Outlook Personal Folders Backup Tool? in Outlook General Questions    |   |  Help   Search For:     In:   Office   Outlook     Outlook General Questions     Outlook New Users     Outlook Business Contact Mngr     Outlook Calendaring     Outlook Contacts     Outlook Install and Configure     Outlook Programming-VBA     Outlook Programming-Forms              Lou Messina 10/21/2006 8:12 PM PST   Question   There is an optional "Outlook Personal Folders Backup Tool" (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=8b081f3a-b7d0-4b16-b8af-5a6322f4fd01&DisplayLang=en) and (http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HA010875321033.aspx). If I read the description correctly, the tool backs-up your Outlook Personal Folders (or pre-selected Personal Folders) to your hard drive according to a pre-set schedule. What is the benefit of backing-up to the same drive? What is the benefit of installing this utility assuming one has a backup utility that backs-up pre-selected folders/files on a pre-set schedule? My interest is in backing-up for security reasons, and not sharing any folders/files (an option described in the utility description). Lou Messina     Was this post helpful to you?         Reply |   Top           Roady [MVP] 10/22/2006 3:47 AM PST   Answer   "What is the benefit of backing-up to the same drive?" Recover from a corrupted file, accidental e-mail deletions, import going wrong, etc... "What is the benefit of installing this utility assuming one has a backup utility that backs-up pre-selected folders/files on a pre-set schedule?" You are free to use any other backup solution you find handy. "My interest is in backing-up for security reasons, and not sharing any folders/files (an option described in the utility description)." The sharing remark is a bit weird IMHO. Yes, you can create a "sharing construction" with this tool but I don't see it as its main functionality but more an abuse of it (like using signatures to insert text blocks). Frequent back-ups to an external medium and storing them safely off site is one of the most used and proven method of backing up your data. Oh, and don't forget to test your backups every now and then. You won't be the first finding out that all your backups were corrupted right when you need them. -- Robert Sparnaaij [MVP-Outlook] Coauthor, Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003 http://www.howto-outlook.com/ Outlook FAQ, HowTo, Downloads, Add-Ins and more ----- "Lou Messina" <LouMessina@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:FCEF8008-8C4F-4480-81A9-C4DB8F48420B@microsoft.com... There is an optional "Outlook Personal Folders Backup Tool" (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=8b081f3a-b7d0-4b16-b8af-5a6322f4fd01&DisplayLang=en) and (http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HA010875321033.aspx). If I read the description correctly, the tool backs-up your Outlook Personal Folders (or pre-selected Personal Folders) to your hard drive according to a pre-set schedule. What is the benefit of backing-up to the same drive? What is the benefit of installing this utility assuming one has a backup utility that backs-up pre-selected folders/files on a pre-set schedule? My interest is in backing-up for security reasons, and not sharing any folders/files (an option described in the utility description). Lou Messina     Was this post helpful to you?         Reply |   Top           Lou Messina 10/23/2006 11:46 AM PST   Thanks Roady. That makes it easier to understand. U DA MAN! Lou Messina -- "Roady [MVP]" wrote: > "What is the benefit of backing-up to the same drive?" > Recover from a corrupted file, accidental e-mail deletions, import going > wrong, etc... > > "What is the benefit of installing this utility assuming one has a backup > utility that backs-up pre-selected folders/files on a pre-set schedule?" > You are free to use any other backup solution you find handy. > > "My interest is in backing-up for security reasons, and not sharing any > folders/files (an option described in the utility description)." > The sharing remark is a bit weird IMHO. Yes, you can create a "sharing > construction" with this tool but I don't see it as its main functionality > but more an abuse of it (like using signatures to insert text blocks). > Frequent back-ups to an external medium and storing them safely off site is > one of the most used and proven method of backing up your data. > > Oh, and don't forget to test your backups every now and then. You won't be > the first finding out that all your backups were corrupted right when you > need them. > > Robert Sparnaaij [MVP-Outlook] > Coauthor, Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003 > http://www.howto-outlook.com/ > Outlook FAQ, HowTo, Downloads, Add-Ins and more     Was this post helpful to you?         Reply |   Top           Roady [MVP] 10/23/2006 5:40 PM PST   Answer   You're welcome! :-) -- Robert Sparnaaij [MVP-Outlook] Coauthor, Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003 http://www.howto-outlook.com/ Outlook FAQ, HowTo, Downloads, Add-Ins and more ----- "Lou Messina" <LouMessina@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:9982814F-CC2A-4D9C-9FA1-871D5A50C38B@microsoft.com... Thanks Roady. That makes it easier to understand. U DA MAN! Lou Messina -- "Roady [MVP]" wrote: > "What is the benefit of backing-up to the same drive?" > Recover from a corrupted file, accidental e-mail deletions, import going > wrong, etc... > > "What is the benefit of installing this utility assuming one has a backup > utility that backs-up pre-selected folders/files on a pre-set schedule?" > You are free to use any other backup solution you find handy. > > "My interest is in backing-up for security reasons, and not sharing any > folders/files (an option described in the utility description)." > The sharing remark is a bit weird IMHO. Yes, you can create a "sharing > construction" with this tool but I don't see it as its main functionality > but more an abuse of it (like using signatures to insert text blocks). > Frequent back-ups to an external medium and storing them safely off site > is > one of the most used and proven method of backing up your data. > > Oh, and don't forget to test your backups every now and then. You won't be > the first finding out that all your backups were corrupted right when you > need them. > > Robert Sparnaaij [MVP-Outlook] > Coauthor, Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003 > http://www.howto-outlook.com/ > Outlook FAQ, HowTo, Downloads, Add-Ins and more     Was this post helpful to you?         