If you ever get a new computer or if you install a new version of Outlook you will probably want all of your old emails and files. I will show you how to import that data.
So before you do anything make sure you have your old data file from Outlook. If you still have the old Outlook installed you can go to
File>Account Settings>Account Settings>Data Files
Here you should see a few files usually named “Outlook” and “Archive” you may have multiple of each.
Click on “Outlook” first and select “Open File Location”.
You should see the file selected ending in .pst or .ost.
This file will be located in:
Windows 7 and Windows Vista
drive:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook
Windows XP
drive:\Documents and Settings\user\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook
You will want to save every file you see in this location that ends with the file extension .pst or .ost.
.pst files are you main Outlook files
.ost files are you offline outlook files
Go ahead and either put these files on your Desktop or anywhere you can easily find them next time or, if you are going to a new computer or are reinstalling your Operating System, save them to a thumb drive.
If you are going to a new computer or are reinstalling your Operating System, you can now install the new Outlook.
Once your Outlook is installed and ready to go (all of your server info is entered) you can import your file.
Go to File>Account Settings>Account Settings>Data Files and select add file. Browse to the location where you saved your previous Outlook files and select those. Or you can browse to the following file paths and paste the files manually.
Windows 7 and Windows Vista
drive:\Users\user\AppData\Local \Microsoft \Outlook
Windows XP
drive:\Documents and Settings\user\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook
Then go back to
File>Account Settings>Account Settings>Data Files
And select the files from the previous file location and then add them.
If any of this was confusing or you had trouble doing this you can always bring your computer in to South City Computer and we will be happy to do this for you.