Outlook Personal Folders Backup Tool?

[Lou Messina]

There is an optional "Outlook Personal Folders Backup Tool"
(http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...3a-b7d0-4b16-b8af-5a6322f4fd01&DisplayLang=en) and
(http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HA010875321033.aspx).

If I read the description correctly, the tool backs-up your Outlook Personal
Folders (or pre-selected Personal Folders) to your hard drive according to a
pre-set schedule.

What is the benefit of backing-up to the same drive?

What is the benefit of installing this utility assuming one has a backup
utility that backs-up pre-selected folders/files on a pre-set schedule?

My interest is in backing-up for security reasons, and not sharing any
folders/files (an option described in the utility description).

Lou Messina

 

[Roady [MVP]]

"What is the benefit of backing-up to the same drive?"
Recover from a corrupted file, accidental e-mail deletions, import going
wrong, etc...

"What is the benefit of installing this utility assuming one has a backup
utility that backs-up pre-selected folders/files on a pre-set schedule?"
You are free to use any other backup solution you find handy.

"My interest is in backing-up for security reasons, and not sharing any
folders/files (an option described in the utility description)."
The sharing remark is a bit weird IMHO. Yes, you can create a "sharing
construction" with this tool but I don't see it as its main functionality
but more an abuse of it (like using signatures to insert text blocks).
Frequent back-ups to an external medium and storing them safely off site is
one of the most used and proven method of backing up your data.

Oh, and don't forget to test your backups every now and then. You won't be
the first finding out that all your backups were corrupted right when you
need them.

--
Robert Sparnaaij [MVP-Outlook]
Coauthor, Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003


-----
There is an optional "Outlook Personal Folders Backup Tool"
(http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...3a-b7d0-4b16-b8af-5a6322f4fd01&DisplayLang=en)
and
(http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HA010875321033.aspx).

If I read the description correctly, the tool backs-up your Outlook Personal
Folders (or pre-selected Personal Folders) to your hard drive according to a
pre-set schedule.

What is the benefit of backing-up to the same drive?

What is the benefit of installing this utility assuming one has a backup
utility that backs-up pre-selected folders/files on a pre-set schedule?

My interest is in backing-up for security reasons, and not sharing any
folders/files (an option described in the utility description).

Lou Messina

 

[Lou Messina]

Thanks Roady. That makes it easier to understand.

U DA MAN!

Lou Messina

 

[Roady [MVP]]

You're welcome!

--
Robert Sparnaaij [MVP-Outlook]
Coauthor, Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003


-----
Thanks Roady. That makes it easier to understand.

U DA MAN!

Lou Messina

 

[Jane Schmidt]

I only see the option that it reminds you of doing a backup.
Can the backuo be done automaticly in the background?

 

[Brian Tillman]

I only see the option that it reminds you of doing a backup.
Can the backuo be done automaticly in the background?

There's no way to make a reliable backup of a PST as long as Outlook is
open.

 

[Lou Messina]

If you go to the first link in my original post
(http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...b16-b8af-5a6322f4fd01&DisplayLang=en#Overview),
read the second paragraph under Overview:

"Backing up your Microsoft Outlook information is quicker and easier with
the Personal Folders Backup feature. Personal Folders Backup creates backup
copies of your .PST files at regular intervals, in Outlook 2000 and later
versions, making it easy to keep all of your Outlook folders safely backed
up."

Depending on the version of Outlook you're running, you may not be able to
access the link.

Lou Messina

 

[Lou Messina]

My original reference to "sharing" may have been incorrect. I based that
assumption to the tool's description as being able to:

-Backup;
-Archive; and
-Export.

"Exporting" is defined in the tool's description as copying to another
location. However, I'm uncertain if that means you can share the files if
exported to a network shared folder.

Lou Messina

 

[Roady [MVP]]

All it does is creating a copy of the pst-file to your specified backup
location. If this is a location of a network drive someone else can connect
to then indeed you are "abusing" the tool for sharing capabilities. Since
now someone else can make changes to this copy I wouldn't consider it a
backup anymore. By definition they should be stored on a safe read only
location.

--
Robert Sparnaaij [MVP-Outlook]
Coauthor, Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003


-----
My original reference to "sharing" may have been incorrect. I based that
assumption to the tool's description as being able to:

-Backup;
-Archive; and
-Export.

