A network administrator can add the DisablePST registry value to a registry key so that all the users of a computer cannot create or access Outlook .pst files in Outlook 2003 (896515)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Office Outlook 2003
Important This article contains information about how to modify the registry. Make sure to back up the registry before you modify it. Make sure that you know how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up, restore, and modify the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows registry

SYMPTOMS

As a network administrator, you can add the DisablePST registry value to the following registry key so that all the users of a computer cannot create or access Microsoft Outlook personal folders (.pst) files:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Office\11.0\Outlook

However, you cannot use the DisablePST registry value to prevent users from creating or accessing the .pst files on a per-user basis.

RESOLUTION

This problem was first fixed in a hotfix that is now contained in a service pack. If you installed the latest Microsoft Office 2003 service pack, you do not have to install the hotfix.

Service pack information

This problem is corrected in Microsoft Office 2003 Service Pack 2.

To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Office 2003. For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

870924 How to obtain the latest service pack for Office 2003

How to obtain the hotfix

This issue is fixed in the Outlook 2003 post-Service Pack 1 Hotfix Package that is dated March 11, 2005. For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

895402 Description of the Outlook 2003 post-Service Pack 1 hotfix package: March 11, 2005


After you install this hotfix, follow the steps that are listed in the "More Information" section to set the DisablePST registry key and to enable the hotfix on a per-user basis.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.
This problem was first corrected in Office 2003 Service Pack 2.

MORE INFORMATION

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.

To prevent users from accessing and creating .pst files by using the Outlook command bar, follow these steps:
  1. Open the Group Policy console.
  2. Add the Microsoft Office Outlook 2003 administrative template (Outlk11.adm) from the Office 2003 resource kit.
  3. Under the administrative template, click Disable items in user interface, click Custom, and then click Disable command bar buttons and menu items.
  4. Click to select the Enabled check box.
  5. Click Show.
  6. Add the following numbers to the following entries:
    • Disable option to create a PST(File -- New -- Outlook Data File): 5575
    • Disable option to open a PST(File -- Open -- Outlook Data File: 5576
  7. Click OK.
  8. Apply the policy.
To enable this hotfix on a per-user basis, follow these steps:
  1. Exit Outlook 2003.
  2. Click Start, click Run, type regedit in the Open box, and then click OK.
  3. Locate and then click to select the following registry subkey:

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\11.0\Outlook

  4. After you select the subkey that is specified in step 3, point to New on the Edit menu, and then click DWORD Value.
  5. Type DisablePST, and then press ENTER.
  6. Right-click DisablePST, and then click Modify.
  7. In the Value data box, type 1, and then click OK.
  8. If you use profiles, continue to step 9. If you do not use profiles, continue to step 14.
  9. Locate and then click to select the following registry subkey:

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Office\11.0\Outlook

  10. After you select the subkey that is specified in step 3, point to New on the Edit menu, and then click DWORD Value.
  11. Type DisablePST, and then press ENTER.
  12. Right-click DisablePST, and then click Modify.
  13. In the Value data box, type 1, and then click OK.
  14. On the File menu, click Exit to exit Registry Editor.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:9/6/2006
Keywords:kbOneNote2003SP2fix kbemail kbOffice2003preSP2fix kbQFE kbbug kbfix KB896515 kbAudITPRO kbAudEndUser
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