Where does outlook save email account info?

Destination · 23 Jul 2011 at 11:44

Basically if you have more than one account linked into outlook, where exactly is this file data saved?
I'm looking over an old hard drive, and rather than simply booting it, I am wondering if there is a way to tell how many accounts, and which accounts outlook used to use.

pgi947 · 23 Jul 2011 at 19:49

From what I gather:

C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook

All account info is stored in .pst files, there may be a 'viewer' program out there, other wise you just need to import them into outlook to see whats inside.

Destination · 23 Jul 2011 at 19:52

Is it?
Strange, I must have a closer look, I thought thats where the mails and folders etc were all stored, but not the account info, will have a look now, thx.

moss · 23 Jul 2011 at 19:56

pgi947 said:
From what I gather:

C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook

All account info is stored in .pst files, there may be a 'viewer' program out there, other wise you just need to import them into outlook to see whats inside.

.PST files are just email archive files/personal folders.
It depends what data you want, some of it is stored in the offline file (.OST file).
If you're using Windows 7 the path is:
C:\users\<username>\appdata\roaming\microsoft\outlook

Checking each users local profile might give you an idea if they had an outlook account setup.

Destination · 23 Jul 2011 at 20:10

WHta I am actually looking for is the details of my outlook before i reinstalled, I have it on the old hard drive, as i acquired a new drive, I am just trying to recall if my outlook consolidated 3 accounts or 4, i've the main 3 up and running, just wondering if I had a fourth.

Paul11 · 23 Jul 2011 at 20:11

the pst files don't store account info

Destination · 23 Jul 2011 at 20:47

Yes, are you aware of which files do?

Sin_Chase · 23 Jul 2011 at 20:48

I think it lives in the registry does it not? Certainly used to for Outlook Express. HKCU or HKLU perhaps. It is linked to the profile however.

Paul11 · 23 Jul 2011 at 20:53

Hikari Kisugi said:
Yes, are you aware of which files do?

i dont know if there is a way if you havnt backed your account information at the begining

Destination · 23 Jul 2011 at 20:58

Might just be easier to plug the old drive in and boot from it, reason i didn't wish to do so would be in case it automatically tries to activate again when I tun it, activations carried over to the new HD and all that.

Pho · 23 Jul 2011 at 21:21

On Outlook 2010 and probably the same for other versions you can open up the oeaaccount files in %LocalAppData%\Microsoft\Outlook\Accounts with a text editor and read what they were.

Destination · 24 Jul 2011 at 09:22

Hmm for some odd reason I can't find an accounts subfolder :/
Thanks anyway Pho

Pho · 24 Jul 2011 at 13:59

Are you in the right folder? There's two folders:

C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook and
C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Outlook

Destination · 24 Jul 2011 at 20:12

Aye checked both at the time, with hidden files showing and protected files showing, not sure where things went, ended up just swapping in the old drive and booting from it, so at least I have the answer I was looking for.

Thanks for the help anyway.