Convert a non-Unicode data file (.pst) to a Unicode data file (.pst)

[hubieb]

Through the helpful folks here at tek-tips, i have realized that my (slow as heck) MS Outlook 2003 is running personal Folders File (97-2002).

From what I've gathered here, this is not good, and I should convert to a unicode data file pst.

I found this link, which explains it how to do this (export current .pst, create new .pst, import into new .pst) BUT before i do this, i have a few simple questions.

1. What do I do with the old PST after I import it? Do i "close" it in outlook? delete it?
2. What about all my (hundreds of) rules? Will the recognize the new PST since all the folders are the same, and run as normal....or will i have to re-setup the rules so they go to the correct folders (again)?
3. This is a silly question but...Will doing everythign I explained above actually speed up my outlook?

Much thanks, my life runs on my Outlook 2003 and to speed it up would speed up my life

 

[58sniper]

1. Once you've moved the mail from the ANSI .pst to the Unicode .pst, you would close the ANSI .pst and delete it.

2. You're going to have to manually update the rules.

3. No. The mail is still in .pst files. Any performance degredation you saw before will still likely exist. If you have a lot of mail (more than a couple of GB), and your "hundreds" of rules, you're causing the degredation.

Pat Richard
Microsoft Exchange MVP
Contributing author Microsoft Exchange Server 2007: The Complete Reference

 

[hubieb]

So doing this conversion will not help with the performance of outlook? What's the point even?

 

[58sniper]

capacity

Pat Richard
Microsoft Exchange MVP
Contributing author Microsoft Exchange Server 2007: The Complete Reference