Outlook 2010 not backing up

[Nuno]

Trying to do manual backups of my Outlook 2010 and keep getting a message:
The operation failed. The messaging interfaces have returned an unknown error.

This is only in the last months, (since my annual clean install), and I have used Mailstore to back up with but want to just store a .pst file on a separate disk.
I have disabled all add ins and reinstalled
All accounts are POP, no server of my own
The complete .pst folder is about 1.8Gb (in Mailstore)
Running W7 Ultimate 64

I have asked Uncle Google, but any solutions there don't work, or don't seem to apply.

Any clues please?

 

[Paul_Rosser]

If you goto the file menu, then Account settings and click on the "Data files" tab you will be able to see where Outlook is currently storing your emails (usually in a PST, but may be an OST if using exchange).

Make a note of where these files are and then quit Outlook and copy them manually to make a backup.

Hope this helps.

Paul

 

[Nuno]

Thanks Paul.
I can back up like that and with Mailstore. I'd like to be able to do it with the MS Outlook facility as if this isn't working what else isn't working or might stop working?
Having things work is one reason we spend good money on MS products and there seems no answer to this, (or to email search not working on 64).

 

[Paul_Rosser]

Thanks Paul.
I can back up like that and with Mailstore. I'd like to be able to do it with the MS Outlook facility as if this isn't working what else isn't working or might stop working?
Having things work is one reason we spend good money on MS products and there seems no answer to this, (or to email search not working on 64).

To be honest the error message you are getting isn't very helpful "The operation failed. The messaging interfaces have returned an unknown error."

If it was a bit more specific I may be able to suggest a few things, have you tried running scanpst over your existing PST file to see if there is a corruption in there ? If not is there any more details in your application event log ?

You could try copying the PST to another PC and then recreate your accounts etc on there, if the backup works on that PC then it's a software setting on your PC causing the issue, if not then it's the PST which has a problem.

Thanks

Paul

 

[Nuno]

Thanks again Paul.
the event log shows:

The operation failed. The messaging interfaces have returned an unknown error. If the problem persists, restart Outlook.


301670


14.0.6029.1000


69m1


0x80004005
I'll check the pst later today.

 

[Nuno]

pst was broken according to scanpst but I couldn't fix it as it said other apps were using Outlook. I closed Outlook and went offline, closed all security too, but still had that message. Donno...

Repaired Outlook from disk but that didn't work.

Ho hum

 

[Paul_Rosser]

pst was broken according to scanpst but I couldn't fix it as it said other apps were using Outlook. I closed Outlook and went offline, closed all security too, but still had that message. Donno...

Repaired Outlook from disk but that didn't work.

Ho hum

Try a reboot and then do a scanpst before opening outlook, or hit Ctrl+Alt+del, go into task manager and make sure outlook really has closed.

Oh and make a backup of your PST before running scanpst.

Cheers

Paul

 

[Nuno]

Reran scanpst but it hung as it repaired.
I have however got this message

Error while archiving folder "Inbox" in store "[email protected] - Core Outlook". You are attempting to archive your data to a Outlook 97-2002 data file (.pst) which is a non-Unicode data file. To preserve multilingual data, you must choose a Unicode data file, such as the Outlook data file (.pst). See Help for more information.

I'm trying to work through Google/MS help to fix it but would appreciate any help greatly.

 

[Paul_Rosser]

Sounds like you have a corruption in your mailstore (pst), which would explain why you can't back it up without getting an error.

I'm with a client today but will come back to you this evening with the best way to fix it.

Cheers

Paul

 

[Paul_Rosser]

Reran scanpst but it hung as it repaired.
I have however got this message

Error while archiving folder "Inbox" in store "[email protected] - Core Outlook". You are attempting to archive your data to a Outlook 97-2002 data file (.pst) which is a non-Unicode data file. To preserve multilingual data, you must choose a Unicode data file, such as the Outlook data file (.pst). See Help for more information.

I'm trying to work through Google/MS help to fix it but would appreciate any help greatly.

When are you getting this error m8 ?

Looking around it could be due to the 2gig limit on old style PST files, which may also explain why your backups haven't been working.

 

[Nuno]

I get the message when I try and archive, (as opposed to backup/export).

I have started a new profile hoping that this new profile pst would be in a unicode data file but got the same errors. Creating a new account in the profile throws up an error message but seems to work anyway.

I agree that it might be the old data file with a 2Gb limit, (transferred from an old computer using Office 2007) might be the problem. I'm thinking that uninstalling Office 2010 and reinstalling, copying Outlook data over from my Mailstore backup might be the quickest solution.
Thoughts?
(And thanks very much for your time and expertise so far)

 

[Paul_Rosser]

No problem at all.

You shouldn't need to reinstall Outlook as this is just an issue with your PST file.

I would try creating a new PST (in the new format) and then move folders one by one, once you have a few across do a compress on the old store as this should reduce the size to something more manageable.

 

[Nuno]

Update:
Tried to create a pst file in Outlook>New items>Outlook Data File
No good
Tried to create pst file in Control Panel>Mail>Data Files>New
No good
Tried to create pst file in Outlook>Account Settings> Data Files> New
Yay!
(But didn't show after closing Outlook and reopening)

So. Decided Outlook itself was corrupt. Uninstalled all Office 2010 and reinstalled. Now all working.
I'm not superstitious but I'm touching wood.
Thanks again Paul.

 

[itboffins]

Glad to hear you got it fixed, may be a good time to look into the excellent Microsoft Office365 - only £4 per month but emails then hosted in the Cloud, very fast, very very secure, no need to worry about backups, great spam/anti virus and if your PC / Laptop goes down, just login on any other device and all your emails are there....

You can get a free trial by following links to CloudBoffins on my site in signature

 

[Paul_Rosser]

Glad to hear you got it fixed, may be a good time to look into the excellent Microsoft Office365 - only £4 per month but emails then hosted in the Cloud, very fast, very very secure, no need to worry about backups, great spam/anti virus and if your PC / Laptop goes down, just login on any other device and all your emails are there....

You can get a free trial by following links to CloudBoffins on my site in signature

A very good idea, i would still use Outlook 2010 installed locally though and linked to 365 as then you will still be able to read/compose emails when offline.

 

[itboffins]

A very good idea, i would still use Outlook 2010 installed locally though and linked to 365 as then you will still be able to read/compose emails when offline.

Also a very good idea! FYI if you haven't seen the Office365 E3 Enterprise package for around £15 per month you also get an Professional Plus license for Office to install on up to five machines as well as all the Cloud goodies you get with Office365 (Hosted Exchange with Unlimited storage, Sharepoint Cloud storage, etc ect) .

My clients find it nice to be able to not worry about unknown future software upgrade costs, as you always have the very best version of Office for just £15 a month