Microsoft KB Archive/934545

Knowledge Base

Error message when you start Outlook 2007 in Windows Vista: "<FileName>.pst file could not be opened"

Article ID: 934545

Article Last Modified on 4/16/2007

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APPLIES TO

• Windows Vista Home Basic
• Windows Vista Home Premium
• Windows Vista Ultimate
• Windows Vista Business
• Windows Vista Enterprise
• Windows Vista Starter
• Windows Vista Home Basic N
• Windows Vista Business N
• Windows Vista Home Basic 64-bit Edition
• Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit Edition
• Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit Edition
• Windows Vista Business 64-bit Edition
• Windows Vista Enterprise 64-bit Edition
• Windows Vista Home Basic N 64-bit Edition
• Windows Vista Business N 64-bit Edition
• Microsoft Office Outlook 2007

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SYMPTOMS

When you start Microsoft Office Outlook 2007 in Windows Vista, you receive the following error message:

FileName.pst file could not be opened. The file may not be compatible with this version of Outlook or it may be corrupted.

CAUSE

This problem occurs when all following conditions are true:

• You used the Backup Status and Configuration program to back up the mail file.
• You recently used the Backup Status and Configuration program to restore the mail file from backup.
• The mail file is in an encrypted folder.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, use the Inbox Repair Tool (Scanpst.exe) to repair your personal mail file. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Exit Outlook 2007.
2. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
3. Click User Accounts and Family Safety or User Accounts.
   

Note If you do not see User Accounts and Family Safety or User Accounts, go to the next step.

1. Click Mail.
2. Click Data Files, click Personal Folders, and then click Settings.
3. Note the text in the Filename box.
   

Note If you cannot view all the text, click in the Filename box, and then press the RIGHT ARROW key repeatedly.

1. Click OK, and then click Close two times.
2. Click Start, type %ProgramFiles%\Microsoft Office\Office12\ in the Start Search box, and then press ENTER.
3. Double-click Scanpst.
4. In the Enter the name of the file you want to scan box, type the path and file name of the Outlook .pst file that you noted in step 6.
5. Click Start.
6. When the Inbox Repair Tool finishes, click OK.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.

MORE INFORMATION

For more information about errors that occur when you start Outlook, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

830307 You receive an error message when you start Outlook

Additional query words: o2k7 back up

Keywords: kbbug kbqfe kbpubtypekc kbtshoot kbexpertisebeginner kberrmsg kbprb KB934545

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