Moving Outlook 2010 PST files to a new location

Question

I am trying to move my PST files for Outlook 2010 between folders. From what I have read all I have to do is close Outlook, go to the folders and move the file over. Then, when I restart Outlook, I should get an error message. When I hit "okay" it should take me to an Open/Change Data file where I can point the existing file to the new location.

However, when I do this, Outlook doesn't give me the error message and creates the same PST file in the original location.

Any suggestions?

[running Windows 7]

Answer 1

Make sure you have followed the steps in the same sequence as I have outlined below. You also need to close any items which are opened, or just save them first.

Method 1: In case the .pst file is already opened in the Navigation Pane, follow these steps :

1. Close Outlook and open Windows Explorer.
2. Move Outlook Data File (.pst) to a new location and restart Outlook. You could get an error message as “Outlook Data File (.pst) could not be found.”
3. Click OK on error message dialog box.
4. Now browse the new folder location in Create/Open Outlook Data File dialog box. Select and Open the Outlook Data File (.pst) that you have moved.

Method 2: If the .pst file is not already opened in the navigation pane:

Use Windows Explorer to move the PST file to different folder and then follow the steps as mentioned in the link:

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/outlook-help/open-change-or-close-outlook-data-files-HA010355609.aspx?CTT=5&origin=HA010378229

Answer 2

Close Outlook.

Go into Control Panel>User Accounts>Mail>Data Files and add the PST (Open File Location and pick the location of the old one, wherever you moved it to). Then set it to the default.

After you re-open Outlook, you can then remove the new, empty one back in Control Panel>User Accounts>Mail>Data Files (you will probably have to close Outlook again, but it was important that you opened it once). Alternatively, in the navigation pane, right-click it and just close it.