error message - cannot start Microsoft outlook

Question

I just changed my drive and cloned the old drive before making the change. I am able to open One Drive and Word but I get an error message when trying to open Outlook on my PC - the web version works. The error message states that "the set of folders cannot be opened" and a file cannot be found (the file name is C:\users\owner\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook\ (my email address.ost). I can't seem to find a way to fix this!

Answer 1

Hello RobX328

Hi, I'm Karl and will be happy to help you today.

Since this involves a hard drive that has been cloned, would suggest that you create a new Outlook profile and configure your accounts again using the COntrol Panel Mail app

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a) - With Outlook closed open the Control Panel <Mail> app

Just in case you need info regarding how to access the Control Panel Mail app, that's described in the following article by Outlook MVP Diane Poremsky

Where is the Control Panel Mail icon?

https://www.slipstick.com/how-to-outlook/where-...

If using Windows 11

How to Open Control Panel in Windows 11

https://www.lifewire.com/open-control-panel-in-...

b) - Select <Show Profile> --> <Add> --> give the new profile a name (no need to remove the existing Outlook profile)

c) - Configure your email account(s)

d) - Set the newly created Outlook profile as the default for the next time Outlook is opened otherwise it'll use the old profile

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Note: if you had "This Computer Only" folders (i.e. contact / calendar) with data you want/need in the OST file that cannot be found, then...............

If you can actually find that OST file, you will need a (paid) 3rd party OST2PST conversion tool to recover that data otherwise that data is lost

Answer 2

You need at least to undertake an in-place Office repair, How depends on version

If you delete that *.ost it will be rebuilt