Windows 10: Outlook *.ost files being created instead of *.pst

I upgraded to Win10/Office 2016 from Win7/Office 2013. At the same time, I changed my web mail (Gmail) from POP3 to IMAP. Since the upgrade, Outlook creates *.ost data files instead of *.pst data files.

As far as I am able to determine, *.ost files are a product of or are otherwise related to an Exchange server, with which I am not associated., i.e., I am using my home custom PC. I also log in to Win10 with a local (vs. Microsoft) account. In Outlook, Work Offline in Send/Receive preferences is grayed out and red Xed; the Outlook icon in the task bar is also red Xed.

All of my searches about this issue relate it to Outlook behavior with an Exchange server. Not being on an Exchange server, I can find no solutions. When I first set up Win10, I logged on using a MS account but no longer do so. Nevertheless, I am wondering if I am tied to MS servers.

My question: however I accomplish it, how do I tweak Outlook to create *.pst data files instead of the *.ost data files.

Thanks for your consideration,

Monk

:)

 

backup of files added instead of being replaced

Hi,



Thank you for posting in Microsoft Community, we appreciate your interest in Windows 10.



I would like to inform you that whenever you want to create the new backup, you will have to manually delete the previous one from the flash drive because Windows create the backup file with the same name and hence will name the new file as copy.



Hope this helps. Please respond if you have any further related query.



Thank you.

 

backup of files added instead of being replaced

Thank you for responding.

The backups that I am referring to are not the File History ones, which I maintain on a separate drive.

The ones that I am concerned with are backups of files which I transfer to another pc via a flash drive. The problem is that I do not wish this flash drive to be loaded up with several non-current versions of the backed up files.

 

Hi Monk,
*.pst files are for POP3 accounts, whilst *.ost files are for IMAP accounts. Nothing to worry about - everything's fine.

 

Thanks Simrick.

According to this article Introduction to Outlook Data Files (.pst and .ost) - Outlook it appears to me that both POP3 and IMAP can create either type of file but the *.ost file is exclusively an "offline data file."

According to this article Switch from working offline to online - Outlook and my previous experience with various outlook versions, I should be able to toggle between online/offline - and that is what I cannot do, the option is stuck, if you will, on offline.

Monk

 

Monk, I'm so sorry - I saw this and completely missed the "stuck in offline" issue!

I have switched several people (including myself) from POP to IMAP, and anyone using Outlook always went from *.pst to *.ost.

Your switch from a MS account to local login for W10 should have nothing to do with gmail. If your gmail is set for IMAP, Outlook will create an *.ost file. You may, however, still be logged into Office with your MS account, so you might want to check that.

The Outlook "Work Offline" icon in the Send/Receive tab should always have a red-x on it; The globe is grey in color. But, if you are unable to toggle it, perhaps you should try an office repair? You access that from (Control Panel) Programs and Features>Uninstall a Program. When you select Office, you will have an option to Change. When you select Change, you will get an option to repair. Working from memory, there are 2 repair options, one local and one online. If I remember correctly, for the two versions of the repair, one is offline or local, and one is online, which will require you to re-input your keycode and register another activation.

My gmail is IMAP, but I access it through HTTP, not with Outlook. The email I use with Outlook is Charter, (POP), and for some reason, they don't show any options for IMAP in my web settings, so I can't play around with it, to help you....sorry about that.

I hope this helps. Maybe some others will chime in with some additional ideas.

 

Thanks for your insights and suggestions, Simrick.

I'll give the repair protocol you outlined a try and post back.

Monk

 

Just a warning folks - OST/PST threads are the biggest spammer magnets we see, if a solution is posted by a new member using a 3rd party app then please report the post.

 

Will do. Thanks for the headsup.

 

It is, to me - "a new member" - a stunning contrast to, on the one hand, receive a "friend" request from Brink and, on the other, in the least by implication, be labeled as a (potential) spammer by z3r010.

Notwithstanding z3r010's cynicism, I should think that the preponderance of users, regardless of their experience, are sufficiently mature and adept at differentiating between legitimate posts and those whose motives are specious. I would also suggest that, rather than repudiate the motives of members out of hand, a conscientious "administrator" would, where concerned, silently monitor questionable threads/posts and act to suppress same if and only if said posts were deemed to be in violation of forum rules. Finally, I must allow for the possibility that Tenforums members are such that they need a father, aka Daddy, to guide them through the pitfalls of the Internet.

If only to assuage the angst that I have unwittingly engendered, I shall desist from further activity in this thread. However z3r010, be advised that I will periodically seek and give advice/suggestions in this forum as the situation may warrant.

Monk

 

Oh - z3r010 wasn't referring to you - he was warning "us" to watch out for new members posting here in this thread with a 3rd party tool to supposedly fix your problems. Sorry about that.

 

Hello Monk,

No one is being cynical here except you.

You have mistaken what John has posted, which is nothing more than a reminder to everyone else about 3rd party solutions for this that are often spam. This is protect our members against scams from spam.

 

Indeed! Then, by all means, expunge this thread to inoculate Tenfourums from further infection.

Monk

 

Is that your request to be expunged?