Need advice to organize my Outlook 2010 pst folders

[avz10]

The C drive of my computer recently crashed and I had to import pst files into Outlook from various sources where I have stored it in the past. This lead to duplicates, numerous pst files and missing emails.

This is the current state of affairs:

I have now more than 5 GB of emails.

The programs I could find on the internet were mostly trial versions that did not help. I bought Advanced Outlook Repair, which caused more duplicates!

Basically, I want to combine/merge the folders, get rid of the duplicates and save my archives on a HD and/or on DVD’s. Currently, I have Personal folders, Outlook folders, Archived folders, etc.

So, to summarize, reduce all the pst folders to only a few (current and archives)

Would there be a possibility to take a group of folders e.g. archived folders, import them into Outlook and then export them again to a "new" archived folder. I suppose I will need to empty the whole of Outlook (perhaps move the source pst folder) or is there a free program that would help me with some of the stages?

Or what commercial programmes are there that what do this, but I am not keen to spend more money.

Thanks for any advice!

 

[richdf]

Hi avz10,

Have you tried tackling this from a different view point? i.e. sorting through the PST files & removing any duplicates before importing into outlook?

Using tools such as WinMerge (file comparison) or DupKiller (duplicate finder)(both free & available in portable formats via LiberKey) you should be able to compare the different PST files & then you may be able to remove duplicates. Hopefully this will save some work.

DISCLAIMER ***** Don't delete suspected duplicates, but instead move them to a different folder & don't import them, just in case they are not duplicates!! *****

Good luck

Rich