I bought the T-Mobil Dash PDA and installed the trial version of Outlook
97 from the supplied CD.

Then I imported data in CSV (DOS) format from another PIM I have been
using for years without incident. ONLY the contact data was imported; I
created additional Task & Calendar listings from within Outlook.

The PDA would:
* synch Calendar & Task data from Outlook just fine
* synch Calendar & Task data TO Outlook just fine.
* synch Calendar & Task edits from either source, just fine

so, at that point, Calendar & Tasks are in good shape.

The PDA:
WOULD
* synch contacts created on the PDA to Outlook
* accept edits on the same data FROM Outlook

WOULD NOT
* accept any of the data originally imported via csv to Outlook from
Outlook (The data generated on the PDA and synched to Outlook remained
accessible / editable / synched in both locations)
* accept fresh data generated IN CONTACTS from Outlook

After > 4 hours (literally) with T-Mobile tech support, it was
determined that the Outlook database had been corrupted during the data
import. That makes it 'broken software' in my mind since several other
PIMs have had no problems with the exact same *.csv data files.

This is the point where tech support (tier 3) told me to have a nice day.

So, thinking to get rid of the data file and start fresh, I control
panel / removed Outlook and re-installed.

No dice ... same data file.

I then deleted the data file folder (with contents), control panel /
removed again and reinstalled again.

Now it is giving me the error message that it cannot find the
Outlook.pst data file. What's up with that?

My thinking is, well, duh ... YOU (Outlook installer) are supposed to
create the stinking thing ... get to it.

Two additional remove / reinstall cycles (and several reboots) later, I
am posting here asking for some guidance as to how to fix this.
Situation. I can't recall ever seeing a situation where a complete
reinstall didn't generate missing files.

I am asking as politely as I know how, but am presently disposed to:
1) find a similar (Dash) device that uses a different OS / has no
dependency on Outlook.
2) if the device wants Linux, wipe Microsoft off this hard-drive and
start fresh
3) If the trial version can not be coerced into working (I am willing to
invest no more than two more hours -- having already chewed through 2
working days with this mess), I am NOT willing to buy the $100+ full
version. Broke in the trial is broke in the full and refunds on software
are too hard to come by. BTDT.

Bill

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