How can I back up Outlook emails?

[Christi]

There is a problem with my 2 month old laptop and Toshiba want to restore it
back to it's original state, and have told me I will therefore lose
everything unless I back up. I know how to back up my documents on to a disc
but can somebody please explain to me simply how I can back up Outlook 2007
so that I will be able to access all my old emails & folders once system is
restored. I have looked at the help pages but have got very confused! Many
Thanks

 

[DL]

With Outlook closed simply copy the *.pst files
http://www.howto-outlook.com/howto/backupandrestore.htm

 

[Christi]

Thank you DL - the link you gave looked quite easy to follow, but I don't
seem to be getting very far! I'm afraid I've been too used to having a
company IT department to call on. Now I'm on my own my knowledge is limited!
Do you know if the fact that my laptop is in safe mode at the moment affects
being able to copy the pst file?

 

[Roady [MVP]]

No, that doesn't affect it.
What error message do you get when trying?
Did you close Outlook already?
Try it again directly after restarting your computer.

 

[Christi]

Hi Roady,

Thanks for trying to help me. I'm such a novice at this. I have now worked
out how to access the pst file but now windows can't read the new disc I've
put in to copy it onto even though it is exactly the same batch as ones I've
used before successfully. I'm now going to get a new USB stick and try that.
If that fails then I don't think I will have any alternative other than to
forward all the emails I need to another email address and then send them
back to myself once the laptop has been restored back to it's original state.
Thanks again

 

[Colin]

Hi Christi,

In Safe Mode, USB drives don't work. Can you start this laptop in safe mode
with networking and copy the file to a network share ?

Regards Colin.

 

[Christi]

Thanks for your reply Colin. It was the Toshiba service people who told me I
would be able to back up all my documents in safe mode - so much for the
experts!
Yes I can get into safe mode with networking, and have been able to copy the
documents modified/created since my last back up to a usb memory stick but
it's only a small memory one and doesn't have enough space for the outlook
file. I am sorry but I don't know what you mean by copy the file to a network
share or more importantly how to do it. Is it easy and something a complete
novice like me can do?

Rgds
Christi

 

[Colin]

Hi Christi,

If you've managed to copy your files to a USB stick then it looks like I've
got it wrong about USB and safe mode!
A network share is a shared folder on another PC/server on your network. It
sounds like you don't have this facility. In this case, and if your USB
drive is available under safe mode, then your initial plan to get a new
drive with a higher capacity is your best bet. Once you copy the Outlook.pst
file to your new drive and restore your laptop to it's factory default, you
can recreate your email account in Outlook, click 'File', 'Import/Export'
and from there, re-import the pst into Outlook.

Regards Colin.

 

[Christi]

I'm finally ready to copy my outlook pst file onto a back up drive. Can
someone please advise if I can leave all the personal folders I've created as
they are or do I need to move all the emails that are in those folders back
to the inbox before copying.

Thanks

 

[Gordon]

I'm finally ready to copy my outlook pst file onto a back up drive. Can
someone please advise if I can leave all the personal folders I've created as
they are or do I need to move all the emails that are in those folders back
to the inbox before copying.

The pst file contains your complete folder structure. No need to move
emails anywhere.

 

[Christi]

Thanks - fingers crossed this will work!!

The pst file contains your complete folder structure. No need to move
emails anywhere.


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