Safely move archive folder?

[Randy Brook]

Outlook 2003 on Win XP Pro, Exchange Server (2k?)
My manual archive file is in the default location C:\Documents and
Settings\[user name]\Local Settings\Application
Data\Microsoft\Outlook\archive.pst. A file called Outlook.ost is
there, too. I assume this is the main data file.

I would like to move all the Outlook data files to a different
partition, one that is backed up daily. I think I read that I cannot
change the location of the main data file but should be able to change
the archive file location by just moving it and changing the location
in tools/options/other/autoarchive to the new location. However,
Outlook didn't recognize the archive file when I did this.

What am I missing here?

 

[Roady [MVP]]

Close Outlook and both move the pst-file and modify the path in your archive
settings.

The ost-file can be moved as well but there is no need to since it's only a
(cached) copy of your Exchange mailbox.

--
Robert Sparnaaij [MVP-Outlook]
www.howto-outlook.com

Tips of the month:
-FREE tool; QuickMail. Create new Outlook items anywhere from within Windows
-Properly back-up and restore your Outlook data

-----
Outlook 2003 on Win XP Pro, Exchange Server (2k?)
My manual archive file is in the default location C:\Documents and
Settings\[user name]\Local Settings\Application
Data\Microsoft\Outlook\archive.pst. A file called Outlook.ost is
there, too. I assume this is the main data file.

I would like to move all the Outlook data files to a different
partition, one that is backed up daily. I think I read that I cannot
change the location of the main data file but should be able to change
the archive file location by just moving it and changing the location
in tools/options/other/autoarchive to the new location. However,
Outlook didn't recognize the archive file when I did this.

What am I missing here?

 

[Randy Brook]

How do you modify the path while Outlook is closed? In the Registry?
It seems otherwise that if you reopen Outlook still pointing to the
original location, it will re-create a new, empty archive file in the
old location and not recognize the full archive file in the new
location.

Thanks.

 

[Roady [MVP]]

Well you may change the path with Outlook open ;-)
Slip of the pen...

--
Robert Sparnaaij [MVP-Outlook]
www.howto-outlook.com

Tips of the month:
-FREE tool; QuickMail. Create new Outlook items anywhere from within Windows
-Properly back-up and restore your Outlook data

-----
How do you modify the path while Outlook is closed? In the Registry?
It seems otherwise that if you reopen Outlook still pointing to the
original location, it will re-create a new, empty archive file in the
old location and not recognize the full archive file in the new
location.

Thanks.

 

[Brian Tillman]

I would like to move all the Outlook data files to a different
partition, one that is backed up daily.

To move the Archive PST, change your Archive settings, stop Outlook, move
the file, restart Outlook. Don't worry about the OST. Non-PST data files
(like extend.dat, profile.NK2, etc.) can't be moved. Just remember that
Outlook should be closed when the backup program runs or there's a good
chance the backup will be unusable for a restore.

 

[Randy Brook]

Thank you. Your directions worked when I followed them correctly. At
first I got hung up on my overcaution. When you said to move
Archive.pst, I just copied it in case something got messed up. This
does not work. You not only need to have archive.pst in the new
location, but it must not be in the old location. Then when Outlook
restarts, it says it can't find archive.pst, and you Browse to the new
location.