How to Tackle Incompatibility of Older Outlook Version PST with Newer Version Outlook?

Error Message: When you use older version of Outlook (2000 or 2002) and you try to open an older version’s .PST file in newer Outlook version (2003 or 2007), you may likely to get an error message that states: “The file file_name.pst is not compatible with this version of the Personal Folders information service. Contact your Administrator.”

Reason to Get This Error Message: You get this message when your information in .pst file was exported from Outlook 2003 or from Outlook 2007 with Import and Export Wizard. Actually, Outlook in version 2003 and 2007 uses Unicode format to export information to .pst files. Earlier Outlook versions (97, 2000, 2002/XP) use ANSI PST format.

How to overcome the Problem? To overcome this problem, you need to copy the contents of .pst file Outlook 2003 and 2007 to a .pst file that has not been converted to Outlook 2003 or 2007 in Unicode format. Now, if you need a duplicate copy of this Unicode formatted .pst file in Outlook 2003 or 2007, you need to follow the steps given below:

1. First, start Outlook on your computer system

2.Go to File menu

3. Click Data File Management

4. Click Add

5. Now click Outlook 97-2002 Personal Folders File (PST)

6. And then, click OK

7. You need to click OK if you want to accept the default name, and then click OK again

8. Your Outlook 2003 creates a new .pst file that is based on the earlier .pst file and maintains the ANSI formatting for that .pst file

9. After creating new .pst file, click “Close”

10. At the bottom of the navigation pane, you can view Folder List

11. Click the Folder List

12. In the navigation pane, you will be able to view the new .pst file