You cannot specify a separate folder to store the .ost file when you use the ForcePSTPath value in Outlook 2003 (896591)

Important This article contains information about how to modify the registry. Make sure to back up the registry before you modify it. Make sure that you know how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up, restore, and modify the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows registry

SYMPTOMS

When you add the ForcePSTPath value to the registry to change the location of the personal folders (.pst) file in Microsoft Office Outlook 2003, the offline folder (.ost) file is also changed to the same folder. You cannot specify a separate folder to store the .ost file.

To add the ForcePSTPath value to the registry, follow these steps.

Warning Serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly by using Registry Editor or by using another method. These problems might require that you reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that these problems can be solved. Modify the registry at your own risk.

Quit Outlook 2003.
Click Start, click Run, type regedit in the Open box, and then click OK.
Locate and then select the following registry subkey:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\11.0\Outlook
After you select the subkey that is specified in step 3, point to New on the Edit menu, and then click Expandable String Value.
Type ForcePSTPath, and then press ENTER.
Right-click ForcePSTPath, and then click Modify.
In the Value data box, type the full path of where you want to store the .pst file, and then click OK.
On the File menu, click Exit to quit Registry Editor.

RESOLUTION

This problem was first fixed in a hotfix that is now contained in a service pack. If you installed the latest Office 2003 service pack, you do not have to install the hotfix.

Service pack information

This problem is corrected in Office 2003 Service Pack 2.

To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Office 2003. For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

870924 How to obtain the latest service pack for Office 2003

How to obtain the hotfix

This issue is fixed in the Outlook 2003 post-Service Pack 1 Hotfix Package that is dated March 11, 2005. For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

895395 Description of the Outlook 2003 post-Service Pack 1 hotfix package: March 11, 2005

After you install this hotfix, follow the steps that are listed in the "More Information" section to set the ForceOSTPath registry key and to activate the hotfix.

Additionally, you must also apply the hotfix that is described in the following Microsoft Knowledge Base article:

895679 Description of the Microsoft Office Outlook 2003 post-Service Pack 1 hotfix package: March 11 2005

MORE INFORMATION

By default, Outlook 2003 stores the .pst and the .ost files in the following folder:

C:\Documents and Settings\username\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook

If you add the ForcePSTPath value to the registry, you can direct Outlook 2003 to store the .pst file and the .ost file in a folder that you specify.

After you apply this hotfix, you can also direct Outlook 2003 to store the .ost file in a separate folder without affecting the location of the .pst file.

Warning Serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly by using Registry Editor or by using another method. These problems might require that you reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that these problems can be solved. Modify the registry at your own risk.
To enable this hotfix and specify a separate folder to store the .ost file, follow these steps:

Quit Outlook 2003.
Click Start, click Run, type regedit in the Open box, and then click OK.
Locate and then click to select the following registry subkey:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\11.0\Outlook
After you select the subkey that is specified in step 3, point to New on the Edit menu, and then click Expandable String Value.
Type ForceOSTPath, and then press ENTER.
Right-click ForceOSTPath, and then click Modify.
In the Value data box, type the full path of where you want store the .ost file, and then click OK.
On the File menu, click Exit to quit Registry Editor.

REFERENCES

This hotfix is not intended for storing the .pst file on a network share and for storing the .ost file on a client computer. For more information about these limitations, see the following Microsoft Knowledge Base article:

297019 Personal folder files are unsupported over a LAN or over a WAN link