IMAP, Outlook 2013, I want my profile to be associated with my saved *.ost file. Nothing I have read solves my problem. Here is what happened...

We saved my outlook 2013 *.ost file.  Then deleted my account and created a new one.  Now, Outlook created a new *.ost file for that account.  I want to use the *.ost file that I saved.  When I try this, I get the error, "*.ost cannot be accessed because it has been configured for use with a different mailbox".  Is there any way to get outlook to associate the saved *.ost file to the new account.

Tried renaming the old file and deleting the new one, but outlook just creates a new ost file *(1).ost.

Tried adding new data file, but outlook does not give me the option to add a *.ost file.

Tried converting the saved *.ost file to Thunderbird.

...

Any ideas?  I would think it should be much easier than it is turning out to be.

Ost files can only be opened by the account that created them. You can't reuse an ost, there is no need to back it up. 

Why did you delete the account? It might be better to try and fix whatever was wrong with it and keep the old ost. (System restore will bring back the old account.) 

.OST file is created which will mirror the existing contents of the data contained on the server, that's why it dont have to be backed up like Outlook Data Files (.pst).

Regards,

Ethan Hua
TechNet Community Support

You won't be able to use your previously saved OST file as you have created a new account and a new OST file has been created for the new account. But you can do one thing - Convert your saved OST file to PST and import that PST into Outlook 2013 installed on any other system. There is no other way to use your old saved OST file.

• Edited by Blake Jason Wednesday, November 26, 2014 5:06 AM