Outlook creates a new PST file if it cannot open the existing file

[slider]

This issue I am experiencing is if I have a pst file on a mapped network
drive or an external drive (like a usb drive) and outlook opens and for some
reason it cannot find the file it creates a new pst file with the same name
and places it in the default location "C:\Documents and Settings\%user%\Local
Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook".

The problem is the user sees a folder with the name they are used to with no
data in it. The fix is simple enough, remap the original pst file - but it
send my users into a panic. How can this issue be avoided? I'd rather there
be an error saying it can't find the file than having a user believe they
have lost data. This is a random occurrence, nut I have run into it enough
times for it to be an issue. Anyone have any ideas?

 

[Gordon]

This issue I am experiencing is if I have a pst file on a mapped network
drive or an external drive (like a usb drive) and outlook opens and for
some
reason it cannot find the file it creates a new pst file with the same
name
and places it in the default location "C:\Documents and
Settings\%user%\Local
Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook".

The problem is the user sees a folder with the name they are used to with
no
data in it. The fix is simple enough, remap the original pst file - but it
send my users into a panic. How can this issue be avoided? I'd rather
there
be an error saying it can't find the file than having a user believe they
have lost data. This is a random occurrence, nut I have run into it enough
times for it to be an issue. Anyone have any ideas?

Well firstly, Microsoft neither recommends nor supports pst files on a
networked drive. Secondly having pst files on a networked drive is usually
one of the quickest ways to corrupted data.
If this is being done for backup purposes, then it's far safer to have the
pst files where they are supposed to be, locally, and write a little batch
file to COPY the pst file to the network drive when the user closes Outlook.

 

[Diane Poremsky [MVP]]

keeping pst files on a network drive is not supported. You can't prevent
this from happening, other than by insuring the network or external drive is
always available.

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]



Outlook Tips by email:
mailto:[email protected]

EMO - a weekly newsletter about Outlook and Exchange:
mailto:[email protected]

Let's Really Fix Outlook 2010
http://forums.slipstick.com/forumdisplay.php?f=34