Use Outlook Backup Tool or just copy .pst file?

[cyndiwise notsowise]

I want to make a backup copy of my Outlook 2007 .pst file, which is 2.19GB.
Outlook Help says there is a 'Personal Folders Backup tool' to download and
use to make a backup.

What is the benefit of using the Backup tool? Can I just make a copy of my
..pst file on my hard drive?

Thanks for your help!

 

[DL]

The backup tool can be set to nag you every xx days
Copying the pst is fine, with OL closed, but requires specific user
intervention & perhaps your memory is failing

 

[cyndiwise notsowise]

Thanks, DL. Are there any problems caused by using the Backup Tool (i.e. loss
of data, etc.)?

Also, I'm not sure what 'specific user intervention' is needed to make a
copy of the .pst file (closed, of course). I have made a copy before, and
renamed it - is that what you mean?

"...perhaps your memory is failing " - I have 2GB RAM on my PC, but not
sure if this was a joke refering to my own memory?

BTW - I'm not having any performance problems with Outlook, but defrag found
719 fragments in my .pst file. Should this be a concern? I've never had
defrag report fragments in OL before. I was advised on the Windows XP board
that my .pst file was too large (2.19GB) but it's Unicode and I thought there
was no limit on the size?

Thanks for your help (again)!

 

[DL]

I've never experienced any.
The only problem you might have is if you have any third party utilities
accessing the data file, eg Desktop Search, in which case they place a lock
on the data file & you have to exit the utility first, before the backup
proceeds