Quick 'Outlook' query
Posted by: Bruce Woodhouse on 22 October 2004
Just about to back up my old PC (steam power, Win 98) on to a remote hard drive in order to swap files to my new PC (nuclear fusion powered, WinXP).
Can anyone tell me how to do a full back up of my Outlook data, including the current inbox, archived emails, adressbook etc? I see the 'file export' function but I'm a bit confused how this works. Does simply copying the Inbox folder include archived mail?
Looks like some data is stored in the Win Applications Data folder but I'm unconvinced everything I want is in there.
Thanks
Bruce
Can anyone tell me how to do a full back up of my Outlook data, including the current inbox, archived emails, adressbook etc? I see the 'file export' function but I'm a bit confused how this works. Does simply copying the Inbox folder include archived mail?
Looks like some data is stored in the Win Applications Data folder but I'm unconvinced everything I want is in there.
Thanks
Bruce
Posted on: 22 October 2004 by Aiken Drum
Bruce,
I am sure it is possible but we had a major problem when we backed up files, including Outlook files on a Win 98 PC for reinstallation on a PC with Windows XP using the windows backup programme.
The problem we had was that the backup file file extensions are not the same in windows backup in Win 98 and they are in XP. We ended up with a bunch of backup discs that we could not access.
Now chances are it can be done and maybe with ease, but based on our experience I would suggest calling on the services of someone who will do it properly for you - it may cost a couple of bob, but it will be worth it to save potential hassles.
Brad
Hearing is believing
I am sure it is possible but we had a major problem when we backed up files, including Outlook files on a Win 98 PC for reinstallation on a PC with Windows XP using the windows backup programme.
The problem we had was that the backup file file extensions are not the same in windows backup in Win 98 and they are in XP. We ended up with a bunch of backup discs that we could not access.
Now chances are it can be done and maybe with ease, but based on our experience I would suggest calling on the services of someone who will do it properly for you - it may cost a couple of bob, but it will be worth it to save potential hassles.
Brad
Hearing is believing
Posted on: 22 October 2004 by Martin Payne
Bruce,
take a look at the "Files and Settings Transfer Wizard" in Windows XP.
I think it's probably relevant to this situation (although I haven't used it myself).
cheers, Martin
E-mail:- MartinPayne (at) Dial.Pipex.com. Put "Naim" in the title.
take a look at the "Files and Settings Transfer Wizard" in Windows XP.
I think it's probably relevant to this situation (although I haven't used it myself).
cheers, Martin
E-mail:- MartinPayne (at) Dial.Pipex.com. Put "Naim" in the title.
Posted on: 22 October 2004 by David Stewart
I believe all the data is held in one humungous file called outlook.pst - the quickest way is to make a copy this file from Windows\Local Settings\Applications Data\Microsoft\Outlook. I see mine is currently 112Mb, but was 173Mb before a recent weeding session.
Posted on: 22 October 2004 by Denis O
The import/export function is certainly a good way but when I recently did mine that way it took about 8 hours and didn't work correctly. Probably because my old computers hard drive was shot.
If you go to windows explorer and find the location of Outlook.pst you can then just drag and drop to wherever you want; CD rom drive in my case. That took about 5 minutes as they are pretty big files as David says.
Good luck
If you go to windows explorer and find the location of Outlook.pst you can then just drag and drop to wherever you want; CD rom drive in my case. That took about 5 minutes as they are pretty big files as David says.
Good luck
Posted on: 22 October 2004 by Paul Hutchings
It depends a little on how Outlook is configured.
If it's in standalone mode, generally I would search your hard drives for *.pst and copy over any files that you find - the one most recently modified will probably be the one Outlook is using.
Also do the same for *.pab which is Outlooks "Personal Address Book" format.
Paul
If it's in standalone mode, generally I would search your hard drives for *.pst and copy over any files that you find - the one most recently modified will probably be the one Outlook is using.
Also do the same for *.pab which is Outlooks "Personal Address Book" format.
Paul
Posted on: 22 October 2004 by Bruce Woodhouse
Thanks team,
I found outlook.pst in the applications folder and wondered if that contained all the bits I needed. I intend doing a complete copy of my old hard drive too so I'm not going to 'lose' anything for ever, I'd just like loading up my new PC to be simple.
As if!
Bruce
I found outlook.pst in the applications folder and wondered if that contained all the bits I needed. I intend doing a complete copy of my old hard drive too so I'm not going to 'lose' anything for ever, I'd just like loading up my new PC to be simple.
As if!
Bruce
Posted on: 23 October 2004 by Andrew L. Weekes
Bruce,
If you follow the various bits of advice above and you should be fine.
I actually renamed my mail file to <useful name>.pst to help me identify it and on subsequent re-installs I placed it into a folder in my data area (I always keep appliction data on a seperate drive (even if only a drive letter on the same physical disc) in order to make backups a simple process.
When you re-install you can point Outlook to the new location of the file and all future access will be to the new location. Again this makes backups easier, you can be sure you haven't missed anything that MS hides away in amongst the Program Files folder.
The only thing to be aware of is I don't think it's possible to save a backup of the passwords for your mail servers, although you can backup the server info, so be sure you have these at the ready when re-install time comes.
There are 3rd party programs that claim to be able to back up the lot, but I've not found them to work very well for me.
There's also MS utils to do the same, these might help: -
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=196492
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=287070&product=ol2002
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=8b081f3a-b7d0-4b16-b8af-5a6322f4fd01&displaylang=en
http://www.sitedeveloper.ws/tutorials/outlook.htm
Andy.
If you follow the various bits of advice above and you should be fine.
I actually renamed my mail file to <useful name>.pst to help me identify it and on subsequent re-installs I placed it into a folder in my data area (I always keep appliction data on a seperate drive (even if only a drive letter on the same physical disc) in order to make backups a simple process.
When you re-install you can point Outlook to the new location of the file and all future access will be to the new location. Again this makes backups easier, you can be sure you haven't missed anything that MS hides away in amongst the Program Files folder.
The only thing to be aware of is I don't think it's possible to save a backup of the passwords for your mail servers, although you can backup the server info, so be sure you have these at the ready when re-install time comes.
There are 3rd party programs that claim to be able to back up the lot, but I've not found them to work very well for me.
There's also MS utils to do the same, these might help: -
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=196492
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=287070&product=ol2002
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=8b081f3a-b7d0-4b16-b8af-5a6322f4fd01&displaylang=en
http://www.sitedeveloper.ws/tutorials/outlook.htm
Andy.
Posted on: 23 October 2004 by Rasher
The Outlook import/export function works really well for me. Just select the top folder and check the box for "include subfolders", and you will get the lot.
I use this once a week to create backups.
The Windows XP Transfer wizard is excellent, and if you have enough space on a remote hard drive, you can use this also to make backups. With a modern PC, it won't take all that long. If I'm off for a meeting somewhere, I set it off just before I leave to find it complete when I get back.
I probably overdo backups, but I was glad of it a few weeks back when I had a hard drive that failed bigtime. I lost probably a total of 2 emails. Not bad.
I use this once a week to create backups.
The Windows XP Transfer wizard is excellent, and if you have enough space on a remote hard drive, you can use this also to make backups. With a modern PC, it won't take all that long. If I'm off for a meeting somewhere, I set it off just before I leave to find it complete when I get back.
I probably overdo backups, but I was glad of it a few weeks back when I had a hard drive that failed bigtime. I lost probably a total of 2 emails. Not bad.