.OST file problem

Question

My pc died, but I had saved my .ost file. I wasn't able to export my contacts from outlook. I use Gmail with imap settings. I installed Outlook 2021 on the new pc and connected to my gmail account and all the mail was downloaded. Now I'm unable to swap the old .ost file with the newly created one to export my contacts and import to outlook.

Is there anyway I can extract my contacts from the original .ost file and import to outlook?

Or is there anyway to change the .ost file to .pst, then I can load the .pst file in outlook to export the contacts and import them to the new .ost file within outlook?

Thank you.

michaelbfoxman · Answer

kelvinmarkus&nbsp;Thank you for responding. However, a new ost file was created when I loaded Outlook 2021 and connected to my gmail account.&nbsp; All my mail downloaded at that time.&nbsp; I closed outlook, moved the new ost file to another location and put the old ost file in it's place.&nbsp; When I launched outlook, it gave an error to the effect that it could not connect the ost file to gmail since the ost file was configured to a different account. I tried various things to get around this to no avail.Hence, I'm stuck without anyway to open the original ost file and export my contacts.

michaelbfoxman · Answer

Hal_Hostetler&nbsp;Hal, I bought a converter which successfully extracted my contacts to a .pst.&nbsp; However, when I go to add the .pst via File, Account Settings, Data Files, Add, I get this error when selecting Outlook data file (.pst):&nbsp;&nbsp;An unknown error occurred, error code: 0x80070002.&nbsp; I can't get past that to even select my pst file.&nbsp; I did a full repair on Office 2021 and continue to get the same error. Researching that error did not yield any usable solutions.&nbsp;&nbsp;At this point, I'm stumped.

hal_hostetler · Answer

michaelbfoxman&nbsp;
That error often means there is an issue with the .PST file. Have you tried running the Inbox Repair Tool (Scanpst.exe) on the .PST file? Instructions are here:
Using the Inbox Repair Tool (scanpst.exe)
More info on the error is here:
An Unknown Error Occurred Error Code 0x80070002 in Outlook

michaelbfoxman · Answer

I get that error when I get to the New Outlook Data file window box. I then highlight Outlook data file (.pst). As soon as you click Ok, the error comes up. You don't even get a chance to browse to your data file. The same error pops up when you select iCloud from the window. Truly bizarre.

michaelbfoxman · Answer

Hal, I resolved the problem. Instead of trying to add a data file, instead I did a file import. That brought in the whole pst so I simply opened the contacts, copied and pasted them to the correct contacts for my mailbox and all is now right with the world. What a time consuming effort. Thanks again to you and others who responded. Be well.

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.OST file problem

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