Phantom pst files

I have Outlook 2000 (running from an in-house Exchange server) set to periodically archive items over 3 months old, sending them to a Archive.pst on a network drive. All works well.

Early into a new year, I force an archive of anything up to 31/12, close Outlook and rename the archive - this time it was to Archive (2005).pst; I then copy this file to a backup directory. Around Easter, I'll then delete the file from it's normal location.

This time, I moved the Archive (2005).pst rather than copying it. I hadn't realised until I restarted Outlook. At this point I realised the file shouldn't be accessible and I'd need to copy it back. However, Outlook didn't complain and the 2005 Archive was still accessible: I could open folders, read email and even move and delete it - even though I'd taken the pst file off the drive it had been pointing to. The only things I can't do is Close it or to open its Advanced Properties.

I can even delete all the files, empty the deleted folder and check that its size (Properties/Folder Size) is now 0kB.

How can I remove this "phantom" pst file?

 

Thanks for replying - where's the right-click delete option in Outlook? Individual folders can be deleted but, AFAIK, a pst file has to be "Closed ".

Actually, the pst files were held on one of the local file servers, in my personal directory there - that way, they're included in the routine server backups and are independent of the PC I may be working on.

The problem is that the files Outlook were previously pointing to have already been deleted. However, rather than complaining it can't find them, it seems to locate a mirror which it then can't detatch from.

Strangely, the same behaviour (not being able to close a pst file) has happened on my home PC - try to close and I get the message "The operation failed. An object could not be found ". If I open up its properties I can get the folder size, etc. but the same error message if I try to to use the "Advanced..." button.

Steve