flame-war starting off there :frman

    Yeah, right !!! :croc :P
     
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