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How to open an Outlook Data File without using an email account

Normally when you start Outlook, it expects to connect you to an email account using a profile created on your computer.

You can however use Outlook without an email account.  This involves setting up a profile that does not use an e-mail account.  This will allow you to open an Outlook Data (.pst) File on a computer on which you do not have an email account profile, or in circumstances where you do not have an email account you can use with Outlook.   For example, this might be when you have left the University and your account has been closed, and you have taken an archive of email with you for use on another computer with Outlook installed on it.

CREATING A PROFILE

To create a profile without an account, follow the instructions below (the procedure is identical for Outlook 2010 and Outlook 2007):

1. Windows 7: Click the Windows Start button, select Control Panel and then Mail (32-bit).
   
   Windows XP: Click the Windows Start button, select Control Panel and then Mail.
   
   
2. Click the Show Profiles button.
3. Click Add...
4. Enter a name for your new profile in the Profile Name box.  We suggest giving it a name that indicates that it's not associated with any email account, such as No-Account.  then click OK.
5. You'll be shown an Add New Account dialogue box.  Click Cancel.
6. You'll be asked, If you want to create a profile with no e-mail accounts, click OK, so click OK at this point.
7. The new profile name will appear in the list.
8. Click the Prompt for a profile to be used button, so that Outlook will offer you a choice of profiles when you start it.
9. Click OK.
10. Now start Outlook.
    You will be shown a Startup wizard dialogue box.
    Click Next to start the wizard.
11. You will see the question Would you like to configure an E-mail account?
    Click the No button, then click Next.
12. The wizard will confirm that you have chosen not to configure an email account. Tick the box labelled Continue with no e-mail support.
13. Click Finish.
14. Outlook will now start, ready for you to open the required Outlook Data File.
    The next time you use Outlook with this profile, it will launch Outlook immediately without the above wizard dialogue.

OPENING THE OUTLOOK DATA FILE

Outlook 2010

1. Click the File menu tab.
2. Click on Open.
3. Click on Open Outlook Data File.
4. In the Open File dialogue box, navigate to where your Outlook Data File is stored, select the file and click on Open.

Outlook 2007

1. Open the File menu and select Open.
2. Click on Outlook Data File...
3. In the Open File dialogue box, navigate to where your Outlook Data File is stored, select the file and click on Open.