Reply |   Top           Kathy Bailey 10/2/2008 3:00 AM PST   Could you please give further details regarding your statement: "Oh, and don't forget to test your backups every now and then. You won't be the first finding out that all your backups were corrupted right when you need them." Specifically, how would you "test" the integrity of your backup without overwriting your existing data/configuration? -- Kathy Bailey, PE "Roady [MVP]" wrote: > "What is the benefit of backing-up to the same drive?" > Recover from a corrupted file, accidental e-mail deletions, import going > wrong, etc... > > "What is the benefit of installing this utility assuming one has a backup > utility that backs-up pre-selected folders/files on a pre-set schedule?" > You are free to use any other backup solution you find handy. > > "My interest is in backing-up for security reasons, and not sharing any > folders/files (an option described in the utility description)." > The sharing remark is a bit weird IMHO. Yes, you can create a "sharing > construction" with this tool but I don't see it as its main functionality > but more an abuse of it (like using signatures to insert text blocks). > Frequent back-ups to an external medium and storing them safely off site is > one of the most used and proven method of backing up your data. > > Oh, and don't forget to test your backups every now and then. You won't be > the first finding out that all your backups were corrupted right when you > need them. > > -- > Robert Sparnaaij [MVP-Outlook] > Coauthor, Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003 > http://www.howto-outlook.com/ > Outlook FAQ, HowTo, Downloads, Add-Ins and more > > ----- > "Lou Messina" <LouMessina@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message > news:FCEF8008-8C4F-4480-81A9-C4DB8F48420B@microsoft.com... > There is an optional "Outlook Personal Folders Backup Tool" > (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=8b081f3a-b7d0-4b16-b8af-5a6322f4fd01&DisplayLang=en) > and > (http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HA010875321033.aspx). > > If I read the description correctly, the tool backs-up your Outlook Personal > Folders (or pre-selected Personal Folders) to your hard drive according to a > pre-set schedule. > > What is the benefit of backing-up to the same drive? > > What is the benefit of installing this utility assuming one has a backup > utility that backs-up pre-selected folders/files on a pre-set schedule? > > My interest is in backing-up for security reasons, and not sharing any > folders/files (an option described in the utility description). > > Lou Messina > > >     Was this post helpful to you?         Reply |   Top           Brian Tillman [MVP - Outlook] 10/2/2008 6:52 AM PST   "Kathy Bailey" <KathyBailey@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:12A7D586-7282-47E3-B030-25A4197578BE@microsoft.com... > Could you please give further details regarding your statement: > > "Oh, and don't forget to test your backups every now and then. You won't > be > the first finding out that all your backups were corrupted right when you > need them." > > Specifically, how would you "test" the integrity of your backup without > overwriting your existing data/configuration? Easy. Just open the PST in Outlook (File>Open>Outlook Data File) and make sure it contains the data you expect. When finished checking, right-click its root and choose Close. -- Brian Tillman [MVP-Outlook]     Was this post helpful to you?         Reply |   Top           Jane Schmidt 10/24/2006 11:54 PM PST   I only see the option that it reminds you of doing a backup. Can the backuo be done automaticly in the background? "Lou Messina" wrote: > There is an optional "Outlook Personal Folders Backup Tool" > (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=8b081f3a-b7d0-4b16-b8af-5a6322f4fd01&DisplayLang=en) and > (http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HA010875321033.aspx). > > If I read the description correctly, the tool backs-up your Outlook Personal > Folders (or pre-selected Personal Folders) to your hard drive according to a > pre-set schedule. > > What is the benefit of backing-up to the same drive? > > What is the benefit of installing this utility assuming one has a backup > utility that backs-up pre-selected folders/files on a pre-set schedule? > > My interest is in backing-up for security reasons, and not sharing any > folders/files (an option described in the utility description). > > Lou Messina     Was this post helpful to you?         Reply |   Top           Brian Tillman 10/25/2006 8:20 AM PST   Jane Schmidt <JaneSchmidt@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote: > I only see the option that it reminds you of doing a backup. > Can the backuo be done automaticly in the background? There's no way to make a reliable backup of a PST as long as Outlook is open. -- Brian Tillman     Was this post helpful to you?         