PST file concepts, & removing duplicate e-mails

[IanW]

I have learned the hard way that AutoArchive's "Delete expired items" has
been deleting e-mails older than 6 months, while simultaneously set to
archive anything older than 18 months. (That this is possible is outrageous.
Calendar items, tasks, and e-mails with explicitly set expiry dates can
reasonably be expected to "expire", sure, but all e-mails??)

As I try to recover using monthly backups on DVD, I need a few answers:

1. What distinguishes a "Personal Folder" from an "Archive Folder"? It seems
a PST file is either one or the other.

2. I'm faced with manually merging many folders from historically
overlapping PST backups. Duplicate e-mails will inevitably result. What is
the best way to cull the duplicates? If needed I'll buy a utility to save me
many hours of drudgery.

Thanks,
Ian

 

[Bill R]

1. Nothing. they are both PST files.
2. Check here: http://add-ins-central.com/duplicateremovers.htm

There is some code here to set teh expiry date on messages:
http://office-outlook.com/outlook-forum/index.php/m/276143/#msg_276143

 

[IanW]

Thanks very much, Bill!!

That looks like it will be just what I need once I combine those old PST
files.

--Ian