Windows 7 Ultimate x64
Outlook 2010

I have a number of test VMs that use the same Outlook data file -- one at a time.

I need to move the outlook.pst to another location.  I tried following the instructions at:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/outlook-help/move-an-outlook-data-file-pst-to-different-folder-HA010378229.aspx

I shutdown Outlook, moved the pst file and restarted outlook.  It complained that the pst file was missing and I selected the pst file in the new location.  All of the old emails appeared as did all of the settings (i.e. shortcuts).  However, all of the send/received processes through an error saying the outlook data file could not be found.

I opened the account settings and clicked on folder and saw Outlook there.  I opened the dropdown and selected the Inbox.

Then tried to retrieve mail and got the same error message.

How do I tell the accounts where the outlook data fi

Microsoft does not support PST sharing. To share .pst files are not meant to be a long-term, continuous-use method of storing messages in an enterprise environment.

We suggest three alternatives to .pst files:

• Use Microsoft Exchange Server 2010 or Microsoft Exchange Server 2013 Personal Archive mailboxes.
• Configure Microsoft Outlook in Cached Exchange Mode. This caches Exchange Server mailbox data in a local Offline Folders (.ost) file.
• Configure Outlook to run on Windows Terminal Services and to connect to the Exchange Server mailbox in Online mode.

Thank you for you understanding.

Cheers,
Tony Chen
Forum Support
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The question was not about sharing.  I have multiple test VMs and use them one at a time.  This is not the problem.

The question was how to move the PST file from one location to another using one VM.  I followed the instructions and Outlook did not work.  In other words I had Outlook open in the VM and it looked fine.  I closed outlook, moved the PST file as in the instructions, opened Outlook and when it complained about the missing PST file I selected it at the new location.

However, none of the email accounts would work.  They all reported that the PST file was missing.  There is nothing in the instructions about how to handle that.

Need to go into the Control Panel <Mail> applet on each VM and change the profile to point to the correct location for the PST file. Same process whether or not it's a VM. Add the PST file to the profile and then change the target location for the email account to the Inbox in the newly located PST file. Once complete, remove the reference to the old PST file under the Data Files tab (be sure that the new location is set as the default first)

The instructions at:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/outlook-help/move-an-outlook-data-file-pst-to-different-folder-HA010378229.aspx
do not say that. 

By the way, I tried the process you described a while ago.  The results is that you can't delete the original location of the PST file because Outlook says it is transferring settings.  By the time you can delete the original PST file from the files list the settings in the new locationa are destroyed. 

Since it is obvious that the email settings are not in the PST file but in the registry it should be possible to change the location of the inbox there but Microsoft does not document the process and the instructions it provides do not work.

Is there an complete set of working instructions for move a PST file?

#1 - Settings are contained in Outlook profiles - it's the profiles that are contained in the registry, not the inidividual component parts

#2 - Given that you seem to be having so many problems, simplest solution would be to create a new profile and point your email account to the existing PST file or

#3 - You can follow these instructions and simply treat each PST file location as a different computer

http://www.slipstick.com/config/move_outlook.asp

As for the message you got regarding transferring settings, was just a matter of letting Outlook complete the process.

Please note that I am not moving Outlook to a new computer.  I am simply trying to move a PST file to a new location on the same computer.

So once again -- since the instructions provided by Microsoft for moving a PST file DO NOT WORK is there a set of instructions for moving a PST file ON THE SAME COMPUTER that do work?

Given all the options that been presented, would suggest that perhaps the best choice for you is to open a support case with Microsoft so that they can guide you step by step - not sure what more information can be provided in terms of various ways to accomplish what you need which is a relatively simple, straight-forward and common task.

Microsoft Support
http://support.microsoft.com

In terms of your comment about copying the file on the same computer as related to the link I included, you evidently did not read the sentence immediately preceding the link - more specifically ".........simply treat each PST file location as a different computer"