restore split pst files

[magaparsec]

I was running Outlook 2003 on a Windows Vista Home Edittion machine that was
regularly set to Backup and Restore several folders including my Outlook pst
files. I had a main pst file (my deliverable one and several archive files
that were quite large. The computer crashed several times, but I had always a
recent backup. Finally the computer had to be sent back.

In the meantime, I am trying to restore my backed up pst files with a
Windows Xp laptop also running Outlook 2003. I tried unzipping the files and
both importing and opening the pst files on the laptop, however I think that
the Vista Backup and Restore program broke up the pst files into smaller
chunks when it zipped them and now they are unreadable. The laptop would open
the pst file, with a file size of 2G, and nothing would be inside. How can I
restore these backup zips and pst files? Is it possible on a non-Vista
machine?

Many thanks for you help,
Maggie

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

Did you ever use any valid methods to backup your files? If not, then you
have a Vista question, not an Outlook question. We would have no idea how or
what Vista does to back up files. I only know I would never trust an OS to
do what I can do more reliably: I make a copy of my Outlook data file to
back it up. Try doing the same. It can't fail.

 

[magaparsec]

I forgot to mention that the backups were (obviously) on an external
harddrive. In the past I would just drag and drop the files and folders to
the external, and so I do have a working PST file and archives but they are
dating back to Oct, so I'm missing the 3 months after that. I will post in
Vista group...

Did you ever use any valid methods to backup your files? If not, then you
have a Vista question, not an Outlook question. We would have no idea how or
what Vista does to back up files. I only know I would never trust an OS to
do what I can do more reliably: I make a copy of my Outlook data file to
back it up. Try doing the same. It can't fail.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

I was running Outlook 2003 on a Windows Vista Home Edittion machine that
was
regularly set to Backup and Restore several folders including my Outlook
pst
files. I had a main pst file (my deliverable one and several archive files
that were quite large. The computer crashed several times, but I had
always a
recent backup. Finally the computer had to be sent back.

In the meantime, I am trying to restore my backed up pst files with a
Windows Xp laptop also running Outlook 2003. I tried unzipping the files
and
both importing and opening the pst files on the laptop, however I think
that
the Vista Backup and Restore program broke up the pst files into smaller
chunks when it zipped them and now they are unreadable. The laptop would
open
the pst file, with a file size of 2G, and nothing would be inside. How can
I
restore these backup zips and pst files? Is it possible on a non-Vista
machine?

Many thanks for you help,
Maggie

 

[Brian Tillman [MVP - Outlook]]

I forgot to mention that the backups were (obviously) on an external
harddrive. In the past I would just drag and drop the files and folders to
the external, and so I do have a working PST file and archives but they
are
dating back to Oct, so I'm missing the 3 months after that. I will post in
Vista group...

If a backup program splits a file when creating a backup, it certainly
should comine those pieces when restoring. Did you try a Vista Backup
restore operation instead of simply copying?