Using Classic Outlook on Windows for personal email, calendar, and contact management
A new Outlook profile cannot automatically clone every characteristic of an existing profile, but it can be rebuilt so that the same accounts, data files (PST/OST), calendars, contacts, and most settings are effectively preserved.
Below is the supported way to recreate the profile and reattach the existing data files for Hotmail (OST) and Ameritech (PST).
- Create the new Outlook profile
Use one of these supported methods:
Method A – Profile picker (from Outlook)
- Hold Shift while starting Outlook.
- In the profile picker dialog, select Options.
- (Optional) Check Prompt for a profile to be used so it is easy to switch between the old and new profiles while testing.
- Select New.
- Type a name for the new profile (for example,
NewOutlookProfile) and select OK. - Add the Hotmail account when prompted (Outlook will create a new
.ostfile for it automatically). - Add the Ameritech account when prompted (POP/IMAP). Outlook will create a new data file for it, which will be replaced/adjusted in the next steps.
Method B – Control Panel (classic way)
- Close Outlook.
- Open Control Panel → search for Mail → open Mail → Show Profiles.
- Select Add.
- In Profile Name, type the new profile name and select OK.
- Add the Hotmail account.
- Add the Ameritech account.
At this point, the new profile contains both accounts but not yet the exact same data files and layout.
- Attach the existing Ameritech PST file
The Ameritech account’s mail, calendar, and contacts live in the PST file:
C:\Users\Danny\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook\Danny's Ameritec.pst
To reuse it in the new profile:
- Start Outlook using the new profile.
- Go to File → Account Settings → Account Settings.
- On the Data Files tab:
- Click Add… and browse to
C:\Users\Danny\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook\Danny's Ameritec.pst. - Select it and click OK.
- Click Add… and browse to
- Still on the Data Files tab, select
Danny's Ameritec.pstand click Set as Default (if this was the default delivery location in the old profile). - On the Email tab, select the Ameritech account and click Change Folder (if available) to point its delivery location to the folders in
Danny's Ameritec.pst(Inbox, Sent Items, etc.).
This reattaches the original Ameritech PST so all mail, calendar, contacts, and tasks from that file appear exactly as before.
- Hotmail OST file and data
The Hotmail account’s OST file is a cache of server data:
C:\Users\Danny\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook\******@hotmail.com.ost
In a new profile, Outlook will create a new .ost file for Hotmail automatically. The data (mail, calendar, contacts) will sync down from the Hotmail server, so there is no need to copy or move the OST file.
If there are local-only items in the old Hotmail OST (for example, items created in folders that never synced), they must be exported from the old profile to a PST and then imported into the new profile. That export/import process is not covered in the provided context, so only the supported behavior can be stated: Outlook will create a new OST and sync server content.
- Calendars and contacts
- Ameritech (PST): All calendars and contacts stored in
Danny's Ameritec.pstwill appear once that PST is attached to the new profile and set as default (if that was the case before). - Hotmail (OST): Calendars and contacts stored in the Hotmail mailbox will sync from the server into the new OST automatically after the Hotmail account is added.
- Header settings and view/layout
Profile recreation does not fully clone every UI preference (views, column layouts, reading pane, etc.) automatically. Some view and layout settings are stored per profile and may need to be reconfigured manually in the new profile. The supported documentation focuses on creating and switching profiles, not on copying view settings.
- Use the new profile by default
After confirming that the new profile has both accounts and the correct data files:
- Close Outlook.
- Open Control Panel → Mail → Show Profiles.
- Select Always use this profile.
- Choose the new profile from the list and select OK.
If the new profile works as expected, the old profile can be kept as a backup or removed later. Before removing any profile, ensure that important data files (PSTs) are backed up, because removing a profile can delete cached content.
References:
- Create an Outlook profile
- You can't change the location of the offline Outlook Data File (.ost) in Microsoft Outlook
- I can’t start Microsoft Outlook or receive the error “Cannot start Microsoft Outlook. Cannot open the Outlook Window”
- Classic Outlook not responding, stuck at "Processing," stopped working, or freezes