pfbackup for PST files

[RCMe]

I successfully downloaded the pfbackup utility from the Microsoft Office
website, but am having some problems getting it to work.

I have searched the web and newsgroups, but have not been able to find a
definitive answer to whether the pfbackup utility will run under a normal
user account (that is, one with _no_ admin rights). Does pfbackup _require_
the user to run with administrator rights (i.e. part of administrators
group)? There is nothing in the pfbackup documentation that lists this
requirement.

I have a number of networked computers running Windows XP Pro and either
Office/Outlook 2003 or Office/Outlook XP. I do not have Exchange, but have
the computers all running (authenticating) with a domain controller and
active directory. As recommended by Microsoft, all users have limited rights
on the workstation (no admin). I need to regularly backup the PST files on
these desktop computers to the server and the pfbackup utility seems like
the right tool.

On the computers I tested on, I was only able to install the pfbackup
utility with admin rights. Either via run-as (logging in as admin) when
logged into the computer as a normal user, or by logging into the computer
as the Admin user. For either install scenario, when logged in as the Admin
user, the "backup" menu item appears as expected in Outlook's file menu.
However, when logging in as a normal user, the "backup" menu item is not on
the user's Outlook file menu.

Does anyone have an answer to this problem?

Thanks.

- rcme

 

[Diane Poremsky [MVP]]

Have you considered scripting backup as the user logs on? All the backup
tool does is make a copy of the pst - you can easily do that with a batch
file.

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]
Author, Teach Yourself Outlook 2003 in 24 Hours
Coauthor, OneNote 2003 for Windows (Visual QuickStart Guide)
Author, Google and Other Search Engines (Visual QuickStart Guide)



Join OneNote Tips mailing list: http://www.onenote-tips.net/

Vote for your favorite Outlook and Exchange utilities in the
Slipstick Ratings Raffle at http://www.slipstick.com/contest/

 

[RCMe]

Yes, I had thought about that, but as a last option.

The pfbackup seemed like a simpler solution, if it would have worked "out of
the box".

If pfbackup really only works with Admin users, it would seem to be mostly
useless. That is, most users that would be logging in as Admin or that would
have Admin rights would likely already know how to backup their PST files.
The average user (which would never have Admin rights according to
Microsoft), would seem to need pfbackup the most, but it won't work for
them...

Thanks.

- rcme

Have you considered scripting backup as the user logs on? All the backup
tool does is make a copy of the pst - you can easily do that with a batch
file.

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]
Author, Teach Yourself Outlook 2003 in 24 Hours
Coauthor, OneNote 2003 for Windows (Visual QuickStart Guide)
Author, Google and Other Search Engines (Visual QuickStart Guide)



Join OneNote Tips mailing list: http://www.onenote-tips.net/

Vote for your favorite Outlook and Exchange utilities in the
Slipstick Ratings Raffle at http://www.slipstick.com/contest/

I successfully downloaded the pfbackup utility from the Microsoft Office
website, but am having some problems getting it to work.

I have searched the web and newsgroups, but have not been able to find a
definitive answer to whether the pfbackup utility will run under a normal
user account (that is, one with _no_ admin rights). Does pfbackup
_require_
the user to run with administrator rights (i.e. part of administrators
group)? There is nothing in the pfbackup documentation that lists this
requirement.

I have a number of networked computers running Windows XP Pro and either
Office/Outlook 2003 or Office/Outlook XP. I do not have Exchange, but have
the computers all running (authenticating) with a domain controller and
active directory. As recommended by Microsoft, all users have limited
rights
on the workstation (no admin). I need to regularly backup the PST files on
these desktop computers to the server and the pfbackup utility seems like
the right tool.

On the computers I tested on, I was only able to install the pfbackup
utility with admin rights. Either via run-as (logging in as admin) when
logged into the computer as a normal user, or by logging into the computer
as the Admin user. For either install scenario, when logged in as the
Admin
user, the "backup" menu item appears as expected in Outlook's file menu.
However, when logging in as a normal user, the "backup" menu item is not
on
the user's Outlook file menu.

Does anyone have an answer to this problem?

Thanks.

- rcme