Outlook - lost on PC (Still have in the cloud) - Help to reinstall?

[Frank the Insurance guy]

We have Office365 inc Outlook etc with onedrive.

Started having a problem yesterday where Outlook on PC wasn't connecting (Continously asking for password).

Trying to be clever, thought I would delete and reinstall. In doing that I have deleted the PST file (Which I think is a necessary file!).

I assume the cloud version of outlook has a PST file? Where is it and can I copy to to my local PC to then be able to use Outlook on the PC as before?

I mistakenly thought I would just need to sign into O365/Outlook and it would automatically sync with my only data?

Help, please!

 

[DontAsk]

My experience pre-dates 365, using Outlook in a work environment, but there was only one .pst. it was not synched with the server. (Actually ISTR you could create personal .pst but e-mails were only ever in one or the other)

Why not reloaded the most recent version from your backup? You do have a back-up?

How did you delete it? Have you looked in the Recycle Bin?

 

[Nico Albrecht]

I dont think you have a PST file!


What is available on outlook.office.com can be downloaded by reconnecting the account. To download the entire dataset associated with the account, select the option to download all on your email account.

The default setting is usually 6 months or 1 year.

You haven't deleted the local cache file (OST) but rather created a second one.

If you're using Exchange, it utilizes an OST file instead of a PST file. OST files are encrypted, making them unable to be mounted like PST files in a typical manner.

It seems you may have created some offline folders that weren't synchronized with the email system, resulting in missing folders and contacts. Contacts are not stored in OST or PST files.

If you've lost data in outlook.office.com, consider restoring from your daily backup for the best course of action.

 

[WaveJumper]

Are you running the Outlook account on another machine ie mine runs over several including phone so assume if deleted off one device it would still be on the others?

 

[japancool]

Do you know if the email account was POP or IMAP?

 

[Frank the Insurance guy]

Are you running the Outlook account on another machine ie mine runs over several including phone so assume if deleted off one device it would still be on the others?

Yes - All up and running on phone, tablet and browser.

Just for the life of me have no idea what I have done on the laptop (Surface Pro) - I can't even set up my email account to get into outlook!.

Do you know if the email account was POP or IMAP?

No idea - its on Exchange if that means anything?




Would a factory rest of the of laptop work? It should then ask me to set Office 365 up again and will then sync from the email Exchange?

 

[Nico Albrecht]

POP or IMAP?

99% sure he's on Exchange protocol not IMAP protocal as he uses 365 with outlook.

Who on earth would still use pop protocols. Thats a 40 year old standard for a time people only had single device.s

 

[Frank the Insurance guy]

I dont think you have a PST file!


What is available on outlook.office.com can be downloaded by reconnecting the account. To download the entire dataset associated with the account, select the option to download all on your email account.

The default setting is usually 6 months or 1 year.

You haven't deleted the local cache file (OST) but rather created a second one.

If you're using Exchange, it utilizes an OST file instead of a PST file. OST files are encrypted, making them unable to be mounted like PST files in a typical manner.

It seems you may have created some offline folders that weren't synchronized with the email system, resulting in missing folders and contacts. Contacts are not stored in OST or PST files.

If you've lost data in outlook.office.com, consider restoring from your daily backup for the best course of action.

Thanks Nico,

The fact that I've got access to it on other devices suggest the data is all there and available somewhere!

If I click to open Outlook it currently asks Choose a profile name called outlook - then it says it cannot find it (I think this is the file I deleted by mistake!).

Would a factory reset of the laptop and then reset everything up work?

 

[WaveJumper]

If you are logged into your 365 account it should give you the option to install Outlook onto your PC ?

 

[Frank the Insurance guy]

If you are logged into your 365 account it should give you the option to install Outlook onto your PC ?

Yep - have outlook installed, but can't add my email account to it!

Sorted out a profile so outlook now opens but has no email account attached to it.

Have been trying to add an email account, outlook succesfully searches and finds my account, but then get a pop up "windows security" requires password, but then goes in a cycle of repeatedly asking for password!

 

[Nico Albrecht]

Thanks Nico,

The fact that I've got access to it on other devices suggest the data is all there and available somewhere!

If I click to open Outlook it currently asks Choose a profile name called outlook - then it says it cannot find it (I think this is the file I deleted by mistake!).

Would a factory reset of the laptop and then reset everything up work?

No need for a full reset. Just create a new outlook profile! Old one might got corrupted.

Here is a link how to do it for testing without deleting a thing

How to create multiple profiles in Outlook

Happy Tuesday everyone! Today's Tech Tip is a tip on how to create multiple profiles in Outlook.Is your email playing up with Outlook occasionally crashing ...

youtu.be

You can later set the test profile to default so it wont prompt every time.

 

[Frank the Insurance guy]

Thanks @Nico Albrecht ,

Just followed the youtube and got stuck at the point after putting in the password on creating a new profile, I get the windows security pop up for a password, which doesn't go away!.... AGHHH...frustrating!

 

[WaveJumper]

Your PC settings:

Outlook continually prompts for password when you try to connect to Microsoft 365 - Outlook

Describes an Outlook connection issue referenced in an OffCAT diagnostic rule. Provides a resolution.

learn.microsoft.com

 

[Nico Albrecht]

I get the windows security pop up for a password, which doesn't go away!.... AGHHH...frustrating!

I would say this could be a problem with a security certificate getting stuck.

1. open up windows credential manager ( press windows key and type credential )

2. in windows credentials tab look for something called Microsoftoffice16xxxxxQauth2xxxxx ( something like that ) delete both entries they are the 2nd popup ones when you add an account later on.

3. go to control panel and than mail ( outlook ) as per video and click on show profiles

4. add new profile call it "test" and than it will ask for email setup, press cancel and than ok and create a profile without an email account

5. choose option " prompt for profile to be used " and press ok

next press windows key and type: run

type in outlook.exe /safe and press ok

Choose " test " profile and add your account from there.

Let me know if that works.

 

[Frank the Insurance guy]

Hi everyone for your help. Nothing was working so I did a full Restore on the laptop.

Have now reinstalled everything and outlook is back where it should be!!

Phew!!......

Thanks for everyones help, much appreciated.

 

[WaveJumper]

Hi everyone for your help. Nothing was working so I did a full Restore on the laptop.

Have now reinstalled everything and outlook is back where it should be!!

Phew!!......

Thanks for everyones help, much appreciated.

Brilliant well done