switching between computers

[John]

We have six computers in our office. Five of the computers are running on
Windows XP. Those computers have Outlook 2003. One of the computers is
running Windows Vista. That computer has Outlook 2007.

The computers are linked via a local network. Our data files are on a
Network Attached Storage (NAS) drive. Our PST files are on the NAS.

Sometimes I want to open my PST from a different computer. If I open my PST
that was created with Outlook 2003 will I be able to open it with Outlook
2007. Once I open the file with Outlook 2007 will I be able to open the PST
with Outlook 2003.

Thank you,
John

 

[Jocelyn Fiorello [MVP - Outlook]]

Yes, Outlook 2003 and 2007 use the same Unicode .PST format so they can be
used on either verison. However, you should know that using a .PST file from
a network location is not supported -- the risk of file corruption is much
greater than if you keep it on a local drive.

--
Jocelyn Fiorello
MVP - Outlook

*** Messages sent to my e-mail address will NOT be answered -- please reply
only to the newsgroup to preserve the message thread. ***

 

[John]

We were not aware of the risk in putting the PSTs on the network server.
Thanks for the heads up.

We wanted the PSTs on our NAS so that we could access each PST from
different computers and so that the PSTs would be backed up when the NAS
backs up each night.
We can keep the PSTs on each local machine and have each local computer's
backup software backup each PST to seperate backups. That is fine.

We still want to be able to open PSTs from different computers. Is it as
simple as making the folder with the PST a shared folder? Is there any risk
in this?

Thank you,
John

 

[Tim]

We were not aware of the risk in putting the PSTs on the network server.
Thanks for the heads up.

We wanted the PSTs on our NAS so that we could access each PST from
different computers and so that the PSTs would be backed up when the NAS
backs up each night.
We can keep the PSTs on each local machine and have each local computer's
backup software backup each PST to seperate backups. That is fine.

We still want to be able to open PSTs from different computers. Is it as
simple as making the folder with the PST a shared folder? Is there any risk
in this?

Thank you,
John

The answer is the same and the risk is the same. Sharing a folder with
the pst file means you will still be accessing the pst file via the
network when using the "other" PC. It's not supported and not recommended.

Tim

 

[John]

Aloha Tim,
Is there a supported method for us to be able to work in my Outlook from
different computers?
Thank you,
John

 

[Tim]

Aloha Tim,
Is there a supported method for us to be able to work in my Outlook from
different computers?
Thank you,
John

It's complicated and expensive, but an Exchange server is what you need.
Or, depending on what ISP/e-mail service you have, you could use the
web-based client that your ISP provides.

Tim

 

[Jocelyn Fiorello [MVP - Outlook]]

You can also take a look at http://www.slipstick.com/outlook/share.htm for a
list of some third party programs that may offer more security in sharing
over a network.

--
Jocelyn Fiorello
MVP - Outlook

*** Messages sent to my e-mail address will NOT be answered -- please reply
only to the newsgroup to preserve the message thread. ***