exported 03 .PST to desktop (193MB), copied to jump drive. reinstalled OS and office, trying to import .PST and get nothing (no email, contacts, nothing). file says 193MB but nothing shows up after importing/opening file. ideas?

Do you receive an error? Does it tell you the import was successful? Are you positive you copied the correct pst file? Did you open it (from the storage media) within Outlook before formatting and reinstalling everything? In all the years I've been using Outlook, the Import option has never been successful for me when importing a pst file. Copy the pst file to a folder on your drive. Then, instead of trying to import it, use File, Open, Outlook Data File. See what shows. Life's more painless for the brainless.

i did try the method you recommended, it opens with no error but only shows a deleted items folder with nothing in it and no other info. why would the file size be 193MB if there is no data in it?

I misread that you exported the file. As I said before, that doesn't work properly (at least not for me). Did you make sure to export ALL the folders within the pst file? My guess is you selected the "Personal Folders" option to Export. If that's the case, what you have is quite normal. The best way to backup a pst is either use pfbackup from Microsoft, or just do a copy of the pst file. I'm afraid you're out of luck unless you copied the file off of the drive at some point. Life's more painless for the brainless.

Hey Mathew, after you have transfer the PST file, you have to go to TOOLS>>SEND/RECEIVE>>SEND AND RECIEVE ALL this will update your mail box David