Help, upgrading from 2003 to 2007

[Paul T]

I have Office 2007 and getting ready to install it but I need to backup
everything from our Office 2003 Outlook(Address, appointments, comments
ect...). What is the best way of going about this, is this the correct way
I should do this:

File>Export - follow the Export
Wizard to export your emails (and contact, calendar, notes if desired)
to a .pst file. Save the exported file somewhere on my computer.
(I also should make sure the file isn't read-only and that I own it.
Right-click it and look at its
Properties).
After installing the new Office 2007 I should Start Outlook 2007.
File>Import - follow the Import
Wizard to import the .pst file saved in your Document folder.

Is this the correct procedure?? OR can I just install 2007 as a upgrade from
my 2003 in which it will keep all our old files and information such as our
Address, appointments, contacts and comments in Outlook so after the
install/upgrade everything will still be there intact??
Thank You for your help in advance..

 

[Vince Averello]

OL2007 should install over OL2003 just fine.

There's some info on OL2003 backup here, just in case:
http://www.slipstick.com/config/backup.asp

 

[Paul T]

I see slipstick listed some (Demo) programs which will backup everything in
Outlook 2003, has anyone tried them, I only need to do it once so the
program 14 day demo is more then enough time to get it done... Just curious
since they are charging from $29 to over $200 for backup programs when it
seems to me File>Export - follow the Export Wizard does the same thing for
free.. I afraid I might be missing something here..
Thanks again Vince!!

 

[Paul T]

I did the export as pst file including all subfolders and for the heck of it
did a import of this pst back into Outlook 2003 and all went fine(calender,
contacts ect.. loaded), is this a true indication I'm all backed up and good
to go with my upgrade to Outlook 2007??

 

[Roady [MVP]]

No, there is no need to export/import at all. Simply copy the original
pst-file to your backup location.
You can reconnect it via File-> Open-> Outlook Data File... in a new
configuration (like on a new PC).
See http://www.howto-outlook.com/howto/backupandrestore.htm

The backup applications can help you with backing up your settings as well
instead of just your data. Most of them can also do this at an automated
schedule or help you burning it to a CD and splitting the pst-file
automatically when it is too large for a CD. It can then also restore to a
new PC even when the version of Outlook or Windows are not the same. So in
that sense, they do have added value especially when you are not comfortable
doing such things manually or have a complex configuration (like many emails
accounts, multiple message stores, rules, etc...).

I've had good results with ABF Outlook Backup;
http://addins.howto-outlook.com/abf_outlookbackup
If you decide to order use ABF-1HTJ8 to get a discount.