I can not get rid of an Outlook data file!

[davepinminn]

I created (copied) an Outlook file, and now I can’t get rid of it.




I had a simple Outlook setup with ONE attached outlook file. In my personal folders I used “D:\Outlook.pst” for my outlook. It has, and still does work FINE!


BUT, I wanted to find out if we could move my wife’s outlook to a different drive but keep it working in Outlook (SEEMED like a good idea at the time), so we added a second file at “P:Outlook.pst”. It was just to see how it would work if we needed it, but now I can’t get rid of the thing.


SO, I have two Outlook files, one of which FINE (D:\Outlook.pst), and one I WANT to get rid of (P:Outlook.pst) and can’t figure out HOW!


Since I’ve already messed it up, I’m not touching ANYTHING til somebody can tell me how to get rid of this extra Outlook file!

[Hornblower409]

I assume the problem is that you can not delete the “P:Outlook.pst” file because Outlook has it open? If so, does this apply to your situation?

Remove (close) an Outlook Data File (.pst)
Open and close Outlook Data Files (.pst) - Microsoft Support

Once the PST has been closed in Outlook, you should be able to delete it in Windows.

[davepinminn]

Yes, I cannot CLOSE the Outlook Data file.


I go into Outlook.
I go to "File".

I go to the box that says "Account Settings". In there I select Account Settings.
I now see Email Accounts and a row of tabs for Email, Data Files, RSS Feeds, etc.
In there I select Data Files and have a set of tabs for ADD, SETTINGS, SET AS, DEFAULT, REMOVE....
I can now SEE the "Personal Folders P:\outlook.pst" and "Personal Folders D:/Outlook.pst"


I can SEE d:\Outlook.pst but there is NO data file. I removed it. I can SELECT that file. I can hit the "Remove" button on the screen. When I DO THAT, I get an error that says:
You cannot select this Outlook data file. Configuration information in the file is being copied to your new default data file. You can delete the file after this information is copied.


I then go to the list of personal folders, and and attempt to select D:\Outlook.pst so I can TRY to set that file as the default. It will NOT move. Attempting to change the default to d:\outlook.pst gives the following error:


The default Outlook Data File contains the calendar that appears in the to-Do bar and settings for Favorites, shared folders, and RSS feeds. It does not change where the messages are saved.
Do you want to change the default Outlook Data File? When I say "OK", it says

"the path specified for the file D:\Outlook.pst is not valid"


Then it says "The specified default store cannot be opened. Very you can access your default store and try again".


I don't HAVE the default store any more, though I can make another copy, but all I want to do is get the EMPTY, screwed up data file out of my Outlook folder WITHOUT screwing anything else up...


Do I HAVE to go get a copy of the OLD gigantic data file, put it back on "D", then import EVERYTHING back into it? And THEN how do I get RID of the drive I'm trying to get rid of?

[Hornblower409]

As a test, I would suggest that you close Outlook, create a new Outlook profile named something like "TEST 2025-03-19" (don't touch your existing profile), and change the settings to "Prompt me for a profile to use".

Start Outlook and select the TEST profile. Once it has finished setup, try and open (add/attach) only the PST file you want.

How do I create a new Outlook profile

[davepinminn]

I'm possibly having one of those days, but



You want me to do an ADD to the data files. I can do that. But what's the "prompt me for a profile to use" and where do I find it? I"ve already GOT two data files in there, with different names. Why am I adding ANOTHER one?

[Hornblower409]

I am sorry. I was not clear about the steps.

Close Outlook.

Follow these instruction to Add a new Outlook profile named something like "TEST 2025-03-19". Don't touch your existing profile(s).

How do I create a new Outlook profile

Select "Prompt for a profile to use".

OK your way out of the Mail Control Panel dialog.

Start Outlook. It will prompt you for a Profile. Select the new TEST profile.

Go thru the initial Outlook setup. Once that is done and you are at the Inbox, choose File -> Open -> Open Outlook Data File. Select the single PST file that you want to use.

At this point you should have a TEST profile with only the one PST that you want.

Check that everything is working as you expect. If everything is OK, then Close Outlook.

Open the Control Panel Mail app again. Rename the TEST Profile to something meaningful. Select this profile and choose "Always use this profile".

[davepinminn]

Retrying with images.

[davepinminn]

First, thanks a ton for the help ‘cause I’m really gun-shy doing anything in Outlook now. It keeps getting stranger ‘cause I’m having to move websites while all this is going on.

My Outlook has changed over the last couple days, because I’m moving from a different ISP and have one more file than previously. There’s nothing important in there yet – it’s just being used for setting up the new email.

Dperez476@gmail.com will be my main email once all the email addresses migrate. I don’t know if/why it would matter but that file is an OST file.

