How do I move the contents of Outlook '03 to another machine?

[Klink...]

I normally keep my calendar, contact data, etc., on a desktop machine running
Outlook '03. However, occasionally I need to go on travel where I only have
my laptop available, and I'd like to have my entire Outlook data - current
contact, tasks, and future calendar - with me, so that it can be updated as I
go. Then, I'd like to come back to my desktop and have it update with
whatever I've added / deleted / changed while on travel. I've had some
people say that one can do this by storing all of the data on a USB thumb
drive instead of the hard drive, and just moving the USB stick from machine
to machine. In any case, does anyone have a procedure on how to do this? I
have looked online and not found an answer to this.

 

[Sulasno]

copy the pst file perhaps?

 

[Klink...]

If it is 'that' simple (and thanks if it is - your response sounded sort of
not sure), then how do I recognize the correct .PST file? I think there are
several of them, aren't there?

Klink...

 

[Roady [MVP]]

By default there is only one. If there are more then you have created them
or it is the archive file.
See http://www.howto-outlook.com/howto/backupandrestore.htm



-----

 

[Klink...]

I did take a look at your web page - that is pretty clear.

So just to confirm, I basically do a backup of the .PST file from the
desktop, copy it to a USB drive, move that to the other machine, copy it to
the appropriate hard disk location, and use Outlook on the laptop restore it
to that machine?

Not something I'd want to do every day, but it sounds straightforward enough.

Thanks very much.

 

[Roady [MVP]]

Yes, make sure you don't overwrite any existing pst-files in the process.

 

[Klink...]

Well, but wait now, that statement that you made somewhat muddied the water!

If I backup on the desktop and move the file to the laptop and restore; use
Outlook on the laptop for a while on travel; backup the laptop and move the
..PST backup back to the desktop, won't I be overwriting the existing .PST on
the desktop? It doesn't disappear when I back it up, does it? It sure seems
to me when I return to the desktop (or even go on travel again with the
laptop), I will always be overwriting an existing .PST file on the machine
I'm moving to.

Where am I going wrong with seeing this?

John...

 

[Roady [MVP]]

Let me put it differently. Never move a primary pst-file back and forth
between 2 machines. A primary pst-file is the pst-file that is your default
delivery location and holds the Outlook Today folder. Since Outlook also
stores views and rules settings there and mail download information (what
has been downloaded and what not?) you could end up receiving duplicate
emails, break rules or even corrupt your mail profile.

If you are moving secondary pst-file between machines to transfer
information between machines, always disconnect them from Outlook via File->
Data File Management... before you update/overwrite them. Once overwritten
reconnect to the pst-file by File-> Open-> Outlook Data File...

This way you make sure that there is always a clean connection between
Outlook and the pst-file.