Moving Outlook email to another PC/Hard Drive? Unsure how?

Draeger · 31 Aug 2023 at 09:48

Recently my HP Omen laptop packed in and completely refused to switch on. Thankfully it is still under the HP Care Package so it has been uplifted and taken away to HP to be repaired. Prior to it being uplifted, I removed the C and D drives and managed to copy most of my personal data from them, phew!!!

When it comes back, I want to reinstall MS Office and Outlook for my email, I have copied the .ost files for each of the three personal email accounts I have before the laptop went back. Is it simply a case of reinstalling Outlook on the laptop when it is returned and then dropping the .ost files into the correct folder (Windows 11 OS) and then entering and setting up the email account details/passwords in Outlook?

Any advice appreciated. I'm pretty sure the last time I had a similar issue when I entered the email account details, Outlook automatically downloaded most of the contents of each 'inbox' from the server but most of my 'sent' emails were missing. I'm wondering if manually dropping the .ost files into the correct folders will result in all my email being back in the same inboxes/sent folders exactly as they were prior to the fault with the laptop occurring?

Thanks!

Glanza · 31 Aug 2023 at 09:50

Who's your email hosted with and how did you have it setup previously, smtp / imap etc?

throwaway4372 · 31 Aug 2023 at 09:55

This is why you should use web-based email and office apps. Switch to google for an easier life.

Draeger · 31 Aug 2023 at 10:06

Glanza said:
Who's your email hosted with and how did you have it setup previously, smtp / imap etc?

Hi, its hosted with a company called EUK Host and it was setup as POP/SMTP.

throwaway4372 said:
This is why you should use web-based email and office apps. Switch to google for an easier life.

I know!! I have a Gmail account and agree its a lot easier and a lot less hassle. But I need to use these three accounts as well, unfortunately.

spile · 1 Sep 2023 at 06:25

You can export and import the OST (imail) or PST (pop) file from outlook using the file import/export option. You’ll need to manually create the account using server details and passwords.

Draeger · 1 Sep 2023 at 10:35

spile said:
You can export and import the OST (imail) or PST (pop) file from outlook using the file import/export option. You’ll need to manually create the account using server details and passwords.

Hi, thanks. Would I need to manually create the accounts first and then copy the .ost file into place, or copy the .ost file into place and then create the accounts?

Ta.

whiskycycle · 1 Sep 2023 at 15:27

.OST - These files are tied to the Outlook profile they’re created with, and won’t directly work without running through a converter app to turn them into .PST, and even then you’ll be lucky if it comes over clean. No decent free software available, unfortunately.

If you’ve got any mail in .PST you’ll likely be able to get them over ok though.

Draeger · 1 Sep 2023 at 15:38

Hi, couldn't locate and PST files anywhere in the folder directories unfortunately, there were only OST files in the folders I looked in.

spile · 2 Sep 2023 at 07:43

Use import/export option and save the file as a pst. That said, when you recreate the imap mail account all the emails will still be there so you may not need to do this.