Your Outlook data file cannot be configured

I have changed the user name in C:\Users from an error created name(tipst) to Noel using a tutorial accessed on Windows Ten Forums.

When I tried to open Outlook Office 2019 i received the following:

"Your Outlook data file cannot be configured.
C:\Users\Noel\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook\xxxxxxxxx@gmail.com.ost
Cannot start Microsoft Outlook. Cannot open the Outlook window. The set of folders cannot be opened.
The path specified for the file C:\Users\Noel\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook\xxxxxxxxx@gmail.com.ost is not valid."

I have tried everything I can think of including researching Ten forums and Google to remedy the problem including a full uninstall-reinstall of Microsoft Office The problem still exists.

I have run SCANPST.EXE and even tried to substitute tipst with Noel in C:\Users\tipst\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook\xxxxxxxxx@gmail.com.ost.

The program runs and found only minor inconsistencies. Repairing the file is optional but no repair button is visible.

Win10 20H2 OS Build 19042.964

Would appreciate if any advice/assistance could be provided.

Noel Southam
noels7

Noel,

[edit your post - overwrite your email address because it can be harvested by bots]

Please clarify:-
1 Does the folder path C:\Users\Noel\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook exist and is NNNNN@gmail.com.ost in it?
2 Does the folder path C:\Users\tipst\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook exist and is NNNNN@gmail.com.ost in it?
3 Is your email address still NNNNN@gmail.com.ost?
4 What user account are you logged into?

In any cmd or PS window, enter

Code:

whoami

and it will respond in the form ComputerName\UserName

5 From what I understand, you need to check your email profile in Control panel, Mail [or poss Mail(32bit)]. This is not a topic I know about. This thread seems to be written by people who do know about the topic - Use of outlook.exe -manageprofiles to sort out EMail settings in OL2019 - TenForums

Depending on your answers, I may not be able to help you but those clarifications will help somebody else to do so.

Best of luck,
Denis

Noel,

So only your user folder path has been changed rather than your username itself.

Hopefully, the clarification might encourage somebody knowledgeable to join in. I'll ask a couple of them but it is such a specialist topic that there might not be many people who know enough about it.

Personally, I think the solution might lie in that para #5 link about the Mail profile. In the 25 years I have been using MS Office Outlook, I have never had to go into that topic. Perhaps you could add a post to that thread.

Best of luck,
Denis

Noel,

And you can dream happily of the System image you'll be able to make after breakfast. You might already know about imaging but to avoid having to play ping pong in the morning:-

Macrium Reflect [free edition] is often recommended in this forum for making system images. Other utilities are available but this one is so commonplace that you can get plenty of help for it.

Backup and Restore with Macrium Reflect - TenForumsTutorials
Macrium Software Macrium Reflect Free
Macrium USB - TenForums
Macrium Reflect KnowledgeBase - user guide [version-independent link]

It can also make bootable system images. This facility is called viBoot and it requires Win10 Pro.
Macrium viBoot - Macrium KB
Macrium viBoot - Create Virtual Machine using Macrium Image - TenForumsTutorials


But don't use Windows own system imaging facility. MS said not to in their announcement of Windows 10 Version 1709 and have never withdrawn that warning. It was never much cop in the first place.

imaging deprecated in Ver 1709 - TenForums

---

While you're thinking about backups, consider Backup and Restore Device Drivers - TenForumsTutorials as well.

All the best,
Denis

ost files are copies of the server files. If deleted they are recreated with the information currently on server.


ost files normally can't be used like pst files. There are programs, that cost, that will extract ost info.


Have you logged on to gmail with a web browser to see if all mail is on server?

Noel,

I realise it's all sorted now but this might still be of some interest.

How to move IMAP or EAS data files - Slipstick

Denis