back up e-mails from Outlook

RichardJW1

I want to back up the e-mails from Outlook (2003) on to my external hard-drive, usually I have found the folder in the C: drive and copied them; and you know what? today I cannot for the life of me find the root/route to that folder - I think it's application data, user etc. but still haven't found it.....can someone please advise?

Second, I have been fortunate enough to never (so far - touch wood) lose the contents, but in the event of this happening just how effective is it to simply paste that folder stored on the Ex-HD back on the C: disc.....say for example the disc was wiped and doesn't know the folders if I import via the link in Outlook will it recognise the file?

Baldur

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/outlook/HA011030811033.aspx

bluboy

The file is your .pst file. You can search for it (*.pst) but I tend to use the export/import option as it offers more control to back up specific folders.

There's more info here -
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/287070

isofa

I do a full backup of my current and all archived PST files, it's usually here:

C:\Documents and Settings\YourUserName\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook

The file outlook.pst is the current one with all your contacts, emails, calendar, tasks, notes etc.

MS also have a add-in which backups up the PST on a schedule, I have mine to run once a week as a secondary backup, it's called the Outlook Personal Folders Backup and can be found here: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=8b081f3a-b7d0-4b16-b8af-5a6322f4fd01&displaylang=en

paladin005

Backing up to an external hard disk only gives you a copy and as such if something were to happen to the .pst and you werent aware of it before your backup you would have not one but two copies of a corrupted file. What you should be looking for is an automated service which will take versions of the data on a daily basis. Online backup is no longer as expensive as it used to be. for example backup direct do a 5GB package for £10 per month. It will backup your outlook files on a daily basis without you having to worry about a thing.

RichardJW1

a big thanks to everyone :beer:

buglawton

If you change over to Google Mail as your mail server (keeping original email address) then Google keeps a back up of every sent email. Just ensure a very secure password is used. Plus this will work from a travelling laptop (sending email tied to a particular internet service provider won't work connected to Internet Cafe WiFis while Google Mail will).