The following is a list of data store and configuration files used by
Microsoft Outlook. Some of the folders might be hidden folders. To view them,
do one of the following:
Windows XP
- Click Start, and then click My Computer.
- On the
Tools menu, click
Folder Options, click the
View tab, and then click the
Show hidden files and folder
option.
Windows 2000
- Double-click My Computer on your desktop.
- On the
Tools menu, click
Folder Options, click the
View tab, and then click the
Show hidden files and folder
option.
Your configuration may not include all of the following files. Some files are created only when you customize Outlook features.
Outlook data files (.pst)
drive:\Documents and
Settings\<user>\Local Settings\Application
Data\Microsoft\Outlook
Offline Folders file (.ost)
drive:\Documents and
Settings\<user>\Local Settings\Application
Data\Microsoft\Outlook
Personal Address Book (.pab)
drive:\Documents and
Settings\<user>\Local Settings\Application
Data\Microsoft\Outlook
Offline Address Books (.oab)
drive:\Documents and
Settings\<user>\Local Settings\Application
Data\Microsoft\Outlook
Command bar and menu customizations (.dat)
drive:\Documents and
Settings\<user>\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook
Navigation Pane settings (.xml)
drive:\Documents and
Settings\<user>\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook\Outlook.xml
This file includes Shortcuts, Calendar, and Contact links.
Registered Microsoft Exchange extensions (.dat)
drive:\Documents and
Settings\<user>\Local Settings\Application
Data\Microsoft\Outlook
Outlook contacts nicknames (.nk2)
drive:\Documents and
Settings\<user>\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook
Rules (.rwz)
drive:\Documents and
Settings\<user>\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook
If you upgraded from a version of Outlook prior to Outlook 2002, you may have a .rwz file on your computer hard disk drive. The file is no longer needed and the rules information is now kept on the server for Microsoft Exchange e-mail accounts, and within the personal folders file (.pst) (Personal Folders file (.pst): Data file that stores your messages and other items on your computer. You can assign a .pst file to be the default delivery location for e-mail messages. You can use a .pst to organize and back up items for safekeeping.) for POP3 and IMAP e-mail accounts. You can delete the file.
If you use the rules import or export feature, the default location for .rwz files is drive:\Documents and
Settings\<user>\My Documents.
Print styles (Outlprnt with no
extension)
drive:\Documents and
Settings\<user>\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook
Signatures (.rtf, .txt, .htm)
drive:\Documents and
Settings\<user>\Application
Data\Microsoft\Signatures
Stationary (.htm)
drive:\Documents and
Settings\<user>\Application
Data\Microsoft\Stationary
Custom forms
drive:\Documents and
Settings\<user>\Local Settings\Application
Data\Microsoft\Forms
Dictionary (.dic)
drive:\Documents and
Settings\<user>\Application Data\Microsoft\Proof
Templates (.oft)
drive:\Documents and
Settings\<user>\Application
Data\Microsoft\Templates
Send/Receive settings (.srs)
drive:\Documents and
Settings\<user>\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook
Message (.msg, .htm, .rtf)
drive:\Documents and
Settings\<user>\My Documents