"Exporting" is defined in the tool's description as copying to another
location. However, I'm uncertain if that means you can share the files if
exported to a network shared folder.

Lou Messina

 

[Lou Messina]

The ability to alter files didn't occur to me. That's a significant point.

Lou Messina

--
:

All it does is creating a copy of the pst-file to your specified backup
location. If this is a location of a network drive someone else can connect
to then indeed you are "abusing" the tool for sharing capabilities. Since now
someone else can make changes to this copy I wouldn't consider it a backup
anymore. By definition they should be stored on a safe read only location.

Robert Sparnaaij [MVP-Outlook]
Coauthor, Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003
http://www.howto-outlook.com
Outlook FAQ, HowTo, Downloads, Add-Ins and more

 

[RichNRockvilleMD]

I have two people using the same computer on a network, both are
administrators for the domain. I installed the backup tool (LATEST
05/08/2008) and on one user, it works great but when the 2nd user logs on, an
install says that there is backup is already installed and refuses to
install.
Backup does not show up on the 2nd uses file menu in outlook 2003 as it
does when the 1st user is logged on.

No where can I find backup installed on the 2nd users outlook.

What now..???
Rich

 

[Roady [MVP]]

See http://www.howto-outlook.com/faq/backupaddin.htm

 

[Charles]

Help - I can't find the Outlook Backup tool after downloading it. It's not in
my "File" in outlook 2007. No such option. Any ideas?
Thanks (e-mail address removed)

 

[Roady [MVP]]

Read my reply?



-----

 

[EWR]

I too loaded the backup tool - but the option does not appear on the file
menu (or any other menu) - how does one access the program?

 

[KAli]

Robert,

Thanks for making your expertise freely available.
I would like to know if the Outlook Personal Folders Backup Tool is
effective for transferring my Outlook files between two different computers.
I have a new traveling laptop and an existing office computer, and I would
like to be able to use both seamlessly with my Outlook files.
I tend to keep copies of most of my e-mails for future reference, and it
would be helpful to have this database duplicated and current on each
computer.
If the Outlook Personal Folders Backup Tool is not the most efficient way of
doing this, I would appreciate you advice on alternative methods.

Thanks,
KAli

 

[Ben M. Schorr - MVP (OneNote)]

See if this helps: http://www.slipstick.com/outlook/sync.asp

--
-Ben-
Ben M. Schorr, MVP
Roland Schorr & Tower
http://www.rolandschorr.com
http://www.officeforlawyers.com

Robert,

Thanks for making your expertise freely available.
I would like to know if the Outlook Personal Folders Backup Tool is
effective for transferring my Outlook files between two different computers.
I have a new traveling laptop and an existing office computer, and I would
like to be able to use both seamlessly with my Outlook files.
I tend to keep copies of most of my e-mails for future reference, and it
would be helpful to have this database duplicated and current on each
computer.
If the Outlook Personal Folders Backup Tool is not the most efficient way of
doing this, I would appreciate you advice on alternative methods.

Thanks,
KAli

:

See http://www.howto-outlook.com/faq/backupaddin.htm

--
Robert Sparnaaij [MVP-Outlook]
Coauthor, Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003
http://www.howto-outlook.com/
Outlook FAQ, HowTo, Downloads, Add-Ins and more

http://www.msoutlook.info/
Real World Questions, Real World Answers

 

[mcse george]

I have Windows Vista Ultimate and Ms-Office 2007 and I just installed the
Outlook backup tool (got the usual two dozen pop-ups asking for my local
administrator password). But now I have the same question that Charles has. I
have no "Backup..." option on the Outlook File command menu! I closed Outlook
2007 and opened it, but still no "Backup..." option on the File menu.

 

[Kathy Bailey]

Could you please give further details regarding your statement:

"Oh, and don't forget to test your backups every now and then. You won't be
the first finding out that all your backups were corrupted right when you
need them."

Specifically, how would you "test" the integrity of your backup without
overwriting your existing data/configuration?

 

[Brian Tillman [MVP - Outlook]]

Could you please give further details regarding your statement:

"Oh, and don't forget to test your backups every now and then. You won't
be
the first finding out that all your backups were corrupted right when you
need them."

Specifically, how would you "test" the integrity of your backup without
overwriting your existing data/configuration?

Easy. Just open the PST in Outlook (File>Open>Outlook Data File) and make
sure it contains the data you expect. When finished checking, right-click
its root and choose Close.