We had a PDC crash here. All client PCs had to be switched to a new domain. This was done in a hurry, and local outlook data was not backed up.
Now there are many 'orphaned' client accounts under the old domain name. The data should still be there. In particular, many users created folders under sent or inbox in outlook.
HOW DO I RECOVER THESE CUSTOM OUTLOOK FOLDERS AND GET THEM INTO GMAL? For outlook 2010 and 2016. I've looked for PST files, but these seem to be often empty - 256k data. Have you heard of this type of problem before? that is the old domain accounts still exist on each PC. Another problem, I need to get contact data out of the old outlook accounts. This data is often NOT in the address book, but comes out of the "TO" button when you start to type the address, it fills in the rest of the address. Users love this feature, BUT WHERE IS THE DATA KEPT??! What is the default name and location for all the local outlook data? and esp. 'To' button contact data? Seen the Gremlins movie? I feel I'm facing death via a thousand pin pricks.
HOW DO I RECOVER THESE CUSTOM OUTLOOK FOLDERS AND GET THEM INTO GMAL? For outlook 2010 and 2016. I've looked for PST files, but these seem to be often empty - 256k data. Have you heard of this type of problem before? that is the old domain accounts still exist on each PC. Another problem, I need to get contact data out of the old outlook accounts. This data is often NOT in the address book, but comes out of the "TO" button when you start to type the address, it fills in the rest of the address. Users love this feature, BUT WHERE IS THE DATA KEPT??! What is the default name and location for all the local outlook data? and esp. 'To' button contact data? Seen the Gremlins movie? I feel I'm facing death via a thousand pin pricks.
HOW DO I RECOVER THESE CUSTOM OUTLOOK FOLDERS AND GET THEM INTO GMAL? For outlook 2010 and 2016. I've looked for PST files, but these seem to be often empty - 256k data. Have you heard of this type of problem before? that is the old domain accounts still exist on each PC.I'm assuming that you had an Exchange server. So that said, were the Outlook clients running in cached mode? If not, that's going to be your major challenge. Otherwise, you should be looking for OST files, not PST files.
A PST file starts of 256K in size before anything is stored in it; the ones you are seeing are almost certainly empty.
When operating against an Exchange server, email is stored in an .OST file, rather than a .PST file. A main difference is that a .PST file can easily be opened by anyone, while a .OST file is secured, such that only a user logged in with the appropriate credentials can access it. This security is weak, and third party applications exist to suck the data out. I am not aware of a free one though.
Here are a few 3rd party offerings:
http://www.ost2.com/
https://www.stellarinfo.com/convert-ost-to-pst.php
http://www.en.convertosttopst.co.uk/
http://www.ostpst.com/
When operating against an Exchange server, email is stored in an .OST file, rather than a .PST file. A main difference is that a .PST file can easily be opened by anyone, while a .OST file is secured, such that only a user logged in with the appropriate credentials can access it. This security is weak, and third party applications exist to suck the data out. I am not aware of a free one though.
Here are a few 3rd party offerings:
http://www.ost2.com/
https://www.stellarinfo.com/convert-ost-to-pst.php
http://www.en.convertosttopst.co.uk/
http://www.ostpst.com/
ASKER
Yes the outlook versions are 2010 and above, yes they were mostly cashed. yes Exchange 5.5 was still running but with the Pop, IMap, and SMTP services were shut down. That is, the only data being added or updated was folder and contact data. The ".NK2" contact "MRU" files. What is the format? E.g. comma delimited? How would I add the contents of a .NK2 file to the Gmail address book? The main reason I switched to Gmail, was the growing volume of mail and the never ending spam fight, which had grown to over 30,000 PER DAY.
thank you so much gentlemen, As there were 3 parts to my question, all the answers were great! I have 3 other pending problems I also need to work on, you can see I have several other questions about server 2012. This is my first production install of server 2012.
Fortunately, I have a 'sand box' copy of server 2012 I can play with.
thank you so much gentlemen, As there were 3 parts to my question, all the answers were great! I have 3 other pending problems I also need to work on, you can see I have several other questions about server 2012. This is my first production install of server 2012.
Fortunately, I have a 'sand box' copy of server 2012 I can play with.
Here's the tool for dealing with NK2 files that I prefer: NK2Edit
But regardless, when editing the NK2 file, you are going to need to delete the internal entries (the ones that show "EX" in the first field rather than "SMTP"). When you're done editing, you want to export it to a CSV file. That CSV file can be imported into Gmail.
But regardless, when editing the NK2 file, you are going to need to delete the internal entries (the ones that show "EX" in the first field rather than "SMTP"). When you're done editing, you want to export it to a CSV file. That CSV file can be imported into Gmail.
Sufficient solutions have been provided
ASKER
All the answers were good, and provided useful information. The 'Best' one just had a few more details. You can close this question but do not delete it. Having to rebuild a company network from scratch is rather rare, so this information for this situation is also rare.
I think this makes it a good reference question for the community.
I think this makes it a good reference question for the community.
This question needs an answer!
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https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/980542/how-to-import-.nk2-files-into-outlook-2010