Microsoft Outlook failure

[Xmod]

MS Microsoft Outlook Version 2000 has failed on me. Virginmedia have checked all is correct and the rest of the Dell computer working perfectly. Outlook express working fine. I have 2 e mail address on the system and one has been a bit troublesome but now both not sending or receiving. Told that £99 to replace MS Outlook. Can anyone give me a steer in right direction to fix. Many thanks in anticipation.

[BOAC]

Failure messages? OS? SP? Outlook SP state? Email settings identical to OE? Do you have the install disk? Have you tried a 'Repair'?

[Xmod]

Yes settings identical now says cannot connect. OE working perfectly. I have office 2000 discs (2) but can I select only outlook from it? Expecting air ticket/holiday booking info so terrified of cocking the whole thing up! Have tried one "repair" but not happy with it as did not know what source and also they wanted money!
If I could delete and reinstall would be great. Also can you tell me how to migrate folders and contents from MS Outlook to OE? all the google hints are the other way around. Please be patient with me!!

[BOAC]

I'm assuming you have been unable to use the OE 'Import'/Messages'?? That offers Outlook as an option.

If so, in the short-term to try and answer the question I think you need to 'double hop' via another email programme but I don't have time to investigate. If you have a Gmail account (its free!) this should help

Export and Backup Emails from Outlook to Gmail Online (http://www.labnol.org/internet/email/export-outlook-email-to-gmail-pst-backup/1938/)

I believe you can also go via Thunderbird and then in OE

Thunderbird - Importing Outlook Emails and Addressbooks (http://support.real-time.com/tbird/outlook_import.html)

If it is a 'Cannot connect' problem it is probably a setting adrift in the Account settings.

but I'm sure one of the experts will have a simple solution.

[Saab Dastard]

I have office 2000 discs (2) but can I select only outlook from it?

Yes - in fact you should be able to use add / remove programs to remove then re-add Outlook.

You should first back up any and all .PST files!

To migrate from Outlook to OE, you first need to Export from Outlook, then Import into OE. There's no way to directly Import a .PST into OE.

How to Export a PST File to Outlook Express | eHow.com (http://www.ehow.com/how_5230265_export-pst-file-outlook-express.html)

SD

[Saab Dastard]

Milo is quite right that Office 2000 .PST files have a hard 2GB limit. Note that this is lifted in Office 2003 and above. Outlook 2010 can have .PST files up to 50GB!

I agree that migrating to OE isn't the optimum solution, but I disagree about the file size - in OE, each folder has it's own .DBX file, whereas in Outlook ALL folders are in a single .PST. Unless all the mail items have been left in the inbox / sent items, it might actually be better!

A better solution is to create additional .PST files and move mail from the default .PST into the new PST - either by folder or groups of folders.

What can I do about Outlook's huge PST? (http://ask-leo.com/what_can_i_do_about_outlooks_huge_pst.html)

SD

[Mike-Bracknell]

"Note that this is lifted in Office 2003 and above"

Thats what Microsoft claim, but in fact I've had to rescue several companies whose Outlook 2003 has run into a 2GB limit
Seems a bit hit and miss as to why, but I've a suspicion that to exceed 2GB the PST file has to be on a server, not local
With 2007 they seem to have got it sorted

My objection to transferring to OE is mainly because that program is so unstable - when you hit the 2GB limit, instead of warning or locking, it will often starting irrecoverably dumping chumps of data

It depends utterly *where* the PST file was originally created, as Outlook 2000 PSTs can be mounted on 2003/2007/2010 etc and be visually identical, but the structure differs under the skin.

You're not advised to put PSTs on any sort of remote storage, as file locking issues cause havoc with database integrity.

OE is a bag-o-sh1t3.

:)

[BOAC]

xmod - still trying to keep this fairly simple for you. Can you tell me EXACTLY what the failure message is word for word - there is often a number attached.

[Mike-Bracknell]

and yet if you want centralised backup, you need the users PST files to be on one central server.............you just can't win

Of course you can win. You use MS Exchange rather than pikey POP3/IMAP, ban PSTs via policy, and ensure proper sync of the OST.

[Xmod]

:DMany many thanks to all especially BOAC. Sorted problem which was an input error by virginmedia whilst fixing!!

[Mike-Bracknell]

Mike
thats all very well for a big company, but for a small business, running Exchange Server is simply an unwanted cost
I guess you could try a Linux box running Zimbra instead, but how many companies have the inhouse expertise to do that?

The only safe way would be to use a hosted mail server "in the cloud" (I hate that term so much), but even thats an extra cost, and you lose control of your data

SBS isn't that much of a cost (although you'd better get in quick!).

Alternatively, for individuals I sell hosted Exchange accounts (and I too hate the phrase and also the marketing-led general trend to "the cloud" which is making my job considerably harder selling IT support to people who think "The Cloud" negates their computers failing).

[Mike-Bracknell]

didn't realise SBS was still available - thought I'd read somewhere it had been killed off
memory must be going...

It's being killed off but it's not dead yet. Anyway, SBS Essentials will remain alongside Office365.