Problems with Microsoft Outlook

Microsoft Outlook reports that it cannot open the default set of folders. This is a common problem usually caused by Microsoft Outlook having too many Email stored within its database.

COMMENT

Think of it as a glass of beer, when the glass is full, it overflows & you lose some! Microsoft Outlook is designed to work with Microsoft Exchange on a Server, which stores all the Email. If you are running Microsoft Outlook as a standalone to access "Internet Mail" then you may come up against this problem. The Personal folder file (PST) is corrupted.

SOLUTION:

First, in the Windows search box, type *.pst. This will search for outlook's PST files. The one you are looking for is called Outlook.pst. When Windows search finds it, make a not of the directory path where the PST file lives. This PST file is usually in: c:\documents and settings\local settings\application data\microsoft\outlook. Write this path on a piece of paper if you cannot remember it.

Then try running the "Inbox Repair Tool". This program is called SCANPST.EXE

Search for it using Windows search and enter scanpst.exe in the box. When you find it, run the program. It will ask you which file you want to scan. The file is Outlook.pst in the path previously specified.

Scanpst will take a while to coplete, 8 stages need to be completed. If it does not complete and gives errors, then the PSTfile is badly corrupted. In the same folder as Outlook .pst there may be a file called "Archive.pst" - you could try importing this file instead, but you may have to come to terms with the fact that the resulting Personal Folder file will not be up to date.

Another thing to try is to open "Microsoft Outlook Express" then using the "Import" facility, import the corrupt Outlook/pst file into Outlook Express. You may get lucky & get all your Emails back by doing this, but at the worst there will be some missing. Once imported into Outlook Express, close Outlook Express & open Microsoft Outlook. Use the "Import" facility to import from Microsoft Outlook Express into Microsoft Outlook. The import/export process can take a while is the PST file is large, so please be patient. If you do get your Emails & address book back, do some "housekeeping" immediately and get rid of unwanted Emails. Frequent use of the Microsoft Outlook PST export facility is recommended. Exporting the PST file regularly to a memory stick is a very good idea, in case your PC ever breaks down - at least you can get your Email data back.