The file at P:\outlook.pst is in use as I migrate to the new website at dperez476@gmail.com

The one at D:\OUTLOOK.PST is the OLD outlook that isn’t doing anything but that I haven’t been able to delete.

It’s a long, boring story, but the short version is I’ll be using P:\OUTLOOK.PST for a while, and I WANT to get rid of D:\OUTLOOK.PST. The two remaining outlook files will both be used until I no longer need P:\outlook.pst, then THAT Outlook file can be deleted, leaving me with ONE outlook file at dperez476@gmail.com. So, if possible, just completely ignore dperez476@gmail.com and get rid of D:\OUTLOOK.PST.

If that’s not possible, I’ll just ignore the bad outlook file for the time being, then later try to fix it.

Unfortunately, I have NO idea how to get the image from the file png or the jpeg to show up on the screen, so if they show up they may be out of place. And the office forum is complaining that the text is too long. How do I put screenshots in the text?


Does having the extra Outlook file mess anything up? If it IS possible to continue, what do I put in for the Email account and Email Address?



Same text problem - hopefully the images show up



When I go into Add Account, it wants to put whatever it’s doing in the dperez476@mail.com address, and I don’t think I want ANYTHING messing around in there. Let me know one way or the other.

[Hornblower409]

I think, under the circumstances, that if you have a functional Outlook, you might want to delay trying to fix the extra PST problem until you have completed all the other changes.

[AlanCantor]

When you're ready to delete a .pst file, exit from Outlook. Don't try to delete the file while Outlook is running.



For good measure, press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to bring up the "Task Manager," and check the processes to see if Outlook is running. It shouldn't be because you closed Outlook. But if at some point in the past, Outlook was not closed properly, there may be one (or more) extra instances of Outlook. Right-click on each extra instance and choose "End Task."


Then, using "File Manager," go to the drive and folder that contains the extra .pst file, and delete it.

[davepinminn]

Thanks for the info. This has turned into a mess, which I just don't need to be dealing with right now. Yeah, it's a PITA to have Outlook complain every time it starts that the "path specified for the outlook.pst is not valid", and I have to fool around telling it there's NO outlook.pst file, but at least that's a known stupidity...


I'ts really disappointing that it's so difficult to deal with Outlook, but I'll just have to get over it. Thanks for trying.

[Hornblower409]

I am confused. You say that "D:\Outlook.pst" is not being used.

So if you go File -> Account Settings -> Account Settings, "Data files" tab, and select "D:\Outlook.pst", and click "Remove" - What is the error message?

[Hornblower409]

You said "Dperez476@gmail.com will be my main email once all the email addresses migrate. I don’t know if/why it would matter but that file is an OST file"

I know things are confused enough at this point, but I am concerned that you have an OST (and not PST) defined for a GMail acocunt. As far as I know, OSTs are only used with Exchange (corporate) email accounts.

How was this file created?

[Italophile]

Originally Posted by Hornblower409

You said "Dperez476@gmail.com will be my main email once all the email addresses migrate. I don’t know if/why it would matter but that file is an OST file"

I know things are confused enough at this point, but I am concerned that you have an OST (and not PST) defined for a GMail acocunt. As far as I know, OSTs are only used with Exchange (corporate) email accounts.

How was this file created?

PST files are used for POP email accounts. OST files are used for everything else.

[davepinminn]

I am confused. You say that "D:\Outlook.pst" is not being used.

So if you go File -> Account Settings -> Account Settings, "Data files" tab, and select "D:\Outlook.pst", and click "Remove" - What is the error message?

“You cannot delete this Outlook Data file. Configuration information in the file is being copies to your new default data file. You can delete the file after this information is copied.


There ISN’T any data file. It’s not there any more. It was deleted. Incorrectly. I’d LOVE to have Outlook stop trying to do whatever it’s doing and let me get rid of it. I COULD get it back if there was a definite, simple method of using the outlook to DEFINITELY fix the problem WITHOUT any chance of screwing things up WORSE!

You said "Dperez476@gmail.com will be my main email once all the email addresses migrate. I don’t know if/why it would matter but that file is an OST file"

I know things are confused enough at this point, but I am concerned that you have an OST (and not PST) defined for a GMail acocunt. As far as I know, OSTs are only used with Exchange (corporate) email accounts.

How was this file created?

I have no idea exactly HOW it was done. The gmail account was done at LEAST TEN YEARS AGO, (probably more like 15) and has been in use ever since. Recently I elected to simplify my environment (and boy has that turned out well), moved to gmail for my general email. Since I’m most familiar with Outlook, I use that with gmail and it generally works fine. I don’t play with it – it’s email.