Where is Outlook data stored, and how can I change it?

[Fred Howard]

I know you can back up email, signatures, contacts, etc. to a .pst file, but those are just copies. What is the location where Outlook looks for its "real" "active" data, the data that see when you open Outlook? And is there a way to change that location? If so, how?

I apologize because I've probably asked this question before, but don't remember the answer.

I'm new to Outlook, after many years of using Eudora, and I'm trying to adjust. It just seems that there are all sorts of little things that Outlook can't do easily. I like to keep my data in a separate partition from my programs and operating system. Every program should (and most programs do) have an easy way to change where it stores its data, and I can't figure out how to do this in Outlook.

Thanks,
Ted

 

[Gordon]

I know you can back up email, signatures, contacts, etc. to a .pst file,
but those are just copies. What is the location where Outlook looks for its
"real" "active" data, the data that see when > you open Outlook? And is
there a way to change that location? If so, how?

Depends on your operating system.

 

[Joe Grover]

If you're using Outlook in a personal/non-Exchange environment, then the
data is stored in a PST. The location of that PST varies depending on what
your Operating system is, but if you search for *.pst and ensure you're
looking in hidden folders you can find it fairly easily. You can also see
where it's stored from within Outlook, but again how to do so depends on
what version of Outlook you're running. This is likely your best bet to
learn, as it's also where you're going to go in order to change the
location. My personal suggestion would be to go into Outlook, create a new
PST wherever you want it, move your mail to that new PST, then go into the
account settings and instruct Outlook to deliver new mail to that PST. The
following link contains more information (for Outlook 2000-2003):

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/outlook/HA011124801033.aspx

If, however, you're connecting to a Microsoft Exchange server, then your
data is likely stored on the server, unless your Outlook is configured to
deliver mail locally to a PST (which isn't the norm).

Joe

 

[DL]

All such data is contained in the pst file, they are not copies but the
origonals.

With outlook closed, locate the data file, named outlook.pst by default, and
move it to another hd location. When you start outlook it will
complain.......browse to the location, select the file you moved.
You might also want to move your archive file, by default named,
archive.pst, also - if one has been created, then ensure your archive
settings point to this file/location

The outlook backup addin does indeed creat a seperate pst file, which is a
copy of the origonal pst

 

[chris k]

You can change the file location by right clicking on the personal folders
icon in the left column in outlook. hit properties, then advanced and then
choose your location to store your pst. I user this to create back ups and
gain quicker access to the data by storing it directly to the c drive and
password protecting the file.

 

[Fred Howard]

Hi everyone -

Thanks very much for your responses. I will apply them as soon as I get a chance. Sorry I didn't include specifics, I'm on Windows XP SP2, Outlook is 2003, (11.8217.8202) SP3. Just plain old pop server, not Exchange or iMap.

Ted