[RESOLVED] PST conversion dilema - Outlook03 to Outlook2K

[^dAvEy^]

Greetings - Just when I thought I was beng so clever, I got myself in a pickle...
Before leaving finishing up a practicum, I made a PST backup file from Outlook03 onsite, but I run Outlook2K at home and don't know how to convert the file <which is necessary to do in order to import to O2K> without using Oulook03, which I don't have access to. I need the PST files for content of a presentation I still have to do for the practicum. Any ideas?
Thanks.

[Steve R Jones]

Going backwards in versions usually doesn't work...Data in new 2003 fields don't have anywhere to go....Have you tried to import? Could also try to import into Outlook Express.

[^dAvEy^]

Have you tried to import?

Could also try to import into Outlook Express.

Hi Steve - thanks for the input.
Yes, I've tried both and no-joy.
From what I'm experiencing and from my research thus far, all Outlook versions earlier than Outlook03 have backward compatible PST file versions. The workaround solution I've come across so far is to save the PST backup, within Outlook03, as an earlier PST version. That's a simple process, but not an option for me unless I maybe find and temporarily install a trial version of Outlook03 in order to make the conversion. I was hoping to find an easier means. I was going to maybe try making the conversion at school, but the PC's there don't run Outlook at all and classmates, etc don't run Office/Outlook03 or later. I invite further suggestions and will be sure to post results – hopefully successful ones!

[^dAvEy^]

I managed to find a pc running O03 at school and did the following:
- Created a new 97-2002 version pst file and saved to my usb flash drive
- opended my O03 PST file from my usb flash drive
- dragged and dropped all folders and files from O03 folder to new 97-2002 folder
- closed and exited Outlook
- remembered to remove and keep my usb flash drive
- at home, copied new 97-2002 PST file from usb flash drive to where the rest of Outlook's PST folders sit (just to keep things tidy, so searched for *.pst)
- Opened Outlook2K and opened new 97-2002 PST file from the harddrive...
AND Bob's your uncle!!

ALTERNATE METHOD:
As mentioned, I'd considered downloading a trial version of Outlook03 and I found in my searching that somebody apparently had that work fine too, but what a heck of a job to uninstall your whole office suite, download and install the Office03 trial suite, and then reverse the whole process (if, of course, one did not choose to buy the Office03 suite ).

[samazar]

Congratulations for elegant solution.
Just to make it easier:
to start, click on "File New", then select "Outlook Data File" ...

[^dAvEy^]

Congratulations for elegant solution.
Just to make it easier:
to start, click on "File New", then select "Outlook Data File" ...

Thanks for that, samazar...
I blelieve that that is what I did, but with what I'd outlined above, I would have been more thurough to include that piece, for sure.

Another important point I think I missed, and I'm not even sure where I found this info at the moment, but given the current MS directions for this, it stands to reason that it is NOT recommended that one try to simply take an existing open O03 or O07 pst file and try to "Save as" an earlier version....best to make the new earlier pst version first and then drag & drop files and folders to it as indicated.

Also, with this info and VDr archives in mind, and since there's updated info from MS on this that now includes working with the Outlook 2007 program and pst files, I'll quote ms here and add a link to the Knowlege Base page - here's the info from MS KB830336:

If you want to access an Outlook 2007 or Outlook 2003 .pst file from a different computer that has an earlier version of Outlook installed, or if you installed Outlook 2007 or Outlook 2003 and have decided to remove it and to use Outlook 2002 or earlier, you must change your .pst file back to an ANSI format. To do so, follow these steps:
1. Start Outlook 2007 or Outlook 2003.
2. On the File menu, click Data File Management, and then click Add.
3. Click Outlook 97-2002 Personal Folders File (PST).
4. Click OK.
5. Name the .pst file, or click OK to accept the default name.
6. Click OK.
7. Click Close.
8. Click Folder List at the bottom of the navigation pane.
9. In the navigation pane, you will now see your new .pst file that you named in step 5.
10. Drag the .pst file information from your existing Outlook 2007 or Outlook 2003 folders to the new .pst file that you created.

cheers!

[samazar]

This is a very good & reliable info
Thanks