We loaded Outlook 2003 onto Vista OS computer. When we try to import the .pst
Contacts file to the new computer, it it says the file is incompatible with
this version.

Huh? It's the same Outlook program, just a different OS.

I'll even buy a new Office pacakge if I have to; i just need to recue my
contacts.

Any help?

Thanks.

There is no such thing as a ".pst Contacts file." All Outlook data is in the
PST file. Importing is never the correct way to transfer Outlook data. You
open the file. If you cannot open it, then you must provide a great deal
more information:
1. How you created the file in the first place
2. How you transferred the file
3. Precise error message.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
"SklpII" wrote in message
...
We loaded Outlook 2003 onto Vista OS computer. When we try to import the
.pst
Contacts file to the new computer, it it says the file is incompatible
with
this version.

Huh? It's the same Outlook program, just a different OS.

I'll even buy a new Office pacakge if I have to; i just need to recue my
contacts.

Any help?

Thanks.

Okay, I'll try to answer questions.

I have tried it several ways -- exporting/importing as well as archiving and
trying to re-laod onto the new computer.

the set-up is I have Outlook 2003 on the old computer. We have loaded the
same Outlook onto the new computer (with Vista OS). When I try to move the
files, it says it is not compatable. The ".pst" is simply the file type I
selected for both archiving and exporting. I have tried all of the files in
Outlook (e.g. mail) and gave up and am now just trying to move the contacts.

"Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]" wrote:

There is no such thing as a ".pst Contacts file." All Outlook data is in the
PST file. Importing is never the correct way to transfer Outlook data. You
open the file. If you cannot open it, then you must provide a great deal
more information:
1. How you created the file in the first place
2. How you transferred the file
3. Precise error message.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
"SklpII" wrote in message
...
We loaded Outlook 2003 onto Vista OS computer. When we try to import the
.pst
Contacts file to the new computer, it it says the file is incompatible
with
this version.

Huh? It's the same Outlook program, just a different OS.

I'll even buy a new Office pacakge if I have to; i just need to recue my
contacts.

Any help?

Thanks.

All Outlook data is contained in one file, the PST file. To transfer that
data, you simply copy that file. You don't export it. Exporting will corrupt
the file when done incorrectly (which you appear to have done). You don't
archive, because archiving only transfers a portion of your old data.
You simply need to find and use the latest backup you made of your Outlook
data file or if you don't back up your data, use the original file.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
"SklpII" wrote in message
...
Okay, I'll try to answer questions.

I have tried it several ways -- exporting/importing as well as archiving
and
trying to re-laod onto the new computer.

the set-up is I have Outlook 2003 on the old computer. We have loaded the
same Outlook onto the new computer (with Vista OS). When I try to move the
files, it says it is not compatable. The ".pst" is simply the file type I
selected for both archiving and exporting. I have tried all of the files
in
Outlook (e.g. mail) and gave up and am now just trying to move the
contacts.

"Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]" wrote:

There is no such thing as a ".pst Contacts file." All Outlook data is in
the
PST file. Importing is never the correct way to transfer Outlook data.
You
open the file. If you cannot open it, then you must provide a great deal
more information:
1. How you created the file in the first place
2. How you transferred the file
3. Precise error message.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
"SklpII" wrote in message
...
We loaded Outlook 2003 onto Vista OS computer. When we try to import
the
.pst
Contacts file to the new computer, it it says the file is incompatible
with
this version.

Huh? It's the same Outlook program, just a different OS.

I'll even buy a new Office pacakge if I have to; i just need to recue
my
contacts.

Any help?

Thanks.

What dio you mean importing is never the right way to transfer files? I can't
imagine how else to do it. I am dealing with two computers. The .pst files
from the old Outlook are being transferred to a portable media, hwich is then
plugged intot he new computer. i then attempted to import those files. I also
did them as an archive and attempted the same process to no avail.

"Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]" wrote:

There is no such thing as a ".pst Contacts file." All Outlook data is in the
PST file. Importing is never the correct way to transfer Outlook data. You
open the file. If you cannot open it, then you must provide a great deal
more information:
1. How you created the file in the first place
2. How you transferred the file
3. Precise error message.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
"SklpII" wrote in message
...
We loaded Outlook 2003 onto Vista OS computer. When we try to import the
.pst
Contacts file to the new computer, it it says the file is incompatible
with
this version.

Huh? It's the same Outlook program, just a different OS.

I'll even buy a new Office pacakge if I have to; i just need to recue my
contacts.

Any help?

Thanks.

Only change you need to make to the steps you outlined is

Instead of:
"........plugged into the new computer. i then attempted to import those
files......"

simply follow:
""........plugged into the new computer. Start Outlook on new machine and
from File Menu -- Open Outlook Data File (open the PST file just copied)"
(*** make sure that the "Read Only" attribute is not set for the PST file
after copying it to the new machine else it won't work).

Russ is absolutely correct - PST2PST importing for transferring a PST file
to another machine is both unnecessary and prone to all kinds of potential
issues either immediate and/or long-term. If you still get "file not
compatible with this version" - then you have left out some information (or
your file is corrupt).

Karl

__________________________________________________ _
Karl Timmermans - The Claxton Group
ContactGenie - Importer 1.3 / DataPorter 2.0 / Exporter
"Power contact importers/exporters for MS Outlook '2000/2007"
http://www.contactgenie.com



"SklpII" wrote in message
...
What dio you mean importing is never the right way to transfer files? I
can't
imagine how else to do it. I am dealing with two computers. The .pst files
from the old Outlook are being transferred to a portable media, hwich is
then
plugged intot he new computer. i then attempted to import those files. I
also
did them as an archive and attempted the same process to no avail.

"Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]" wrote:

There is no such thing as a ".pst Contacts file." All Outlook data is in
the
PST file. Importing is never the correct way to transfer Outlook data.
You
open the file. If you cannot open it, then you must provide a great deal
more information:
1. How you created the file in the first place
2. How you transferred the file
3. Precise error message.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
"SklpII" wrote in message
...
We loaded Outlook 2003 onto Vista OS computer. When we try to import
the
.pst
Contacts file to the new computer, it it says the file is incompatible
with
this version.

Huh? It's the same Outlook program, just a different OS.

I'll even buy a new Office pacakge if I have to; i just need to recue
my
contacts.

Any help?

Thanks.

"SklpII" wrote in message
...
What dio you mean importing is never the right way to transfer files? I
can't
imagine how else to do it.

Exactly the same way as you don't "import" files to excel or Word....you
just open them.