Outlook data file missing for btconnect.com email

[DutchCloggs]

I used to use a btconnect.com email address for 20 years and I used to access it via Outlook on my PC. When Outlook no longer supported this type of email address I started to use a new Outlook email address and I disconnected the btconnect.com email address from Outlook on my PC. For years I still had visibilty and access to the old emails in my btconnect.com account via Outlook, although no new emails would come into the account via Outlook. I still have access to the btconnect.com email via the web portal and I can still send and receive messages. However I cannot understand why the original data file containing all my old emails seems to have disappeared from my PC hard drive. Any ideas?

Thanks

[BethM]

Hi DutchCloggs

From what you've described, it sounds as though Outlook was previously using a local data file to store a copy of your BTConnect emails. 

Even after you stopped using the btconnect.com address in Outlook, that data file may have allowed you to continue viewing your historic emails for some time.

A few things may have happened:

The data file still exists but Outlook is no longer linked to it. Removing or reconfiguring an account can sometimes cause Outlook to lose the connection to an existing data file, even though it remains on the PC.

The file may have been moved. This can happen following a Windows update, profile change, OneDrive sync, backup software activity or a new Outlook installation.

The file may have been removed when the Outlook profile was deleted. This is more common with offline cache files (OST files), which Outlook can recreate when an account is reconnected.

The file could be corrupted. If the file still exists but is damaged, Outlook may no longer be able to open it. Microsoft provides a repair tool (SCANPST.EXE) for Outlook data files.

As a first step, I'd suggest searching your PC for Outlook data files by searching for:
*.pst and *.ost

You can also check these common locations:
C:\Users\YourName\Documents\Outlook Files
C:\Users\YourName\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook
(You may need to enable hidden folders to view the AppData location.)