Hi Russ,
Ok, now I'm in real panic mode. I created a new profile by going to control
panel/mail I added the new profile, recreated the email, and when I got to
the step to go back and edit e-mail accounts, I clicked on "new outlook data
file" and found my OLD PST file and clicked it. I wasn't sure which format to
choose, Outlook 2003 or the one for versions of 97-2002. Originally my PST
was from Outlook 2000 and I don't know if it still is being that I have been
using it in Outlook 2003. Anyway, I checked to be sure the mail was being
delivered to the correct PST. I opened outlook and I still have 2 personal
profiles but at least now they are different. I know from everything I read
not to use the import/export so I tried to figure out how to copy the data
from the old personal folder into the new one. I started with the calendar
and it did copy the calendar but it created a subfolder under the calendar.
When I did the inbox, since it is relatively new I just selected all emails
in the inbox, then copied them into the new inbox. Now here is where I'm
afraid I did this wrong: I want to copy my journal entries and be sure that
my contacts move over WITH all the journal entries attached to them. I don't
want another sub-folder and know there has to be a way to do this properly
without all the subfolders. I want to then be able to close the unused
personal folder and be sure that no incoming mail is going to it.
I realize you do this hundreds of times a year (month even) but I honestly
have been working on this now for the past 3 hours or so and I am completely
frustrated. I do have a backup of the PST file that I started out with this
morning in case I have to undo and redo everything.
Thanks again.
"sparklinbluiz" wrote:

Hi Russ,

I appreciate your help and I understand that there have been previous posts,
I just spent the past hour trying to search for a post that is appropriate
and am a bit frustrated. I am afraid to use instructions for a version other
than what I am using (2003) and have not found how to create a new PST File
and migrate the data. I'm also a bit confused about your reply: If I create a
new PST file and figure out how to migrate the data properly, why would I
then set my previous PST file as default? Will this also remove the duplicate
folder tree which I assume is what you refer to as the ghost I created?
Thanks

"Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]" wrote:

Importing PST files will create a ghost. Your only fix is to create a new
profile and migrate the data properly: Open your previous PST file and set
it as your default. Documented in countless posts here.

--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
"sparklinbluiz" wrote in message
...
Hmmm..honestly, I can't remember if I used the "import pst" or if I just
placed the .pst from my old computer into the outlook folder where it
usually
resides. Hadn't thought about it until your post, could that be it? The
only
thing I did from Outlook Express was to export the emails that were
addressed
to my business email address and put them into Outlook. I've set up some
new
folders in my contacts recently but I have them in business categories so
they are found easily. Do you think that is why I have 2 folders both
identical and called Personal folders, because I may have just placed my
old
.pst file into the folder without actually importing it? If so, how would
I
correct that while not losing my new contacts entered since? Thanks!

"Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]" wrote:

These are the symptoms of an Outlook profile that has been corrupted by
migrating the data file incorrectly. State what you did so someone can
tell
you where you missed the mark.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
"sparklinbluiz" wrote in message
...
I have had been using Outlook Express for many years and now have
started
using Outlook 2003 for just my business emails. I have 2 questions
here.
First, in the "folder list", why do I have 2 folders called "Personal
Folders", both with the identical folders underneath? When I click on
"contact" in either of these trees, it seems they are identical. When I
click
on the "Contact" button in my shortcut list, there are 2 items listed
in
"my
contacts" favorites: One is called "Contacts" the other "Contacts in
Personal
Folders". I'm confused why this is duplicated.
This may have something to do with the next problem. When I open a new
email
window and click "To:", I get the following error message: The address
list
could not be displayed. The Contacts folder associated with this
address
list
could not be opened; it may have been moved or deleted, or you do not
have
permission...." (I am not working on a server, it is my personal
computer
and
I have Windows XP Media Edition. ) However, if I click "ok", it brings
up
an
empty Address Book and if I click on "Show Names from the:" I get a
drop-down
menu that allows me to choose from: Outlook Address Book, Contacts or
again,
Contacts! It is defaulted to one called Contacts so if I click on the
other
it then brings up the list of all my contacts correctly!
I would appreciate any help, this is driving me crazy. I do have a
different
list of contacts in Outlook vs Outlook Express and I would like to keep
my
personal separate from my business.
Thank you in advance for your help.