How to Restore Outlook backup folders

[Al]

I’m using Hotmail and Outlook 2003. I’m trying to understand how to restore
my Outlook files. (I’ve downloaded and installed the backup utility and am
using it.)

Note that on my Outlook ‘screen’ are listed two groups of personal files:
one labeled Hotmail Delivery, which is the default set of folders. Next is
the one generated by my establishing an account for my Hotmail interaction.
The second one apparently is the repository of my incoming mail and other
personal folders. The first one apparently contains my contacts folder and
calendar (I say that because when I tried the export function, to store my
contacts folder, eg., that’s where the system indicated it’s stored).

When using the backup utility and I select only that second account for
backup, only one file is displayed when I click on ‘open the backup file’.
However, when I check both the account ‘groups’ for backup six additional
files are displayed when I click ‘open the backup file’. These are:
Outlook
Outlook1
Outlook Backup
Two Personal Folders (I understand what these are)
G&AMail-00000002

If I want to restore a lost contacts file or calendar, which of these
contains that information, i.e., which do I open? As you can appreciate I’m
nervous about experimenting and losing either or both of those files.

As a secondary question, is there any way to combine these two groups of
personal folders? It is quite confusing to say the least: drafts are kept in
the default (the one labeled Hotmail Delivery), and both contain ‘sent’ and
‘deleted’ folders – but the messages stored in each differ. When I’ve
deleted a number of messages I have to go to both ‘deleted’ folders and empty
them – which seems pretty silly.

Help: I’ve read the Outlook help section, visited the Microsoft Outlook
Support site and read the material on backup (note there’s nothing on
restore), and scoured a monstrous book published by Que. My point is I’ve
tried to figure this out as best I can, so now I need help. If there’s yet
another source of information that is meant for the non-technical user I’d be
happy to try that as well

 

[DL]

To restore an OL data File you simply open it within OL
Outlook Backup would be the file created by the Backup Tool
Outlook is the default name for the data file - If you install OL this is
its default name
Outlook1 is a user created data file

Properties of Personal Folders will reveal bothe path & name of the data
file used by that personal folders file

 

[Al]

Thank you, but let me make sure I understand you: the file named "Outlook
Backup" is the file I need to open to restore my contacts folder and
calendar; and that is the backup file, generated by the backup utility, for
the default data file created by Outlook called "Outlook". Right? (It's odd
that the backup utility would offer up 'Outlook' as an option in "open backup
file"; presumably that file would have either been corrupted or inadvertantly
deleted or one wouldn't be looking for the backup, but there it is)

Now two questions, please:
1) will the file "Outlook Backup" also contain my messages?
2)Is there any way to have just one 'sent', 'deleted', 'junk mail', 'draft'
folder? As I said in my original query, when I added the hotmail account to
Outlook, Outlook created two sets of each which appear not to be coordinated
at all; while it works, it's messy.
Thanks very much for your help!!

 

[DL]

When you 'restore' using the backup utility it merely opens an explorer like
window at the default location of the outlook data (This will contain all
your outlook data files (personal folders *.pst's) unless you have
configured them to be stored elsewhere)
You can do the same thing, within OL by File>Open>Data File this will open
the default location for outlook data files

By default the backup will use the name of the data file it is backing up
and append the word backup to it
('Backup' is a slight misnomer since actually all the utility does is create
a 'copy' named ***Backup)

The ***Backup.pst will contain all data from the file it is backing up, eg
msgs,Calendar,contacts,tasks etc

More info on this site
http://www.howto-outlook.com/howto/backupandrestore.htm

 

[Al]

I think I asked too many questions and you're valiantly trying to answer them
and I'm winding up confused.

Let me ask a limited and pointed question: Of the file names displayed in
that explorer-like window (names are shown below in my original query) does
the one titled 'Outlook Backup' contain all the calendar, contacts data and
inbox? Note that none of the other names displayed in that window give any
indication of what's in them. I do realize those labeled 'Personal Folder'
contain the data in personal folders I created.

The reason for my point of confusion is the two sets of personal folders
that Outlook generates for 'sent', 'deleted', etc - that generates the worry
that the backup of calendar and contact info may be split into several backup
files
Al

 

[DL]

Since I dont use Hotmail in OL I cannot answer as to why you seem to have a
hotmail specific Personal Folder

If you open the backup data file you will see what it contains