Create PST Files Using Outlook 2003 or Outlook 2007
Jul 21st, 2008 by MrGroove
Creating .PST files in Microsoft Outlook 2007 and Outlook 2003 is very simple. Because a reader recently asked for help with the task, I figured it deserved a quick How-To Article. Before we dive into “How-To” create .PST files, you might want to quickly review an article I just wrote which explains the WHAT and WHY surrounding the use Microsoft Outlook .PST files also known as Outlook Personal Data Files.
BTW – Although my screen shots and steps were from Outlook 2007, the process for Outlook 2003 is the same except for 1 step.
With that said, let’s get right into it.
How-To Create a PST Using Outlook 2003 or Outlook 2007
1: From Outlook, Click File, New, Outlook Data File…
2: Keep Default Setting - Office Outlook Personal Folders File (.pst) and Click OK
Note: In Step 3, you need to decide where to SAVE the new .PST file. By default, new PST files are saved:
Windows Vista & Windows Server 2008 : C:\Users\MrGroove\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook\
Windows XP: C:\Documents and Settings\MrGroove\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook\
3: Verify location to save PST file, Type File Name for PST file (I organize by Mailbox Name and Year), Click OK
4: In the Name Field, Type Display Name. This is the name which will be displayed in Outlook. Click OK
Note: Optionally, you can also enter a Password here to improve Security. Prior to Outlook 2007, adding a Password to a .PST file was worthless due to a flaw which allowed the Security to be defeated instantly using a number of Security Password Cracking Products no matter how long or complex the password was. I’ve not tested to see if Microsoft fixed this Issue in Outlook 2007 but once I do, I’ll update the article.
5: Once Step 4 is completed, new .PST or Local Personal Data Folder will display in your Navigation Pane as shown in the Screen Snip Below. Expand the Personal Data File you created and Right Click on Personal Data File (MrGroove – 2008 in my example) to begin Creating additional folders, Calendars etc… Drag and Drop also works OR, you can Cut and Paste Emails or Folders of Emails from your Server Mailbox to your new .PST Personal Data Folder. It’s pretty simple.
Pretty straight forward BUT, if you have any questions, comments, etc… Feel free to post here or in our FORUM for help. If your looking for more information on .PST Files or Outlook Data Files, Take a look at my Article http://www.groovypost.com/howto/microsoft/outlook/what-are-outlook-pst-files-and-why-use-them-or-not/. Lot’s of good GROOVY information regarding .PST files and their use.
Tags: outlook 2003, outlook 2007, how-to, .pst, outlook personal folder
This is really a good article .. you just no need to read also … simply you can just follow the arrows and your work will be done …
Great man
Thanks Jagan
great website - Thumbs up to all those who keep this site going!!
Thanks for the info. I am trying to transfer an old Outlook 2003 .pst file from my old desktop to my new Vista laptop. I have been able to create a second .pst file on the new laptop that I can view from the outlook program on my laptop. However I can not figure out how to get the data from the old .pst file to show up in my secondary .pst visible from outlook. When I click File- Open- Outlook Data File, there are 3 files visible. Two of them show-up w/ no file extension and are the two visible psts when I look at Outlook via the user interface. The third file shows up w/ a .pst file extension but does not show up at all via the user interface. This third file is the file that contains all my old data that I am trying to “import”. My goal is to have 2 psts in my new Outlook—one w/ all my data from here forward and one w/ all my data from my old computer that I will use as an archive. Any help on this is appreciated! I thought I could create the new pst on my laptop and copy the .pst data file from my laptop into it. However it is not allowing me to copy into it. Just shows up as the 3rd file. Thanks again.
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