Reply |   Top           Lou Messina 10/26/2006 6:08 PM PST   If you go to the first link in my original post (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=8b081f3a-b7d0-4b16-b8af-5a6322f4fd01&DisplayLang=en#Overview), read the second paragraph under Overview: "Backing up your Microsoft Outlook information is quicker and easier with the Personal Folders Backup feature. Personal Folders Backup creates backup copies of your .PST files at regular intervals, in Outlook 2000 and later versions, making it easy to keep all of your Outlook folders safely backed up." Depending on the version of Outlook you're running, you may not be able to access the link. Lou Messina -- "Jane Schmidt" wrote: I only see the option that it reminds you of doing a backup. Can the backuo be done automaticly in the background?     Was this post helpful to you?         Reply |   Top           Lou Messina 10/26/2006 6:27 PM PST   My original reference to "sharing" may have been incorrect. I based that assumption to the tool's description as being able to: -Backup; -Archive; and -Export. "Exporting" is defined in the tool's description as copying to another location. However, I'm uncertain if that means you can share the files if exported to a network shared folder. Lou Messina -- "Jane Schmidt" wrote: I only see the option that it reminds you of doing a backup. Can the backuo be done automaticly in the background?     Was this post helpful to you?         Reply |   Top           Roady [MVP] 10/27/2006 5:24 AM PST   Answer   All it does is creating a copy of the pst-file to your specified backup location. If this is a location of a network drive someone else can connect to then indeed you are "abusing" the tool for sharing capabilities. Since now someone else can make changes to this copy I wouldn't consider it a backup anymore. By definition they should be stored on a safe read only location. -- Robert Sparnaaij [MVP-Outlook] Coauthor, Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003 http://www.howto-outlook.com/ Outlook FAQ, HowTo, Downloads, Add-Ins and more ----- "Lou Messina" <LouMessina@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:6D21FBF2-45ED-450E-BB6A-F787ADEE37EA@microsoft.com... My original reference to "sharing" may have been incorrect. I based that assumption to the tool's description as being able to: -Backup; -Archive; and -Export. "Exporting" is defined in the tool's description as copying to another location. However, I'm uncertain if that means you can share the files if exported to a network shared folder. Lou Messina -- "Jane Schmidt" wrote: I only see the option that it reminds you of doing a backup. Can the backuo be done automaticly in the background?     Was this post helpful to you?         Reply |   Top           Lou Messina 10/27/2006 9:35 AM PST   The ability to alter files didn't occur to me. That's a significant point. Lou Messina -- "Roady [MVP]" wrote: All it does is creating a copy of the pst-file to your specified backup location. If this is a location of a network drive someone else can connect to then indeed you are "abusing" the tool for sharing capabilities. Since now someone else can make changes to this copy I wouldn't consider it a backup anymore. By definition they should be stored on a safe read only location. Robert Sparnaaij [MVP-Outlook] Coauthor, Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003 http://www.howto-outlook.com Outlook FAQ, HowTo, Downloads, Add-Ins and more     Was this post helpful to you?         Reply |   Top           RichNRockvilleMD 5/15/2008 11:04 AM PST   I have two people using the same computer on a network, both are administrators for the domain. I installed the backup tool (LATEST 05/08/2008) and on one user, it works great but when the 2nd user logs on, an install says that there is backup is already installed and refuses to install. Backup does not show up on the 2nd uses file menu in outlook 2003 as it does when the 1st user is logged on. No where can I find backup installed on the 2nd users outlook. What now..??? Rich     Was this post helpful to you?         Reply |   Top           Roady [MVP] 5/15/2008 11:18 AM PST   See http://www.howto-outlook.com/faq/backupaddin.htm -- Robert Sparnaaij [MVP-Outlook] Coauthor, Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003 http://www.howto-outlook.com/ Outlook FAQ, HowTo, Downloads, Add-Ins and more http://www.msoutlook.info/ Real World Questions, Real World Answers ----- "RichNRockvilleMD" <RichNRockvilleMD@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:31A78D8D-375B-4BBE-A957-971C11E8037C@microsoft.com... > > I have two people using the same computer on a network, both are > administrators for the domain. I installed the backup tool (LATEST > 05/08/2008) and on one user, it works great but when the 2nd user logs on, > an > install says that there is backup is already installed and refuses to > install. > Backup does not show up on the 2nd uses file menu in outlook 2003 as it > does when the 1st user is logged on. > > No where can I find backup installed on the 2nd users outlook. > > What now..??? > Rich > >     Was this post helpful to you?         Reply |   Top           KAli 6/16/2008 2:42 AM PST   Robert, Thanks for making your expertise freely available. I would like to know if the Outlook Personal Folders Backup Tool is effective for transferring my Outlook files between two different computers. I have a new traveling laptop and an existing office computer, and I would like to be able to use both seamlessly with my Outlook files. I tend to keep copies of most of my e-mails for future reference, and it would be helpful to have this database duplicated and current on each computer. If the Outlook Personal Folders Backup Tool is not the most efficient way of doing this, I would appreciate you advice on alternative methods. Thanks, KAli "Roady [MVP]" wrote: > See http://www.howto-outlook.com/faq/backupaddin.htm > > -- > Robert Sparnaaij [MVP-Outlook] > Coauthor, Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003 > http://www.howto-outlook.com/ > Outlook FAQ, HowTo, Downloads, Add-Ins and more > > http://www.msoutlook.info/ > Real World Questions, Real World Answers     Was this post helpful to you?         Reply |   Top         Return to Microsoft Communities   Notify me of replies     More...