Question : Need help with viewing my .pst file emails - MS Outlook 2003 setup incorrectly and refuses to open normally.

I have some .pst files that I would like to view but everytime I open up MS Outlook 2003 - I get the error:  The connection to Microsoft Exchange Server is unavailable. Outlook must be online or connected to complete this action.   Then when I click on OK - I get a Microsoft Exchange Server dialog box and I try to remove the info that pops up.  But after doing so I get another error- -Unable to open your default e-mail folders.  The file C:\Documents and Settings\Stephen LeCompte\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook\outlook.ost is not an offline folder file.  

I don't plan on utilizing MS Outlook 2003 to connect to an Exchange Server- I just want it to open up normally and allow me to view past .pst files.  How can I reset this to make it an offline folder file?  Can I just delete the .ost file?

Answer : Need help with viewing my .pst file emails - MS Outlook 2003 setup incorrectly and refuses to open normally.

Ok. Open Control Panel > Mail > Select Show Profiles > Remove any existing profiles > Click Add to create a new profile > Type a name for the profile > Add New e-mail account > Next > Additional Server Types > Next > Next > Select New Outlook Data File > PST > Click OK > Browse to the PST file > Click Open > Click OK > Click Finish > Click Ok > Ok

When you start Outlook with this profile select No to setup mail account access using an Exchange server/Internet etc and it should open your PST file you selected above then you can add others through the outlook File menu as per normal.