Data Files - Default Locations, Security....

  • Thread starter Thread starter Martin Ibbotson
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Martin Ibbotson

I am using Outlook 2003 with Windows XP Professional on a laptop....

I have tried to protect myself from PC problems by installing software on my C or D drive (which can be re-installed, if necessary - even to formatting the C drive etc) and storing all my data on my G drive. For Outlook, I created a personal folders file on G drive and ensured that each time that I had read my e-mails in the Inbox, I then either deleted them or transfered them to my personal folders file on the G drive.

My installation became so "shaky" and the operating system so degraded (I'm sure you have all experienced that situation at one time or another), that I just had to go through a re-install which involved re-formatting the C drive. Now, I was able to attach my personal folders file from my G drive and successfully retrieved all my e-mails (hurrah!) and my contacts (a surprise, but none the less, welcome!) but I totally lost my calendar (oops!).I had never thought about how I could protect my contacts and calendar by having them in my G drive PST (how my contacts ended up there - I'm not sure, but I must have done that in the past at sometime).

This "question" is about making my data secure.
1. I would ideally like to make my default data file resident on my G drive, but as I understand it, you cannot do that.
2. The next thought is to ensure that my contacts,calendar, etc., in my default data file are regularly transferred to my G drive PST, but I'm not sure how to do this to avoid duplicate contacts, appointments, tasks, etc.(any advice?)
3. I could ensure that I installed Outlook 2003 on the G drive, but this seems to me to be the messiest of all options as I've installed the whole of Office 2003 to my C drive and I'm not sure how I could "shift" Outlook elsewhere.

So, can anyone suggest a fool-proof method of making Outlook data secure in a robust way (avoiding duplicates, etc) such that I can keep the data on a different drive?

Many thanks,

Martin
 
1) Not true. The PST file can reside anywhere on local drives and can even be made the default delivery location so you don't have to the shake & bake shuffle after reading an item. Easiest way to tie an outlook profile to an existing PST and set as the default delivery location is done thru the mail applet in the control panel.

Data Files button is where you add/remove PST files

Use the Email accounts button > View/Change existing accounts to get to a dialog that has a dropdown at the bottom to set the default delivery location.

2) Do #1 and you don't have to worry about this anymore. Well, not entirely true. Make sure you visit your archive settings and disable the archive engine or make sure it archives to a PST file located on the G drive. Don't forget that each folder in Outlook can have unique archive settings.

3) Already answered via #1, but fwiw, operating system and productivity software belong on C. Data belongs where at a location where it is easy to find and backup (hence your choice of G:).

I am using Outlook 2003 with Windows XP Professional on a laptop....

I have tried to protect myself from PC problems by installing software on my C or D drive (which can be re-installed, if necessary - even to formatting the C drive etc) and storing all my data on my G drive. For Outlook, I created a personal folders file on G drive and ensured that each time that I had read my e-mails in the Inbox, I then either deleted them or transfered them to my personal folders file on the G drive.

My installation became so "shaky" and the operating system so degraded (I'm sure you have all experienced that situation at one time or another), that I just had to go through a re-install which involved re-formatting the C drive. Now, I was able to attach my personal folders file from my G drive and successfully retrieved all my e-mails (hurrah!) and my contacts (a surprise, but none the less, welcome!) but I totally lost my calendar (oops!).I had never thought about how I could protect my contacts and calendar by having them in my G drive PST (how my contacts ended up there - I'm not sure, but I must have done that in the past at sometime).

This "question" is about making my data secure.
1. I would ideally like to make my default data file resident on my G drive, but as I understand it, you cannot do that.
2. The next thought is to ensure that my contacts,calendar, etc., in my default data file are regularly transferred to my G drive PST, but I'm not sure how to do this to avoid duplicate contacts, appointments, tasks, etc.(any advice?)
3. I could ensure that I installed Outlook 2003 on the G drive, but this seems to me to be the messiest of all options as I've installed the whole of Office 2003 to my C drive and I'm not sure how I could "shift" Outlook elsewhere.

So, can anyone suggest a fool-proof method of making Outlook data secure in a robust way (avoiding duplicates, etc) such that I can keep the data on a different drive?

Many thanks,

Martin
 
Many thanks... I'll give it a try....

Martin
1) Not true. The PST file can reside anywhere on local drives and can even be made the default delivery location so you don't have to the shake & bake shuffle after reading an item. Easiest way to tie an outlook profile to an existing PST and set as the default delivery location is done thru the mail applet in the control panel.

Data Files button is where you add/remove PST files

Use the Email accounts button > View/Change existing accounts to get to a dialog that has a dropdown at the bottom to set the default delivery location.

2) Do #1 and you don't have to worry about this anymore. Well, not entirely true. Make sure you visit your archive settings and disable the archive engine or make sure it archives to a PST file located on the G drive. Don't forget that each folder in Outlook can have unique archive settings.

3) Already answered via #1, but fwiw, operating system and productivity software belong on C. Data belongs where at a location where it is easy to find and backup (hence your choice of G:).

I am using Outlook 2003 with Windows XP Professional on a laptop....

I have tried to protect myself from PC problems by installing software on my C or D drive (which can be re-installed, if necessary - even to formatting the C drive etc) and storing all my data on my G drive. For Outlook, I created a personal folders file on G drive and ensured that each time that I had read my e-mails in the Inbox, I then either deleted them or transfered them to my personal folders file on the G drive.

My installation became so "shaky" and the operating system so degraded (I'm sure you have all experienced that situation at one time or another), that I just had to go through a re-install which involved re-formatting the C drive. Now, I was able to attach my personal folders file from my G drive and successfully retrieved all my e-mails (hurrah!) and my contacts (a surprise, but none the less, welcome!) but I totally lost my calendar (oops!).I had never thought about how I could protect my contacts and calendar by having them in my G drive PST (how my contacts ended up there - I'm not sure, but I must have done that in the past at sometime).

This "question" is about making my data secure.
1. I would ideally like to make my default data file resident on my G drive, but as I understand it, you cannot do that.
2. The next thought is to ensure that my contacts,calendar, etc., in my default data file are regularly transferred to my G drive PST, but I'm not sure how to do this to avoid duplicate contacts, appointments, tasks, etc.(any advice?)
3. I could ensure that I installed Outlook 2003 on the G drive, but this seems to me to be the messiest of all options as I've installed the whole of Office 2003 to my C drive and I'm not sure how I could "shift" Outlook elsewhere.

So, can anyone suggest a fool-proof method of making Outlook data secure in a robust way (avoiding duplicates, etc) such that I can keep the data on a different drive?

Many thanks,

Martin
 
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