Simplest way to back-up 2003?

[Deep Thought]

I routinely keep a copy of my .pst file on an alternative storage medium...
IF I ever lost my Outlook data on the p.c. and had to reinstall - would it
be simply a case of placing my "back-up" copy of the .pst file in the
Outlook folder of the new installation and then open it with the the program
itself and everything back to where it was before?? (maybe the installation
creates a new .pst file so REPLACING it with my back-up copy would have same
result?)

 

[Vince Averello [MVP-Outlook]]

See if the info here helps:
http://www.howto-outlook.com/howto/backupandrestore.htm

 

[Thomas Quester]

The pst file much behaves like any normal file in any office application.
You can use file/open to open any pst file and file/close to close it again.
The file contains all of you data, except for email accounts, so in case of
loosing your hard disk, you need to re-enter your email account and your
profile. Outlook will not overwrite the data file, but if there is something
inside it, either create a new one or open the existing one (depending which
wizard in what version of Outlook is running). In any case, you can simple
use file/open to open your data file, then re-use it as mail transport file
in tools/accounts.

It is good to know where you file is and also good to give it a different
name, such as OutlookDeepThought.pst.

Best way to back it up is using ntbackup because under Windows XP it is able
to back up your files even if they are opened.

Thomas Quester
www.olfolders.de

 

[Deep Thought]

Thanks for your advice - essentially then, if my original .pst file (the
MAIN one)gets damaged or I make a fresh install of Outlook I can simply
REPLACE either the old (or the new one in the case of a new install?) with
my back-up copy of the .pst file and all should be well. (I do not mind
losing mail settings which I gather are not preserved int the .pst file
itself but everything else including email folders, calender, contacts
should be as they were when I last made the back-up... I think).

 

[Brian Tillman]

Thanks for your advice - essentially then, if my original .pst file
(the MAIN one)gets damaged or I make a fresh install of Outlook I can
simply REPLACE either the old (or the new one in the case of a new
install?) with my back-up copy of the .pst file and all should be
well.

No. Never overwrite one PST configured in a mail profile with another of
the same name. You will corrupt the profile. Consult this for the best
methods:

 

[Brian Tillman]

Thanks for your advice - essentially then, if my original .pst file
(the MAIN one)gets damaged or I make a fresh install of Outlook I can
simply REPLACE either the old (or the new one in the case of a new
install?) with my back-up copy of the .pst file and all should be
well.

Oops. Forgot the URL.
http://www.howto-outlook.com/howto/backupandrestore.htm