Remove registry references to PST files (O2K, OXP, O2K3)

Tech-Archive recommends: Repair Windows Errors & Optimize Windows Performance

From: Oloff (Oloff_at_discussions.microsoft.com)
Date: 02/12/05

  • Next message: Jim Vierra: "Re: Remove registry references to PST files (O2K, OXP, O2K3)" 
    Date: Sat, 12 Feb 2005 11:39:03 -0800

    Before I dive into my issue, let me give the necessary background info.
    Machines are running either Windows 2000 SP4, Windows XP, or Windows XP SP1
    in a Windows 2003 domain. The majority of users are on Office 2000. A
    decent amount of users are on Office 2003. A small chunk of users are on
    Office XP. All Office users are configured for corporate e-mail (exchange).

    Here is the big picture: I need to remove all profile pointers to PST
    files. I do NOT need to remove the PST files themselves. It needs to run
    quickly, without user interaction, and be implemented via a Group Policy
    logon script.

    Assumptions: Outlook will not be open at the time the script is executed.

    Here is what I have working code for thus far:
    Get the default profile.
    (HKCU\Software\Microsoft\WIndows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows Messaging
    Subsystem\Profiles\DefaultProfile)
    Scan all keys beneath the default profile looking for REG_SZ entries
    containing the text "Personal Folders". Delete any key that contains such a
    reference.

    On Office 2000, this works great. PST references are gone with no errors.

    Office XP & Office 2003 run without any errors EXCEPT when doing the
    following. Right-click "Microsoft Outlook" on the desktop->Click
    "properties"->Click "data files..." and then the error hits: "There was an
    error locating one of the items needed to complete this operation. It might
    have been deleted."

    Using some registry snapshot tools I have narrowed down the culprit(s) to
    the following key/values (again, we are still under the default outlook
    profile in HKCU):
    key: 9207f3e0a3b11019908b08002b2a56c2
    value: 01023d00 (binary_value)
    value: 01023d0e (binary_value)

    It appears that whenever a pst file is added, a binary reference is also
    added to those two values. This is consistent for all the versions of Office
    I am testing with. For whatever reason, Outlook 2000 doesn't mind a bogus
    reference being left in those values, but Office XP and Office 2003 do (see
    error above).

    I have tried deleting the values but that semi-corrupts the Outlook profile
    causing weird problems. So, long story short, how can I remove the stinking
    PST references from those two values??? I have never dealt with processing
    binary values and have hit a wall.

    I feel I am 95% of the way home and could really use a gentle nudge to get
    the rest of the way.

    Thanks!

    P.S. I haven't mentioned a specific programming/scripting language because
    I'm not having problems with my existing code. I simply need help chopping
    down those two binary values. If you choose to post code I would prefer
    vbscript or perl. I also know this is a VBA newsgroup but I figured since
    my question is Outlook-specific this was the best place.

  • Next message: Jim Vierra: "Re: Remove registry references to PST files (O2K, OXP, O2K3)"

    Relevant Pages

    • Lost Contacts in Outlook when upgrading from Office 2003 to Office 2007
      ... Lost account data when upgrading from Outlook 2003 to 2007.... ... They're still in the old PST. ... WIndows Vista they are in %LocalAppData%\Microsoft\Outlook. ...
      (microsoft.public.outlook)
    • Re: 2. Benutzerkto. (XP) - Outlook-Sharing?
      ... Outlook im Netzwerk ohne Exchange: Public ShareFolder ... jeweils mit einem eigenen Benutzerkonto bei Windows XP, die selbe PST ...
      (microsoft.public.de.outlook)
    • Re: WHAT object cannot be found?
      ... So I set up a new profile after deleting the old. ... It's not the only issues I've had with Outlook failing, ... I'm using Outlook 2007 on Windows 7 Professional 64 ... compacting PSTs in the past yet the PST does compact. ...
      (microsoft.public.outlook)
    • Re: FAO Brain Re: Wanting to sort out my PST files
      ... having struggled for years to find out how to backup my Outlook ... Yes, it is impossible to open PST files in anything other than Outlook, just like it is impossible to open Word doucments in anything but Word and have them intelligible. ... Normally, in either Windows XP or Windows Vista, some of the folders in the user profile are hidden folders by default. ...
      (microsoft.public.outlook.general)
    • Re: Duplicate .pst or mail file showing
      ... Personal Folders reference, ... Find the onethat reference the PST ... Outlook after you delete the first one. ... > reflects just fine in the Data Files tab. ...
      (microsoft.public.outlook)