RSS Feeds
Import Outlook PST Files into Thunderbird with PST Import
Posted by Kevin Purdy at 1:40 AM on January 5, 2008
Windows/Linux (Thunderbird): Import Outlook's PST files and choose which email folders to bring into Thunderbird with PST Import, a free extension for the open-source, cross-platform email manager Thunderbird. While Thunderbird can import certain messages and settings from an existing Outlook installation, the PST Import add-on lets you set up email on Linux systems, and gives Thunderbird users the ability to pull specific email folders from a stand-alone PST file. The program was coded in France and one user review noted a dialog pop-up in French language, but the instructions should be fairly straight-forward, regardless. PST Import is a free download and is listed as working with Windows and Linux versions of Thunderbird—if any OS X users want to give it a quick shot, I'll update whether it works there too. Thanks Eddy!
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
an9ie
Posted April 1, 2008 9:08 PM
I'm afraid this is a dud. Installed the extension, directed it to import the PST file, a message appeared in French saying that it was a large file and would take a while, creates a folder called Outlook PST folder in Local folders, you go to open it, and ... it is empty (sob). If you look at the user reviews, I think 7 out of 8 of them said that it didn't work.
Still searching for a PST importer!
Greg
Posted August 20, 2008 2:52 PM
This plug-in did not work for me either.
No helpful error message, no explanation...
Disappointing. I'd recommend not installing it.
twosox
Posted 7:35 AM 4/1/08
@Tombuch -- AOL/AIM Mail both allow IMAP access, according to AOL:
[help.aol.com]
You should be able to connect Tbird to your AOL mail account and move the messages to Gmail, using their IMAP folders, as well.
twosox
tombuch
Posted 7:19 AM 4/1/08
I've been on the AOL system since 1993. I dumped the pay service, but am still using their web based email client, as well as Gmail. I'd love to dump out of AOL completely, but can't figure out a non-tech way of moving my contacts and filed email to Thunderbird or Gmail. Anybody have a simple solution to the AOL proprietary stonewall?
tombuch
randy
Posted 9:33 AM 4/1/08
@WOOK Same here with Office 2003. Didn't work. No bother, it was only my work email.. and I don't really care about it enough to bother.
randy
wook
Posted 9:03 AM 4/1/08
Just tried the plugin and it didn't find any mailboxes. I did get the French dialog box that was translated from Google saying the following:
The PST will be borne please wait it may take a long time on wholesale pst.
Has anyone else tried the plugin? I'm running it in Thunderbird 2.0.0.9 using the following command path: (Tools, Import, Mail, Outlook PST, etc.)
wook
coonj
Posted 8:33 AM 4/1/08
PST importing is a good idea, BUT I think if you are moving from Outlook to Thunderbird, it is a good time to rethink your Inbox(s) organization, and start fresh and clean!
Keep your old emails in Outlook, just in case you need them.
coonj
GOLDROX
Posted 8:23 AM 4/1/08
*WARNING* Before you switch to Thunderbird, be aware that exporting files out of TB is not quite as simple.
GOLDROX
bbbco
Posted 7:42 AM 4/1/08
Question about Outlook and Tbird...
Any way to set up a Microsoft Exchange Server on Tbird? My school network uses this system, and I have considered switching to Tbird if the transition and efficiency was fairly smooth and integrated well into the Exchange Server. Any ideas?
bbbco
bbbco
erifneerg
Posted 1:26 PM 4/1/08
if anybody know a good solution for palm syncing for thuderbird, I'd love to hear it.
erifneerg
Katyl
Posted 7:11 AM 10/1/08
About best I've heard for palm syncing if you have a net connection is SyncML. [zyb.com] is a decent free server that I remember using. There is a palm client for SyncML (open-source) called funambol. Hope this helps.
Katyl