outlook archive folder

[Guest]

I am using autoarchive and it is set to send my archived messages to the
default archive.pst file. However, there is nothing in that file when I try
to open it by going through "open outlook data file" or clicking on the
archive folder in Outlook. However, I discovered two other .pst files that
are entitled backup.pst and Outlook backup.pst. I opened them and they
created linked "personal folders" in Outlook that seem to contain the
archived Inbox messages I was looking for. However, I don't really
understand why there is nothing in the archive folder and how these files got
created. Some of my inbox messages are in one and other inbox messages are
in the other file (I don't have any additional folders for received mail
besides my inbox folder). Could someone help me understand - I could see
potentially creating one of them myself before I learned about autoarchive,
but I know I didn't create both? I'd like my messages to go only to the
archive folder (the autoarchive options still say they are supposed to go to
the default archive.pst folder).

 

[Guest]

Okay, I think I figured out some of it. I believe I downloaded a tool from
the Microsoft update site that backs-up personal folders. I still need help
sorting out what I should have on and off and why my messages have not been
saved in archive folders anyway.

 

[Guest]

And now I can't figure out how I backed them up. I don't see a backup option
in the file menu. So maybe I am wrong about the backup program? Help on
this too?