How to configure the default personal folders file path for Outlook 2000 (266255)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Outlook 2000
  • Microsoft Exchange Server 5.5
This article was previously published under Q266255
Important This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry

SYMPTOMS

When you add personal folder files to your e-mail profile, the following path is the default path:

Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook

You can change this path manually, but the path always defaults to the preceding path. You cannot change this path default to another path.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, obtain and install the latest service pack for Microsoft Office 2000. For additional information about how to do so, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

276367 How to obtain the latest Office 2000 service pack

Important After you install the service pack for Office 2000, you must add the ForcePSTPath string value to the following registry key:

Warning If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Office\9.0\Outlook

Value name: ForcePSTPath
Value data (SZ): drive:\path\

The following example changes the default path of the C:\Allpsts folder:

Value name: ForcePSTPath
Value data (SZ): c:\allpsts

  1. Click Start, point to Run, and then type regedit to start Registry Editor.
  2. Locate the following registry key:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Office\9.0\Outlook\

  3. On the Edit menu, point to New, click String Value, and then add the following registry value:

    Name: ForcePSTPath

  4. Locate and select the following key in the registry:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Office\9.0\Outlook\ForcePSTPath

  5. In the right-pane, double-click the ForcePSTPath icon.
  6. In the Value data box, type the drive letter and folder path where you want the Personal Folder files to be created (in this example, c:\allpsts). Click OK.
  7. Quit Registry Editor.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in Microsoft Outlook 2000.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:9/23/2005
Keywords:kbHotfixServer kbQFE kbbug kbfix kbQFE KB266255
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