Importing emails - gone wrong...

[#1]

I wonder if anyone can help. I bought a new computer and all i wanted to do was import my plusnet emails from my old computer into my new one. This seemed to work fine - i imported the .pst file into a microsoft outlook application. but then the problems startedL

- the plusnet servers thought these were all NEW emails and my phone and ipad all got the emails. 

- But the real problem was that i then started receiving emails from plusnet saying there was too much on their server and to delete some things. 

- however, time passed, and they archived one whole mailbox, which i am waiting to be restored. 

This will get sorted but i need to avoid the mess again and wanted to ask:

1.  how can i import a .pst file and avoid this - ie how can it just be imported as a bucket of downloaded data and not go through the plus net server?

2. how do i change settings for how long things stay on the plusnet server and how to delete htings from the server? This used to be simple but i can't find any such settings any more

3. If i archive emails within outlook, will they be removed from the plusnet server?

4. I've read something about setting folders and sub folders so that some don't sync - would this have avoided the problem?

Any advice much appreciated - thank you. 

[#2]

Hi there, 

"1.  how can i import a .pst file and avoid this - ie how can it just be imported as a bucket of downloaded data and not go through the plus net server?"

If you set Outlook to POP3 instead of IMAP temporarily and untick the option to "leave a copy of messages on the server" should do the trick. 

"2. how do i change settings for how long things stay on the plusnet server and how to delete htings from the server? This used to be simple but i can't find any such settings any more"

Which version of Outlook are you using?

"3. If i archive emails within outlook, will they be removed from the plusnet server?"

As per my reply to your first question that would involve using our POP3 server (mail.plus.net)

"4. I've read something about setting folders and sub folders so that some don't sync - would this have avoided the problem?"

That's not something I'm personally aware of but I'm sure a Community member might be able to tell you more. 

Here's a link to our email setup guide if that helps in the meantime: https://www.plus.net/help/archive/email/

[#3]

You do not "import" .pst files as such - you simply open them.

Outlook 201x has an "Open & Export" option under the files menu.  Select Open Outlook Data file (.pst) and all of your emails will be there.

Importing them puts them back into the live mailbox.

HTH?