Importing archived files back into Outlook not working

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scottpush

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Wannabe Geek

#17165 14-Nov-2007 23:01

Hi everyone. I archived my Inbox, Deleted Items, Contacts, and so forth from Outlook. I chose a folder that I made up to put the archived files in. Then backed up this folder and reloaded all the s/w on my crazy computer. Now I can't seem to reload the files back into Outlook. Lost all Contacts, etc. I'm selecting File, Import from another program or file, Personal Folder File, then browsing and choosing the Contacts file I had previously saved, then Select File to Import from. Now this I don't understand. If I browsed and chose the exact folder and file I want to import then why is it re-asking me which folder to import from? And the only two folders are Archived Folders and Deleted Items. Now I'm getting the feeling that I should have saved the Contacts file into the Archived Folders but then how would I have backed them up from there? Thank you Microsoft for making this so user-friendly! Jeesh. Any help would be appreciated. Scott

freitasm

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#95283 15-Nov-2007 05:34

If you archived your folders you should have ended up with a .PST file.

Use File | Open to access the file and you will see its folders. You can then drag and drop the contents of you folders across...

scottpush

7 posts

Wannabe Geek

#95294 15-Nov-2007 07:31

Well, I did a File, Open, Outlook Data File, and chose the file I had archived. I chose Open and nothing happened. I don't see how to drag and drop the files. Only open them.

scottpush

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Wannabe Geek

#95438 16-Nov-2007 06:50

I'm thinking that my archived files are corrupt. I do have previous archived Contact files but still can't figure out how to correctly restore them. I did everything I was told to do but the only thing I don't understand is the 'Select the Folder to Import From' step. What on earth does this mean? I mean if I already selected the file to be imported on the previous step then why is it asking me what folder to import from? Isn't that redundant? Anyhow the folder I want to import the file from is under c:\Scott's Stuff\Outlook Backup. They only give you Contacts\Deleted Files and Contacts\Inbox to import from. Then I was able to finally open a Contacts file but in a new folder. So I renamed that file and moved it to the same folder the original Contacts file is. Now I have 2 Contacts files. I'm unable to merge them in any way. I already downloaded another mail program called IncrediMail. I think I'll eventually start using that once I correct all this Outlook stuff.

freitasm

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#95439 16-Nov-2007 06:52

Do you have it as a .PST file?

scottpush

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Wannabe Geek

#95440 16-Nov-2007 07:00

Yes it is a .pst file but in Explorer it says the type is Office Data File. I think this is the same thing.

freitasm

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#95441 16-Nov-2007 07:04

Have you tried File | Open | Outlook Data File as I suggested in my previous post?

scottpush

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Wannabe Geek

#95448 16-Nov-2007 07:38

Yes, it creates a new Personal Folders in the folders list. Actually in all this chaos I somehow only have an Archived Items folder in the folders list with all the Contacts, Inbox, etc below it.

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#95449 16-Nov-2007 07:40

Exactly... Then you can simply copy and paste the contacts from the Archive folders into your own folders.

scottpush

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Wannabe Geek

#95475 16-Nov-2007 08:50

Ok, thanks for your help. I moved all the sub-folders from Archived Items to Personal Items. How do I close Archived Items? I don't think I need this anymore.

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#95488 16-Nov-2007 10:32

Just right-click Archived and select close.

Also make sure you backup your PST file regularly - and any other files you have.

scottpush

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Wannabe Geek

#95508 16-Nov-2007 12:21

There's not an option for Closing Archived Folders when right clicking but there is an option to close Personal Folders when doing so. It's like the Archived Folders are set to master or something like that.