Lost all of my contacts & tasks ... again

Easy question first. The three OSTs are due to your having three addresses being read by Outlook: most likely.

I would start by going through all of these PST files.

Remember, you can open a PST anywhere in your computer from the file menu.

Ok. This is what I would do to solve your problem. You may note that I am being too cautious, but I have been confused by multiple PSTs too many friggin' times. I play it slow and safe and clear.

  • I would quit Outlook.
  • I would open my Mail Control Panel.
  • I would then click on the Data Files tab.
  • I would then, for super caution's sake create a new data file.
  • I would name it Storage or something simple to remember but different than Backup or Offline or Copy.
  • As I was saving it, I would create a new folder in My Documents and title it OutlookData (or something simple) and then I would save this new data file in this new folder you created in your My Documents.
  • I would then close the Mail control panel.
  • I would open Outlook.
  • I would enable Folder View
  • I would verify that I can see my new data store, Storage.
  • I would then right click the title Storage, and select New Folder.
  • I would name the new folder ContactsProject.
  • I would then select "Contact Items" from the Folder Contains pop up menu.
  • Now, I would go the the File menu and select Open Data folder.
  • And, I would open the first of the PSTs in your lists.
  • While in Folder view, I would go to the Contacts folder or anything that has the Contact icon and look for the contacts I need.
  • If there are contact in that , I would select them and drag and drop them into the ContactsProject folder in your Storage pst. I would verify that they are being copied and not moved.
  • I would then slowly but surely, look in all the containers in this PST to be certain I found all the contacts folder in this pst.
  • I would then right click the title of the PST folder I opened and select Close <PST name>s.
  • I would then do this over and over. 'lather, rinse, and repeat' until I had done each and every one of your PSTs.
/r/Outlook Thread