My old archive (PST) is gone after a new laptop
A local PST archive does not move automatically when laptops change. The file is usually still on a network share or external disk.
Try this first
- 1(In classic Outlook with the File menu. If new Outlook is in the way, toggle it off top-right.) On the old PC or in your backup, look for files with the .pst extension (commonly in Documents\Outlook Files).
- 2Copy the PST to a fixed folder on your new laptop, not into a synced folder like OneDrive (PST and sync do not mix).
- 3Outlook > File > Open & Export > Open Outlook Data File > pick the PST. The archive appears in the left pane as a separate folder.
- 4Immediately copy the PST to another location as a backup; one corrupt file otherwise loses everything.
When to bring us in
PSTs larger than ~10 GB or showing corruption errors should be repaired with scanpst before mounting; we will do it.
See also
- Outlook crashes or freezes on large attachmentsUsually the mailbox cache is the culprit, not Outlook itself. Shrinking or relocating usually helps within ten minutes.
- Teams: they cannot hear me, or I hear nothingIn our experience Teams usually picked the wrong audio device after a Windows update or a new headset.
- OneDrive has stopped syncingThe cloud icon is grey or has a warning. Locally changed files are not showing up for colleagues.
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