How do I upgrade my Outlook PST to 2003 format?

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Um, why not just close Outlook, rename and backup your existing PST, open Outlook (forcing it to create a new, empty PST in the current format), and then use File -> Import from your old PST? I found copying over each data folder to be an error prone process.

I tried doing this with an IMAP account. It worked in 2007 except that now Outlook asks for my password three or four times a day even if I check the box to remember. In Outlook 2003 I couldn't get it to work, when I create a new IMAP account, it uses the old 97-2002 format, and if I try to rename it to a new format I created, it just doesn't work. Thoughts?

This procedure does not work with Outlook 2003 and IMAP. When I create IMAP account it uses the old PST format. Renaming it (like suggested here) does not work. HELP!!!

Microsoft's suggested upgrade path to 2003/7 format:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/outlook/HP100807001033.aspx?pid=CH100788841033

Hi, does anybody know how I downgrade a .pst file from outlook 2003 to 2002? I am switching computers the "old" has outlook 2003 and for the new I only have outlook 2002 availeble. Tx, Marco

Leo, I tried this, but there's a problem. When I transfer my Outlook 2000 recurring all-day calendar items, once it gets into Outlook 2003, each all-day items now spans across 2 days, rather than being for one day. Any idea how to solve that?

Is is possible to associate the extension .PST with outlook.exe 2003 or later such that when double-clicking on such a PST file from explorer(without encryption or password protection) that outlook opens the PST without having to use the "Data File Management" wizard ? Using explorer, a new message is opened and the PST is embedded in the email and can also not be opened by double-clicking on the file.

Everything worked great, except for the calendar. I do not get "List " as an option (from View > Arrange By > Current View).

The most easy way is to create a new Outlook data file in 2003 format, and then import all the data from the old PST file with Microsoft Outlook 2003. Outlook 2007 can also work in this way.

In case your file has already get into the 2 gb problem, then Outlook cannot help you. But you can still follow the way in http://www.datanumen.com/aor/problems/convert-2gb-pst.htm to make the conversion and upgrade.

Hi, Macro,

You can use Outlook 2003 to create a new data file in the old Outlook 97 format, and dump all the data from the Outlook 2003 format file.

You may also follow the instructions in http://www.datanumen.com/aor/convert-unicode-to-ansi.htm , though such a downgrade requirement is rare.

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