How to move an Outlook 2007 DataFile ?

July 4, 2008

I decided to break free from Google Apps webGUI (a.k.a. Gmail) and start using Outlook to access my Google Apps domain account email.

I have an Outlook Profile that contains one Exchange account (Default) and 2 IMAP accounts. I am trying to change the datafile (pst) location for my two IMAP accounts from the default (C:\Documents and Settings\User\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook) to another directory.

I’ve tried Google and I’ve read thru this page: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/outlook/HA012308921033.aspx
But there is a part on that page where I get lost…
It says:

  1. In the Tools menu, click Account Settings.
  2. On the E-mail tab, select the new e-mail account, and then click Change Folder.
  3. In the New E-mail Delivery Location dialog box, select the Inbox of the old .pst file.

But for me there is no “Change Folder” or “New E-mail Delivery Location” option???

What am I missing?

Edit 7-17-08:

I have found a possible solution, but I haven’t had time to try it out myself, I will post an update when I’ve confirmed this is working:

By default, Outlook places each Offline Folders (.ost) file and Personal Folders (.pst) file that it creates in the %userprofile%\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook folder. This setting allows you to change the default behavior and store the files in any folder.

Open your registry and find the appropriate key below.

Outlook 2007 – [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\12.0\Outlook]
Outlook 2003 – [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\11.0\Outlook]
Outlook XP – [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\10.0\Outlook]
Outlook 2000 – [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\9.0\Outlook]

Create a new REG_EXPAND_SZ (Expandable String) value called ‘ForcePSTPath’ and set it to equal the full path of the required personal folder directory (e.g. “C:\Mailbox”).

Restart Outlook for the change to take effect. and if this does not work.. try restarting your cmputer aswell.

And

You can also move the current .pst files to the new location using the following method.

>Open the Outlook.
>Click on File > Data Management File.
>Make a note of the path where the Outlook.pst file is stored or saved.
> Close the Outlook and copy the folder to some other location and then reopen outlook.
> use the same procedure to Add the new pst file from the new location and remove the old PST that is there..

It should work fine.. You can follow any method that you think it is useful..

Again, I have not tested the above, so proceed with caution. I will report back when I’ve had a chance to confirm the above is a working solution. Thanks for your patience.