Outlook 2002 + Windows Mobile 5 = backup Contacts & Calendar Lost?

[Sasha88]

I had my T-Mobile MDA Vario with Windows mobile 5.0 PPC Phone Edition for 2
years. I also used Outlook 2002 /Windows XP and have been saving backups on
DVDs as Personal Folder File ( .pst files ) regularily. Few month ago we had
a problem with the computer and had to reinstall everything. And then few
days ago my Smartphone developed a fault: it couldn't be connected or charged
anymore. I reinstalled Outlook and tried to open my old backup files for
Calendar, Contacts and Tasks but they all look blank. I can open them or
import them but where is my data? I had A LOT of text and it will be really a
pity to loose 2 years of typing... We also have another computer with Windows
Vista, I tried to open my files and the result was the same. I looked in
Archived and other folders in Outlook - all blank. Is there any way of
opening the backup files? Should I just take photo pictures of the Smartphone
screen till the battery discharges or there is another solution?

Thank you, Sasha

 

[Brian Tillman [MVP - Outlook]]

I had my T-Mobile MDA Vario with Windows mobile 5.0 PPC Phone Edition for 2
years. I also used Outlook 2002 /Windows XP and have been saving backups
on
DVDs as Personal Folder File ( .pst files ) regularily. Few month ago we
had
a problem with the computer and had to reinstall everything. And then few
days ago my Smartphone developed a fault: it couldn't be connected or
charged
anymore. I reinstalled Outlook and tried to open my old backup files for
Calendar, Contacts and Tasks but they all look blank. I can open them or
import them but where is my data?

It would be nearly impossibl;e to tell where your data might have been lost
without knowing the state of your old PC at the time you made those backups.
For example, if Outlook was open when you burned those PSTs to DVD, that
could cause it. If you exported the PSTs rather than copying the original,
that could cause data loss. Did you copy the PST you're trying to open back
to your hard drive and remove the read-only attribute before opening it in
Outlook? If you did copy it from the DVD, did you place it in a folder with
no other PST in it? Did you copy it to the the folder where Outlook creates
PSTs by default or did you copy it to a separate folder?

 

[Sasha88]

Thank you very much for the reply, Brian.

I don't think I could have Outlook open when burning DVDs. I can't remember
if I pressed "archive" or "export" for creating mu backup files. When I try
to open or import the files directly from my DVDs I see message
"file access is denied. You do not have the permission required to access
the file..."

When I copy an archive.pst file (no copy protection) either in my folder
with no other PST of in default Outlook folder it is still blank. Actually
not completely blank - I've just found one of them still contain 1
appointment from a year ago. (should be about 10 for every day with lots of
notes). The same file occupies 64 KB on the DVD, but after copying and
opening in Outlook it "grows" to 80 KB. Maybe I haven't copied my data
correctly in the first place?

Thanks, Sasha

 

[Brian Tillman [MVP - Outlook]]

I don't think I could have Outlook open when burning DVDs.

Some burning software may try to burn a file that's open. Some burning
software seems to have trouble with PSTs.

I can't remember
if I pressed "archive" or "export" for creating mu backup files.

Neither archive nor export are backup tools. They cannot make an exact copy
of a PST.

When I copy an archive.pst file (no copy protection) either in my folder
with no other PST of in default Outlook folder it is still blank. Actually
not completely blank - I've just found one of them still contain 1
appointment from a year ago. (should be about 10 for every day with lots
of
notes). The same file occupies 64 KB on the DVD, but after copying and
opening in Outlook it "grows" to 80 KB. Maybe I haven't copied my data
correctly in the first place?

PSTs that are less than about about 256KB are likely corrupt. An empty PST
takes more room than the ones you have. It appears the process you used to
create or transfer these PSTs is faulty and you have nothing now.

 

[Sasha88]

Thank you very much again. So how you back up properly from Outlook if
"export" or "archive" actually do nothing? Save as an HTML? That's for other
readers of course as I hope (sorry!) I'll never use Outlook again. I'll
rather keep my contacts & Calendar at Google or something like this. Anyway,
I better carry on with my Smartphone screen scanning to save my data.

 

[Brian Tillman [MVP - Outlook]]

Thank you very much again. So how you back up properly from Outlook if
"export" or "archive" actually do nothing?

I never said they "do nothing". I said they don't make a faithful copy of
the PST. The way to make a faithful copy of it is to, well, COPY it. Close
Outlook and use Windows Explorer to copy the PST to some other location.
Backup all done. Burn the copy to your transfer medium. Now you can test
the backup by copying it back from the DVD (to some folder not containing a
PST already) and opening it in Outlook with File>Open>Outlook Data File. If
it looks complete, close it again (right-click its root and choose Close).
You now hav a guaranteed good backup. More information here:
http://www.howto-outlook.com/faq/backupandrestore.htm
http://www.slipstick.com/config/backup.asp

 

[imtpro]

Try iMobileTool Contacts Backup. It helps me to backup contacts from windows
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Free download at: http://www.imobiletool.com

Hope it helps.