Outlook Backup Utiltiy

  • Thread starter Thread starter dmahanay
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dmahanay

I want to backup Outlook using the backup utility which I
can do in my User Administrator account of Win XP.
However, in two other User accounts, one set up as
limited, and antoher with Administrator authority the
Backup selection is not on the File menu. How do I get
it on the menu so I can backup a file which I need to
restore on another computer?

I tried exporting the personal file (pst) and I can't get
it to import properly. When I used the backup utility on
another computer and restored to mine it worked great.
 
I've seen this before but am not sure of the fix. However, note that if you
close OL, you can just copy the PST file to the location of your choice -
you could use a batch file or do it manually in Explorer. I'd probably go
the batch file route using something like robocopy from the resource kit. No
need to import/export; that generally causes more problems.

That said, I would also like to know the answer to the disappearing OL
backup utility issue per profile, so I'll keep an eye on this thread. ;-)
 
You say copy the PST file. Is there already a PST file
if I don't export one? Where would it be and what is the
name of it? I need further explanation on "batch
file"...don't know anything about robocopy. I did locate
an Outlook Backup in each user name and tried to copy one
and paste it in another folder and it didn't work.
Wouldn't paste.
 
You say copy the PST file. Is there already a PST file
if I don't export one?
Click to expand...

assuming you're using outlook and not outlook express, yes, there is
at least one pst file. most likely called outlook.pst. if you are
doing archiving then you might have a second called archive.pst.
Where would it be and what is the name of it?
Click to expand...

see above. the default location will depend on which OS you're using,
who installed OL, etc. the easiest way to find the pst file(s) is to
do a search using your OS search utility. search for *.pst and you
should find them.
I need further explanation on "batch
file"...don't know anything about robocopy. I did locate
an Outlook Backup in each user name and tried to copy one
and paste it in another folder and it didn't work.
Wouldn't paste.
Click to expand...

batch files are small text files (ending in bat as in copymypst.bat)
that are created using a text editor and which contain commands to
copy files, etc. you could create a batch file using microsoft word
pad to copy your pst file(s) to a backup partition, folder, etc. you
could then either run that batch file manually or schedule it to run
automatically using the microsoft task scheduler. do a google search
on batch files or better yet do a seach on batch files within your
OS's help files. either way you should end up with tons of
information.

google is a wonderful thing. to learn about robocopoy do a search on
"robocopy" or "miscrosoft robocopy" (again without the quotes).

if, after all of that, you're not comfortable with batch files and
scheduling them you can use any one of a number of commercial programs
that will do the same thing. do a google search on "outlook backup"
(without the quotation marks). that will result in a number of hits.

finally, the easiest way to backup your pst file(s) is to simply drag
and drop them using windows explorer. be sure that outlook is closed.
double check to be sure that outlook.exe is not running in the process
list of task manager as some folks report that outlook does not really
shut down when they close outlook (that may be why your copy and paste
did not work). highlight the pst file, right click and hold the mouse
button in and drag the file to whatever folder you want to put it.
release the mouse button and then select COPY HERE. that should do
it.

HTH

rich
 
see above. the default location will depend on which OS you're using,
who installed OL, etc. the easiest way to find the pst file(s) is to
do a search using your OS search utility. search for *.pst and you
should find them.
Click to expand...

However, I find that the actual folder is hidden, and they won't
necessarily show in a search. I keep all my folders in view.

As I recall the path for a .pst (in Win2K or XP) would be something
like....

C:\Documents and Settings\<user name>\Local Settings\Application
Data\Microsoft\Outlook\

A .pst file might easily be named outlook.pst once you're in the right
directory, though with multiple profiles the name may vay, but the
extension will still be .pst.
 
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