For years I have struggled with "transferring" Outlook's .pst file, e.g.,
when doing a complete re-install of Windows or when a client buys a new PC
and wants their Outlook data transferred from their backup files. Invariably
something gets botched up and this usually means I have to spend hours
trying to resolve the mess created. I am assuming there must be a proper way
to do this and obviously I'm not doing it. What I'm hoping for is that
someone will provide a step-by-step procedure that WORKS.

My general practice has been to install Office, open Outlook and create a
new account when prompted. I then simply copy the backup copy of the
"outlook.pst" file into "C:\Documents and Settings\username\Local
Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook" and overwrite the newly created
..pst file. That just doesn't work. Most often this results in the Address
Book not being associated with the Contacts, etc. So again, what I'm wanting
to do is to use the backup "outlook.pst" file as the one and only .pst file
for a new installation of Outlook..... let's narrow it down to Outlook 2003.