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To move a Personal Folders .pst file

 You can't rename or move a Personal Folders .pst file while Microsoft Outlook or Exchange/Windows Messaging is running or through the properties for the PST file in either Tools | Services or Outlook Today. 

Find the current location of the PST by looking at the properties for Personal Folders in Tools | Services or for, Outlook 98/2000 in Internet Mail Only mode, in the properties for Outlook Today. Then, follow these steps:

  1. Use File | Exit (Exit and Log Off in Outlook 97 or Outlook 98/2000 in Corporate/Workgroup mode or Outlook 2003/2007) to quit Outlook.
  2. Move the file to the new location. (You can also use this technique to rename the file.)
  3. Restart Outlook. When you're prompted for the location of the now-missing PST file, point to the file in its new location.

This technique also works for moving or renaming a Personal Address Book .pab file.

If you are moving a .pst file to a different machine that is running Outlook, see:

  • Moving Outlook .pst files to a new Outlook machine
    •

    Note: this method only works with POP3 or standalone PST files. See How to move the IMAP personal folder (*.pst) if you need to move an IMAP or SharePoint PST files. Files used by the Outlook Connector cannot be moved.

    Notes | More Information

    Notes

    		 If you try to locate a PST file with Start | Find on a Windows 2000 or XP system, you need to be aware that Windows 2000 treats PST files as hidden files. In Windows Explorer, use Tools | Folder Options | View to make sure that hidden files are shown.

    Moving the file may cause both Outlook Bar shortcuts to be regenerated. You should also check your Rules Wizard rules to make sure they're still moving data into the right folders. 
    Back to Top

     

    More Information
  • How to move the IMAP personal folder (*.pst)
  • Outlook & Exchange-Windows Messaging Backup and Dual-Boot
  • Housekeeping and Message Management Tools
  • Modify Outlook Folder Settings -- Kixtart script to move PST and PAB files from, say a user's C: drive to their server home folder.
  • OL2000 (CW) How to Move Your Personal Folders File to a Network Server
  • OL2002 How to Move Your Personal Folders
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    Updated Feb 25 2009
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