What I understand from this is that when I import the pst file from the XP machine to the Win7 machine and do a Send/Receive for gmail there will be duplicates since I am set up to leave messages on gmail as well as download them. I should then export the pst file from the Win7 machine and re-import it with the appropriate check box to eliminate the duplicates. Is that the right understanding?

If that's right, then it solves part of the problem because at least duplicates can be eliminated. There is still the problem of tying up my machine and internet connection for a day or two downloading thousands of e-mail messages that don't need to be downloaded in the first place. That's what I most want to avoid. If I understand what you're saying right, I wouldn't avoid that, but I would have a good method of eliminating duplicates once it's done.

Exporting the Outlook profile registry keys to the new computer caused messages already on the local computer not to be downloaded in the first place when I moved between XP machines, but moving from an XP machine to Win7 I'd think would make that method no longer workable.

I do appreciate the help working through this.

Dale