Recovering Outlook Data

[Dundain]

Frustration is the name of the game today. I've been having alot of problems with my system but I've gotten them all fixed. However, the one I'm currently having is how to get my Outlook data back. Here's the system. I have my C: running off a 40Gb Western Digital with a fresh install of Windows XP and Office 2003.

The original hard drive with all my data is now my D:. Its no longer bootable even after attempting to repair the MBR and a chkdsk however I can slave it up and access all my data normally through it. Its a WinXP install with Outlook 2003. That install of Outlook 2003 has all of my data, however, how can I get my data from that install to the new install?

I've tried searching the old drive for PST files but have not been able to find anything. Anyone have any other suggestions for migrating the data off of it?

 

[Kanly]

Well, the .pst file should normally be in
C:\Documents and Settings\Username\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook (or in your case D:\....).

When you did your seach, did you pick More advanced option > search system and hidden files?

 

[Dundain]

Yes, it found two backup PST files I had made back in Dec. but it doesn't find the one typically stored under the application data. Thats why I found it somewhat odd. Outlook isn't doing what its supposed to.

My co-workers said that Outlook doesn't use PST files anymore natively, instead using OST files but from everything I've read and am familiar with thats only when an exchange server is in the enviroment

 

[LemonHerbWRX]

Just do a search for *.pst and *.ost and then add any file you find and see what is in there. I think you friend kind of has it backward though, an ost file is basically for offline files. When you setup outlook with an exchange server it will ask you if you travel with this computer. If you say yes it sets up offline file Synchronization and that is what your ost is for pretty much. Without exchange I don't think outlooks uses ost files at all. You can find an article about it here

 

[Dundain]

I did a search for all the files but still came up with nothing. Any other ideas? Anyone? I'm starting to think its a lost cause but I haven't completely given up hope

 

[LemonHerbWRX]

If you were on an exchange server it would give you a few more options. But if it isn't in any of the archive.pst files or any other pst files then you are pretty much out of luck I think. Unless perhaps you somehow deleted some old PST files, then you could get an undelete utility and see what you could find. That is kind of out there, but there is always the possibility.