Two Home networked computers accessing one outlook.pst file

[Joseph Guerra]

I have 2 home computers on a network. I have the outlook.pst file on the
first computer. The second computer can see the .pst file on the first
computer via the network. I have Outlook on the second computer and would
like to work with my mail using the .pst file on the first computer. I
would never run Outlook on both computers at the same time. How do I
configure Outlook on the 2nd computer to use the .pst on the first computer?
Right now, Outlook on the 2nd computer uses an old not used .pst on its c:
drive. I can delete the account. How can I create a new Outlook account on
the 2nd computer to use the .pst on the first computer? Thanks!

 

[Gordon]

I have 2 home computers on a network. I have the outlook.pst file on the
first computer. The second computer can see the .pst file on the first
computer via the network. I have Outlook on the second computer and would
like to work with my mail using the .pst file on the first computer. I
would never run Outlook on both computers at the same time. How do I
configure Outlook on the 2nd computer to use the .pst on the first
computer?
Right now, Outlook on the 2nd computer uses an old not used .pst on its c:
drive. I can delete the account. How can I create a new Outlook account
on
the 2nd computer to use the .pst on the first computer? Thanks!

You can certainly do this, BUT accessing a pst file over a network is a)
neither recommended nor supported by Microsoft and b) one of the quickest
ways to a corrupted pst file and possible data loss.
If you are willing to take that risk, just point the second Outlook at the
network-visible pst file. It does mean that both machines will have to be on
for the second to use the file.

 

[DL]

You create a new Profile on 2nd PC and add the Outlook data file from PC1
However MS does not support the use of a pst over a network as it can lead
to corruption of the data file

 

[Gordon]

However MS does not support the use of a pst over a network as it can lead
to corruption of the data file

Can? Will!

 

[DL]

No; "can"

Can? Will!

 

[Diane Poremsky [MVP]]

Can. It's not guaranteed to become corrupt - may people do it successfully.
The chances of having issues is low when doing it over a fast, wired
network - now that most computers have 100baseT or Gigabit, slow networks
are less of an issue. In a home situation where there is lots of unused
bandwidth, it's pretty safe. Unfortunately, home users are also highly
unlikely to make regular backups - a corrupt pst means lost data.

But I still would not recommend it as a routine practice. I would not do it
over a wireless network.

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]

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[Brian Tillman [MVP - Outlook]]

I have 2 home computers on a network. I have the outlook.pst file on the
first computer. The second computer can see the .pst file on the first
computer via the network. I have Outlook on the second computer and would
like to work with my mail using the .pst file on the first computer. I
would never run Outlook on both computers at the same time. How do I
configure Outlook on the 2nd computer to use the .pst on the first computer?

Here's what I wrote back in 2005:
http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.outlook.general/msg/b125a143faef3ad5