Missing data - Using Backup Tool OL2007

[DavidG]

Hello,
I have, I thought, faithfully backed up my OL data by downloading and using
the MS OL Backup Tool. Having recently installed Windows 7, when it came
time to restore my .pst file, I re-imported the .pst file but found that my
last 3 weeks of messages were not there!!! This was not an amusing scenario.
I am prepared to accept that obviously I've done something wrong, but I have
no idea what that might be.

I set up the back up tool. In File\Data File Management it seems that by
default it has a location such as, C:\Users\Dave\AppData\Local ... etc. In
the Account Settings/Data files dialogue box with the Data files tab selected
there is the default file path in C:\Users ... which is the default folder.
OK, I have added (Using Add...) a path to my backup drive D: where I backup
all my data. I have created a folder D:\Data\Backup\Outlook_2007. In
addition I have the backup tool set to backup every 1 day.

So when I got to restoring my .pst file after installing the new OS, I found
the last 3 weeks of data had not been backed up. (Or hadn't restored). What
am I doing wrong??
Thanks
David

 

[Roady [MVP]]

The Backup Tool does not backup automatically. It will prompt you each x
days (you can configure x) to backup your pst-file when closing Outlook.
Then you only have to confirm the backup and a copy will be made of your
selected pst-files.

Also note that in order to restore, you do not have to import the pst-file,
but you can simply reconnect it via;
File-> Open-> Outlook Data File...

 

[DavidG]

Thanks for the response.

I have configured the backup frequency to 1 day. It does backup each day
then. I have used this OK. I just find it hard to understand how the last 3
weeks have been missing. Anyway, I'm not going to worry about that, I just
want to get it set up correctly so it backs up as expected, moving forward.

Maybe the import of pst file was not the way to go. I will follow it as you
suggested. By the way, Am I going about the backup the right way when I use
the Data File Management dialogue box to add an additional backup location.
E.g As I mentioned in the original post. In theory, I could have 3 or 4
backup locations and the backup tool would faithfully backup the .pst file to
each location? Is that right?

I will also study the pages you've suggested.
Thanks
Dave

 

[Roady [MVP]]

You cannot add additional backup locations. You can only specify 1 backup
location per pst-file via;
File-> Backup...-> Options...

You can of course add additional pst-files to Outlook (even the backed up
ones) via Data File Management to see what is in a pst-file or to verify the
backup.