Daily backup of Outlook Express

[JM]

I want to do a daily backup of my Outlook Express email folders. Can I
simply add the appropriate files/folders (dbx) to my backup software config?
In several methods I've looked at there are some (usually 4) registry keys
that are backed up, but I do not need to backup/restore settings, news,
views, etc. I just want my email folders and data to be backed up.

thank you,

jm

 

[PA Bear]

Daily? Jeez...

References:

Backup & Restore OE Data
http://www.insideoe.com/backup/index.htm
http://www.oehelp.com/backup.aspx

OE Files & Settings
http://www.insideoe.com/files/index.htm

OE Registry Keys
http://www.insideoe.com/files/regkeys.htm

Importing OE Data (all DBX files, including Folders.dbx)
http://www.insideoe.com/faqs/how.htm#importOE5

Importing a single DBX file
http://www.insideoe.com/faqs/how.htm#importdbx
http://www.oehelp.com/backup.aspx (last paragraph)

OE-QuickBackup
http://www.oehelp.com/OEBackup/Default.aspx
--
OE6-specific newsgroup:
news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.windows.inetexplorer.ie6_outlookexpress
OE General newsgroup:
news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.outlookexpress.general

~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-Windows (IE, OE, Security, Shell/User)

 

[JM]

Thank you for the resources.

Daily? You bet. The account in question gets over 300 emails per day,
medical related.

jm

 

[PA Bear]

Then make absolutely certain that you compact all OE folders before backing
up.

 

[PA Bear]

PS: You might find the following useful/helpful:

MVP "Majik", author of OE-QuickBackup, writes:
<paste>
Backup and archiving are two separate things that people sometimes confuse
each other with. What it sounds like you are wanting to do is archive the
old message stores for possible later retrieval. Usually archiving is a way
to store the old messages, clear them from the current setup and basically
start over with empty files. Should you have a need to restore those files,
you can simply import them into OE.

Backup is done in case you have a problem and need to restore the data as it
was.

Backing up files should be done in a way that you understand what and where
the files are, how long you want to retain them, etc.

Two different forms of backup (others may have additional plans):

1) Make a backup of the current data. (Backup1)
The next time you backup the data, put it in a separate folder.
(Backup2)
The next time you backup the data, put it in a separate folder again.
(Backup3)
The next time you backup, overwrite Backup1
The next time you backup, overwrite Backup2
The next time you backup, overwrite Backup3
The next time you backup, overwrite Backup1
The next time you backup, overwrite Backup2
The next time you backup, overwrite Backup3
&c.

You always keep the last three backups for that just in case problem.

2) Make a backup to a different folder for each backup, never overwriting
the previous.

One idea: I've got several clients doing now for backing up their messages
is to create a folder within OE and name it the month (March2004) of the
backup. They can easily copy just that one DBX file and put it on CD then
delete it from within OE. When they need it, they can easily then make a
new folder of the same name, open it to create the dbx file required to get
it in the Folders.dbx file), close OE, then copy the backed up dbx file over
the existing one (removing the read only attribute) then restarting OE.
Their messages are there waiting on them then and when they finish, all they
have to do is delete the folder in OE. They won't be adding messages to that
dbx file so it's no big deal when they delete it.
</paste>

 

[Uncle Grumpy]

Then make absolutely certain that you compact all OE folders before backing
up.

Why would that be a consideration???

Is the cost of current storage media prohibitive if one doesn't compact
things?

 

[PA Bear]

Why would that be a consideration???

Is the cost of current storage media prohibitive if one doesn't compact
things?

It has nothing to do with cost and everything to do with corruption. See
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/IE/community/columns/filecorruption.mspx

And while I have your attention...

General OE Caveats:

- Don't use Inbox or Sent Items to archive messages. Move them to local
folders created for this purpose.

- Empty Deleted Items folder daily.

- Disable Background Compacting [N/A in SP2] and frequently perform a manual
compact of all OE folders while "working offline". More at
http://www.insideoe.com/files/maintain.htm

- WinXP SP2 only: Do not attempt to close OE via Task Manager or shutdown
your machine if Automatic Compacting is taking place.

- WinXP SP2 only: If your machine is fully up-to-date at Windows Update,
installing the following patch (KB918766) will help to avoid such data loss
in the future:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=86b68a78-f325-4a95-98c2-98af2256ccc3

This patch will be included in the next Cumulative Update for Outlook
Express/WinXP SP2.

- Your anti-virus application's email scanning feature can also cause
corruption. Disable it. It provides no additional protection.

 

[Jon]

The previous comment in this thread was actually made by "PA Bear"

It has nothing to do with cost and everything to do with corruption. See
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/IE/community/columns/filecorruption.mspx

Compacting is merely analogous to a hard drive defragmentation. It wouldn't
be advisable to defragment your hard drive every single day of its
existence - since the constant wear and tear on the drive would long-term do
it more harm than good - so the same for the compacting process.

The article you quote also discusses the dangers of excessive and pedantic
compacting, as well as its value.

 

[Anna]

JM:
(If you're still around...)

You mentioned in one of your initial posts that this OE email account
apparently gets quite an intensive "workout", e.g., receives 300 or so
emails daily.

While you can use one of the manual methods of backing up the OE mail
program as described to you by some of the responses you've received, might
I suggest a third-party program for a comprehensive backup & recovery of
your OE mail program?

The program is called ABF Outlook Express Backup and it's a program designed
specifically for OE backup purposes. It's a wonderful program in that it's
extremely simple to learn and use and quite effective as an OE backup
program. Not only does it backup your mail folders, but it also backs up
your Address Book, OE settings, Rules, Blocked Senders, Stationeries, and
even your Favorites. And it does so simply and quickly.There's virtually no
"learning curve" involved. The program has an added advantage in that its
backed-up OE data can be copied/restored to another OE program on a
different computer or different drive.

We've been using various versions of it for nearly two years now (it's
frequently updated and the updates are free within the same version) and
find it a most useful program. We've been highly recommending the program to
our customers and interested users. While one can find a number of freebie,
or near-freebie programs available for backing up OE, as well as manual OE
backup procedures, the simplicity, ease of operation, and effectiveness in
what it does make that ABF program very appealing to us. Take a look at it
at: http://www.abf-soft.com/outlook-express-backup.shtml

The cost of the program is $29.95 (download - $10 extra for the CD) and they
have a free 30-day evaluation download (slightly crippled) available. We've
found the program well worth its cost.
Anna

 

[PA Bear]

Compacting is merely analogous to a hard drive defragmentation. It
wouldn't
be advisable to defragment your hard drive every single day of its
existence - since the constant wear and tear on the drive would long-term
do
it more harm than good - so the same for the compacting process.

Compacting your OE store is only minimally analogous to defragging your HDD.

The article you quote also discusses the dangers of excessive and pedantic
compacting, as well as its value.

True, but as a longtime OE user and MVP, I'd recommend that /anyone/ who
receives (let alone sends) over 300 messages a day in OE to compact all
folders before backing up at the end of every day.