Win 10 build 1803 and Office 365.
I have put ForceOSTPath set to D:|\folder name. When I add a new IMAP account the OST file appears in C:\users\****\Appdata\local\Microsoft\Outlook.
That really shouldn't be should it?
Thanks.
Hi JJG10
Found this. Haven't tried myself.
https://social.technet.microsoft.com...?forum=outlook
Hi JJG10
I did managed to move the .ost data file fromC:\users\****\Appdata\local\Microsoft\Outlook to G:\Users\***\Documents\Outlook Files for an IMAP account following the next steps;
- Removed the email account from Outlook, (the Data File will be removed by default). The email account and Data File MUST be removed before you create the ForcePSTPath key AND the ForceOSTPath!
- Close Outlook
- Deleted the file in C:\Users\Username\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook\email address.ost file.
- Opened the Registry, navigated to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Outlook
- I created both the
String Value:ForcePSTPath key AND the ForceOSTPath and the Value data to read D:\Users\Username\Documents\Outlook Files- Powered off the pc.
- Powered on the pc
- Opened Control Panel > Mail > E-mail accounts > Account settings > New and added the IMAP account Manually (Do not use Add new mail account from within Outlook!)
- When the account was added the Data File was created in the D\:Users\Username\Documents\Outlook Files
- Open Outlook and it will update the account.
Hope this is helpful.
Hi jjg10
You may give scopio's solution a try. It really worked.
Remember: step 8 is important ...
Different method of adding an account. It worked out fine for me.
Adding an account the 'usual' way (within Outlook) doesn't work.
(note: when you were to use Exchange, being selected by default when adding an account in the usual way, then the registry patch works out fine)
Hi @JJG10,
Do not give up in moving the IMAP or indeed any data file in Outlook to a different drive.
As Calendon Ken says above it is Microsoft who have confused the issue by not changing the ForceOSTPath to be able to move the .ost file. So people have to be aware of the following:
"Outlook 2013 and newer IMAP .ost files are moved using the ForcePSTPath key."
"Please note that, beginning with Outlook 2013, IMAP and EAS *.ost files honor the ForcePSTPath key, not ForceOSTPath even though the data file extension is *.ost."Restart the pc
I urge you to follow these steps;
Remove the email account from Outlook, (the Data File will be removed by default). The email account and Data File MUST be removed before you create the ForcePSTPath key AND the ForceOSTPath!
Delete the file in C:\Users\Username\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook\email address.ost file.
Restart your pc, do not open Outlook!
Create a folder in D:\Users\Documents\Outlook Files ( or whichever drive to want to place the data file)
Open the Registry, navigated to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Outlook
Create a new string value; ForcePSTPath,Create a new string value; ForceOSTPath,Value data to read “D:\Users\Username\Documents\Outlook Files" (without the quote marks)
Value data to read “D:\Users\Username\Documents\Outlook Files" (without the quote marks)
Open Control Panel > Mail > E-mail accounts > Account settings > New and add the email MANUALLY, this is important do NOT add the email account from within Outlook! it will NOT work!!! If you add the email within Outlook, Outlook will force the data file to be placed in the C:\ drive!!!
The Data File will be created in the D\:Users\Username\Documents\Outlook Files folder.
Open Outlook and let it load/sync with your IMAP account.
Go to Account Settings and check that the data file has been created in the drive you specified.
Try it. It does work.
Good luck.
Last edited by scopio; 11 Dec 2018 at 06:30.
While this is an old thread, it still works with Outlook 2019 and Windows 10 Pro Version 1909. The only change I had to make was in the Open Control Panel step. To delete the email account I had to delete the profile. So when it comes time to add an email account as described you'll have to add a profile..
Last edited by MidwestSteve; 03 Jan 2020 at 23:17.
And, for the sake of those who may have tried all those 10 steps above.
11. If you are storing the files in your Documents folder, Use \Documents\ in the path, not \My Documents\. The latter does not work....
Hi folks
@MidwestSteve
@JJG10
@Pjlill
some people do seem to have a convoluted way of doing things which are relatively trivial to do
To move everything in outlook 2019 (accounts, contacts, folders etc etc) to another machine, different drive etc etc simply do the following (if you have multiple accounts on IMAP --even easier). If you have anything in a .pst file save that -- all those contain now is stuff you might have copied from a remote server to a local machine -- don't bother with .ost files.
using REGEDIT export the following to a .reg file
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Outlook\Profiles\Outlook
install outlook on new machine
Now re-import that file to new computer or whatever
You'll have to re-enter passwords for all accounts
You can also then open your saved .pst file too if you want to jiggle around with folders saved on local machine.
"Seemples" Why does Ms make a trivial operation so difficult and hard to find --I'll bet there's 1000's of pages on Google all with convoluted ways of copying email accounts etc to a new systm or after a clean Windows install on an old one --- well I suppose some of Ms expensive I.T admins and consultants have to justify their high daily rates somehow !!!
Cheers
jimbo
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