Unable to import contacts saved as pst file

TG Mat · Joined: 25 Feb 2008 Posts: 2

I exported contacts to a pst file from laptop using OL 2003 w-Exchange
Server. Now trying to import to PC with OL2002. Error message tells me "pst
file is not compatible with this version of the personal folders information
server, contact administrator. I am the administrator, I think. Is there
way to correct? I also saved the contacts as an Excel file just in case.
Can I use this instead?

I also have OEv6 on PC, is there a way to import to OE then back to OL if
need be? Cannot get back to original laptop, 2000 miles away.
--
Tankman

Archived from group: microsoft>public>outlook>contacts

Gordon · Joined: 12 Aug 2007 Posts: 152

"TG Mat" wrote in message @microsoft.com...
>I exported contacts to a pst file from laptop using OL 2003 w-Exchange
> Server. Now trying to import to PC with OL2002. Error message tells me
> "pst
> file is not compatible with this version of the personal folders
> information
> server, contact administrator. I am the administrator, I think. Is there
> way to correct? I also saved the contacts as an Excel file just in case.
> Can I use this instead?

Why are you using the import function? just OPEN the pst file in Outlook and
copy the data across. (As posted here on an almost daily basis).
Why not import?
(Courtesy of Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook])

Importing an entire PST may well corrupt your profile and may create a ghost
PST that you can't close. Importing PST's will lose:
1. Custom Forms
2. Custom Views
3. Connections between contacts and activities
4. Received dates on mail
5. Birthdays and anniversaries in calendar
6. Journal connections
7. Distribution Lists

Opening a PST file will preserve all of these. That is why we do not advise
people to import a native file into Outlook.

TG Mat · Joined: 25 Feb 2008 Posts: 2

when I try to open the pst with OL, I get message that "contacts.pst is not
compatible with this version of Personal Folders information service, please
contact your administrator"
--
Tankman

"Gordon" wrote:

> "TG Mat" wrote in message
> @microsoft.com...
> >I exported contacts to a pst file from laptop using OL 2003 w-Exchange
> > Server. Now trying to import to PC with OL2002. Error message tells me
> > "pst
> > file is not compatible with this version of the personal folders
> > information
> > server, contact administrator. I am the administrator, I think. Is there
> > way to correct? I also saved the contacts as an Excel file just in case.
> > Can I use this instead?
>
> Why are you using the import function? just OPEN the pst file in Outlook and
> copy the data across. (As posted here on an almost daily basis).
> Why not import?
> (Courtesy of Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook])
>
> Importing an entire PST may well corrupt your profile and may create a ghost
> PST that you can't close. Importing PST's will lose:
> 1. Custom Forms
> 2. Custom Views
> 3. Connections between contacts and activities
> 4. Received dates on mail
> 5. Birthdays and anniversaries in calendar
> 6. Journal connections
> 7. Distribution Lists
>
> Opening a PST file will preserve all of these. That is why we do not advise
> people to import a native file into Outlook.
>
>
>
>
>

Gordon · Joined: 12 Aug 2007 Posts: 152

"TG Mat" wrote in message @microsoft.com...
> when I try to open the pst with OL, I get message that "contacts.pst is
> not
> compatible with this version of Personal Folders information service,
> please
> contact your administrator"

Copy the pst file to your HDD and remove any Read-Only attribute.

Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlo · Joined: 12 Aug 2007 Posts: 558

Won't help. User created an UNICODE PST file that he is now trying to open
in Outlook 2002. File must first be opened in Outlook 2003, then copied into
an ANSI PST file (aka "Outlook 97-2002" format).
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
"Gordon" wrote in message @TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> "TG Mat" wrote in message
> @microsoft.com...
>> when I try to open the pst with OL, I get message that "contacts.pst is
>> not
>> compatible with this version of Personal Folders information service,
>> please
>> contact your administrator"
>
> Copy the pst file to your HDD and remove any Read-Only attribute.
>

Gordon · Joined: 12 Aug 2007 Posts: 152

"Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]" wrote in message @microsoft.com...
> Won't help. User created an UNICODE PST file that he is now trying to open
> in Outlook 2002. File must first be opened in Outlook 2003, then copied
> into an ANSI PST file (aka "Outlook 97-2002" format).

I assumed the export function would have given the OP a choice - is that not
so?

Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlo · Joined: 12 Aug 2007 Posts: 558

Not so. It never has. One more reason never to use that option.

--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
"Gordon" wrote in message @TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
> "Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]" wrote in message
> @microsoft.com...
>> Won't help. User created an UNICODE PST file that he is now trying to
>> open in Outlook 2002. File must first be opened in Outlook 2003, then
>> copied into an ANSI PST file (aka "Outlook 97-2002" format).
>
> I assumed the export function would have given the OP a choice - is that
> not so?
>

Brian Tillman · Joined: 12 Aug 2007 Posts: 1150

TG Mat wrote:

> I exported contacts to a pst file from laptop using OL 2003 w-Exchange
> Server. Now trying to import to PC with OL2002. Error message tells
> me "pst file is not compatible with this version of the personal
> folders information server, contact administrator. I am the
> administrator, I think. Is there way to correct? I also saved the
> contacts as an Excel file just in case. Can I use this instead?

The problem is that exporting with OL 2003 creates a Unicode PST, which
earlier versions of Outlook cannot read. You must explicitly create an ANSI
(i.e., Outlook 97-2002) PST in Outlook 2003 and then you can export (or,
better yet, copy) your Outlook data to that PST. Go back to the OL 2003
system. The information here will help:
http://www.howto-outlook.com/howto/downgradefromoutlook2003.htm
--
Brian Tillman [MVP-Outlook]

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