Moving/Sharing Outlook.pst

[BDole]

I would like to create my outlook.pst file on a shared folder on a small
network I have set up in my house but would like to access that file from 3
PC's running Microsoft Outlook. Sounds simple enough, I just want to throw
it out there and see what kind of problems I may encounter with anyone who
has done something similar. Also, I am running 2003 on 2 of the PC's and
2007 on another. Will that present a problem? I have opened an Outlook
2007 pst file on a machine running Outlook 2003 and it opened like butter.

Any feedback?

Thanks,
-Greg

 

[Guest]

I would not do it because if your PST file becomes corrupt you are SOL. As
for diffeent versions of OL, my best guess says it will not work. But what
do I know, Ask Milly Staple, she is the best and one sexy lady.

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

Apparently you didn't research your question at all. Answer has been well
documented for years:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;297019

 

[DL]

MS doesnt support the use of a pst over a network / Lan as it can lead to
corruption.
Only a single instance of OL can access a pst.
If OL doesnt close correctly on one PC & you try to open another it could
corrupt it.
Each Profile would have to point to the same pst
2003 & 2007 use the same format data file, by default, a unicode pst

 

[Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]]

***BLUSH*** thanks for the kind words, I think.

To the OP, only one instance of Outlook can access the .pst file at any given time. To share the .pst file, have a look at options on this page: http://www.slipstick.com/outlook/share.asp

Also, putting a .pst file on a network is not supported by Microsoft - see http://support.microsoft.com/kb/297019/en-us Doing so can lead to corruption and loss of your data. As always, make a backup of your .pst file (with Outlook closed, copy and paste to a secure location like a USB or external drive) before changing any configurations.

--
Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]

Post all replies to the group to keep the discussion intact. All
unsolicited mail sent to my personal account will be deleted without
reading.

I would not do it because if your PST file becomes corrupt you are SOL. As
for diffeent versions of OL, my best guess says it will not work. But what
do I know, Ask Milly Staple, she is the best and one sexy lady.

 

[Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]]

"2003 & 2007 use the same format data file, by default, a unicode pst"

FYI - only true if the Outlook installation is new install, not an upgrade and not using a prior version .pst file format. Otherwise, the new format must be explicitly created by the user or the older file copied to the newer format.

--
Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]

Post all replies to the group to keep the discussion intact. All
unsolicited mail sent to my personal account will be deleted without
reading.

MS doesnt support the use of a pst over a network / Lan as it can lead to
corruption.
Only a single instance of OL can access a pst.
If OL doesnt close correctly on one PC & you try to open another it could
corrupt it.
Each Profile would have to point to the same pst
2003 & 2007 use the same format data file, by default, a unicode pst

 

[DL]

I know

"Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]"
"2003 & 2007 use the same format data file, by default, a unicode pst"

FYI - only true if the Outlook installation is new install, not an upgrade
and not using a prior version .pst file format. Otherwise, the new format
must be explicitly created by the user or the older file copied to the newer
format.

--
Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]

Post all replies to the group to keep the discussion intact. All
unsolicited mail sent to my personal account will be deleted without
reading.

MS doesnt support the use of a pst over a network / Lan as it can lead to
corruption.
Only a single instance of OL can access a pst.
If OL doesnt close correctly on one PC & you try to open another it could
corrupt it.
Each Profile would have to point to the same pst
2003 & 2007 use the same format data file, by default, a unicode pst