How do you move all your messages and settings from MS Outlook on one computer to another?

Answer 1

The good thing about MS Outlook (not Outlook Express) is that it holds all the messages, folders, and hierarchy information in the single .pst file (PST stands for Personal Storage Table). Almost all you need to do is to locate the .pst file on your old machine and copy it to the new one. The steps below show the process: Install Outlook on your new machine and set it up. Find the location of the Outlook.pst file on the new machine. You can use Windows search function from the Start menu. You can also open MS Outlook, click File one the top dropdown menu, click Open, and then choose Outlook Data File. Then click on the arrow next to Outlook and remember or write down the exact location of the Outlook.pst file. Very frequently it may be: C:\Documents and Settings\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook.pst. Determine the location of the old .pst file on the old machine. Save your rules to a file if you use Inbox Rules if you use them. Shut down Outlook on both old and new machines. Copy the old Outlook.pst from the old machine to the new, replacing the new Outlook.pst on the new machine. Import Inbox Rules if you use them. Do not use MS Outlook on the old machine or delete the account settings from the old machine. You obviously want all the new messages to be saved only in the newly set up Outlook.pst file.