saving all my incoming and outgoing mail if possible

  • Thread starter Thread starter Mr Wiz
  • Start date Start date
M

Mr Wiz

I need to format my computer but when do that and all my messages that are
in my inbox folders will be gone.

I want to know if there is any way to save them ALL and then restore the
file so can have them all without loosing any.

Any help is appreciate it. Thanks !

I have Outlook 2003 and running Windows Vista.
 
Mr said:
I need to format my computer but when do that and all my messages that are
in my inbox folders will be gone.

I want to know if there is any way to save them ALL and then restore the
file so can have them all without loosing any.

Any help is appreciate it. Thanks !

I have Outlook 2003 and running Windows Vista.
Click to expand...

Search for the .pst file. That's what you need for back up. It contains
all your messages and contacts. You merely need to copy and paste it to
an external hard drive or other media. When you reformat and reinstall
Office, open Outlook and use File/Open/Personal Data file and then
browse to your saved .pst file that you've moved from your external
media to your hard drive and you will see everything you had before and
you can move it into your new .pst file.

Alias
 
Hi - I had the same question that was answered. Some just making sure
question and follow-up questions. Please help.

1. Can the backup copy (pst file) be drag and drop (copy and paste) in C:
Documents and Settings | Username | Local Settings | Application Data |
Microsoft | Outlook | [outllok.pst] ? And overwrite outllok.pst there?
Instead File>Open>Outlook Data File...

2. Does pst file include 'Contacts'?

3. I currently have XP, 2003, and am going to get Vista, 2003 (eventually
2007) soon. Are there anything I should know depending on the different OS or
MS Suites?

Thanks.
 
win said:
Hi - I had the same question that was answered. Some just making sure
question and follow-up questions. Please help.

1. Can the backup copy (pst file) be drag and drop (copy and paste) in C:
Documents and Settings | Username | Local Settings | Application Data |
Microsoft | Outlook | [outllok.pst] ? And overwrite outllok.pst there?
Instead File>Open>Outlook Data File...
Click to expand...

No NO NO! That's the fastest way to a corrupt mail profile. See here for the
correct way to restore your Outlook data:
How to backup and restore Outlook

http://www.howto-outlook.com:80/howto/backupandrestore.htm

2. Does pst file include 'Contacts'?
Click to expand...

Yes
 
Thanks for your reply. I keep all useful threads on this issue including the
site you gave me. I kind of thought I had understood the things well but
after reading the website again, I got more confused.

So, let me try to understand better. Say, I have a pst file that is working
fine. But, want to make a back-up and does so. And, I keep it in CD. And,
paste it back to PC. And, do 'File>Open>Outlook Data File...'.

Q1. Why does a restore location have to be an external drive?
Q2. What happens if I do 'File>Open>Outlook Data File...' after getting the
back-up pst file back to PC while the original pst file is working fine.

I am trying to understand the system. I am a beginner and please be kind. --
Thanks.

Gordon said:
win said:
Hi - I had the same question that was answered. Some just making sure
question and follow-up questions. Please help.

1. Can the backup copy (pst file) be drag and drop (copy and paste) in C:
Documents and Settings | Username | Local Settings | Application Data |
Microsoft | Outlook | [outllok.pst] ? And overwrite outllok.pst there?
Instead File>Open>Outlook Data File...
Click to expand...

No NO NO! That's the fastest way to a corrupt mail profile. See here for the
correct way to restore your Outlook data:
How to backup and restore Outlook

http://www.howto-outlook.com:80/howto/backupandrestore.htm

2. Does pst file include 'Contacts'?
Click to expand...

Yes
Click to expand...
 
I forgot important questions. Let me call the original pst file in c-drive as
pst-A. Copied version (back-up) in CD as pst-B. Retrieved into, say, d-drive
as pst-C. (obviously, A, B and C are the same file in three different
locations.)

Q3. To do 'File>Open>Outlook Data File...' in Outlook, am I supposed to get
pst-C before opening Outlook? Or after opening Outlook?
Q4. After 'File>Open>Outlook Data File...' in Outlook, what am I supposed to
do with pst-C?
Q5. What happens to pst-A (whether it is corrupted or not corrupted)?

I am trying to visualize the situation in my head. Thanks.

win said:
Thanks for your reply. I keep all useful threads on this issue including the
site you gave me. I kind of thought I had understood the things well but
after reading the website again, I got more confused.

So, let me try to understand better. Say, I have a pst file that is working
fine. But, want to make a back-up and does so. And, I keep it in CD. And,
paste it back to PC. And, do 'File>Open>Outlook Data File...'.

Q1. Why does a restore location have to be an external drive?
Q2. What happens if I do 'File>Open>Outlook Data File...' after getting the
back-up pst file back to PC while the original pst file is working fine.

I am trying to understand the system. I am a beginner and please be kind. --
Thanks.

Gordon said:
win said:
Hi - I had the same question that was answered. Some just making sure
question and follow-up questions. Please help.

1. Can the backup copy (pst file) be drag and drop (copy and paste) in C:
Documents and Settings | Username | Local Settings | Application Data |
Microsoft | Outlook | [outllok.pst] ? And overwrite outllok.pst there?
Instead File>Open>Outlook Data File...
Click to expand...

No NO NO! That's the fastest way to a corrupt mail profile. See here for the
correct way to restore your Outlook data:
How to backup and restore Outlook

http://www.howto-outlook.com:80/howto/backupandrestore.htm

2. Does pst file include 'Contacts'?
Click to expand...

Yes
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
So, let me try to understand better. Say, I have a pst file that is working
fine. But, want to make a back-up and does so. And, I keep it in CD. And,
paste it back to PC. And, do 'File>Open>Outlook Data File...'.

Q1. Why does a restore location have to be an external drive?
Click to expand...

It doesn't. It can be any folder to which you have full access. For example,
you can create a folder named, sat, "Outlook" underneath "My Documents" (in
XP; just "Documents" in Vista) and place it there. Remove the read-only
attribute the file will have gained from being on the CD and Outlook can open
it.
Q2. What happens if I do 'File>Open>Outlook Data File...' after getting the
back-up pst file back to PC while the original pst file is working fine.
Click to expand...

You get a second set of folders appearing in the Navigation Pane.
 
I forgot important questions. Let me call the original pst file in c-drive as
pst-A. Copied version (back-up) in CD as pst-B. Retrieved into, say, d-drive
as pst-C. (obviously, A, B and C are the same file in three different
locations.)

Q3. To do 'File>Open>Outlook Data File...' in Outlook, am I supposed to get
pst-C before opening Outlook? Or after opening Outlook?
Q4. After 'File>Open>Outlook Data File...' in Outlook, what am I supposed to
do with pst-C?
Q5. What happens to pst-A (whether it is corrupted or not corrupted)?
Click to expand...

These depend on what you intend to do with the PSTs. If pst-A is the current
delivery location, adding pst-B or -C will simply add a new set of duplicate
folders to Outlook and you'll be able to reference them right along with the
existing folders. If pst-A is damaged, and pst-B is its replacement, then a
better approach, in my opinion, would be to use the Mail applet in Control
Panel to add pst-B (or -C) to the mail profile, set that PST as the delivery
location, then remove pst-A since it's damaged. When next you open Outlook,
pst-B will be the default folders and pst-A's folders won't appear anywhere.
 
Back
Top