Outlook 2003 - recover Contacts

[RWebb]

Any ideas on how to extract my contacts from an Outlook 2003 .pst file?

Outlook hangs the computer (cold boot required) when trying to import the pst file.

scanpst.exe also hangs the computer when trying to fix the file (at 68% thru phase 1 of 8)

The backstory: my desktop died and and after trying lots of other fixes, I gave up on it, pulled the HDD and installed it as a slave in a new computer. The pst file I want to gt at was on that HDD.

I know people sell software to do this, but I'd like to use freeware if possible.

Thx!

[9dreizig]

can you go in and save the .pst file to a thumb drive and open it on another computer ??

[Joeaksa]

Originally Posted by 9dreizig

can you go in and save the .pst file to a thumb drive and open it on another computer ??

Exactly what I would do! Works like a charm, have done it several times.

[slodave]

Randy basically did that, but with the entire hard drive. HD, TD, not much of a difference in the end. Could be that the HD is bad and the sectors that the PST is on is corrupt. In that case, copying to a TD may not work either.

[RWebb]

yes, I've tried to copy it to a thumb drive but that also hangs the computer

I've run the Win 7 version of chkdsk with no problems found the last time...

[slodave]

Did you run chkdsk with /r option?

You really want to check the HD drive fitness tool. I use the one from Hitatchi/IBM. DFT.exe

[GH85Carrera]

Just use the backup copy you should be making each week.

[RedBaron]

If you can't import the PST file, try the NK2 (nickname) file. This nickname cache acts as a sort of auto-fill when you compose a new email and go to type in a contacts name. You may not see them in the contacts list, but when you type in their name in the "to" field , it should populate. Here is a link to help you import them.

Import contacts from an nk2-file | MSOutlook.info

slodave is right, try a chkdsk with a /r attribute. Also, you can try and use the built in PST file repair tool in windoze. Below is a link that lists the directory where you can find the tool.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/272227

[RWebb]

Outlook 2003 cannot use the /importnk2 switch to access the nk2 file
can't find any way to do it

I already tried scanpst -- is there some other built in PST file repair tool?

backups cannot be accessed from new computer -- unless you know some way to do it that I have not tried..

[RedBaron]

Are you running Windows 7 or XP with 2003? The file locations vary based on OS.

Windows 7: On your slave go to (DRIVELETTERFORSLAVE):\Users\(YOURUSERNAMEHERE)\ap pdata\Roaming\Microsoft\Outlook . Copy that folder from the slave to the same location and overwrite the existing folder on the master. So something like C:\Users\(YOURUSERNAMEHERE)\appdata\Roaming\Micros oft\Outlook\

Windows XP: (DRIVELETTERFORSLAVE):\Documents and Settings\(YOURUSERNAMEHERE)\Application Settings\Microsoft\Outlook . Copy that like I stated above.

Also, the appdata folder is hidden so I would go to a runline (windows key + R) and copy/paste the location above.

I know those files exist because I used to do this all the time for people when their machines were being reimaged/replaced. They never saved anything to contacts and just relied on the stupid .nk2 file(s).

[Eric Coffey]

Maybe try something like one of these (to manually extract the data)?

PST Viewer - Free tool to open and view content of PST files without Ms Outlook

FREE Outlook PST Viewer — View PST Files Without Outlook Installed

[RWebb]

Thanks, Eric - those pgms also hung, but I found another copy og the pst file, and was able to copy it to my laptop, then import it, so I think it is all good now.