I completely agree. There are scenarios in which the locally residing ost
file is your only point of recovery for the users email. For instance I have
been involved in a situation where a new SBS 2003 domain was installed on new
equipment with the same domain name as the old domain. All the users’ data
was dumped to pst files. All except one imported back fine on the new
domain. On one Outlook literally ate the pst file. We still had the ost
file from the old domain profile on the users machine but you can’t import it
directly nor can you convert it without laying out 600 bucks! Ridiculous.

"BillR - MVP" wrote:

OST files are used with Exchange typically in a work environment. Data,
essentially, cannot be "lost" since it resides on the server. A new profile
connecting to the server should allow access to the data.
Cases we see where data is "lost" include those where an employee no longer
has access to the server. Such issues are between the employer or Exchange
provider and the employee / user. Legal questions regarding ownership can
come into play.

Users often have the ability to backup OST files to local PST files.

I don't think you will ever see native support for OST to PST conversion or
import ability partly because of the possible legal issues involved.

"phaserbanks" wrote in message
news
My father accidentally closed the OST file that contained important data
and
has been unable to re-connect to the file using OL 2003. I searched the
web
and found TONS of forum posts regarding this problem. People are spending
up
to $600 on 3rd party programs to convert the OST file to PST just so they
can
recover their data. I am amazed at what a widespread problem this has
become.

Outlook should not allow a user to so easily lose valuable data. An
option
to import OST files should be added to OL, or a utility should be bundled
with office.

Some forums suggest that XP system restore can reconnect the OST file.
Others have resorted to expensive software, or illegal downloading from
Chinese websites of such software. Software companies are basing their
whole
business on the process of recovering OL data, and this should not be
happening.

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