Milo: How can I move Outlook.pst to MyDocuments for easy backup?

[Diane Poremsky [MVP]]

See http://www.outlook-tips.net/beginner/scanpst.htm for scanpst how to.

Is the pst your archive pst?

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]





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I have moved it to my local drive. I just tried to "open" the file from
Outlook again. This time, it recovered the archived folders, but not the
inbox. How do I run scanpst?

I just read my last response and feel that I need to apologize for the
tone.
I am just frustrated with the situation. Please accept my apology.

Copy the pst to your local drive. Run scanpst on it if it won't open in
outlook using File, Open. Do not use import.

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]





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I am not trying to move the file to My Documents. I am trying to
restore
the
files after a reinstall of my OS and of Microsoft Office.

I have the .pst file on an external drive. I know exactly where it is.
It
says that it has 65,000 kb of information in the file, but I cannot
restore
it to Outlook. In Outlook, I have tried importing the file and get the
message that I indicated earlier. When I use the File>Open>Personal
folders,
N-O-T-H-I-N-G happens. By that I mean there is absolutely NO RESPONSE.
I
don't know how to get more specific unless I look up the definition of
nothing in the dictionary - no messages, no little hourglass indicating
that
the computer is trying to do something - NOTHING.

Mary Ann

:

What absolutely doesn't happen when you move the pst to My documents?

If you can't find the pst, see
http://www.outlook-tips.net/beginner/filepath.htm.

Also, while this method is for IMAP accounts, you can use it for POP3
accounts too.
http://www.slipstick.com/emo/2008/up081016.htm#2

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]





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I mean I get no response. Absolutely NOTHING HAPPENS. I cannot get
any
more
specific. N-O-T-H-I-N-G happens.

Mary Ann

:

I like to back up my data by just dragging "MyDocuments" to my
external
drive.

When I got this computer, someone out there showed me a way to move
Outlook.pst successfully to a MyDocuments folder so that it would
get
backed
up whenever I saved "MyDocuments".

Well, it worked great when I had a C: crash last week and I was
able
to
import it to Outlook and get all my mail and contacts back.

The PROBLEM is that I no longer have the instructions on how to get
it
under
MyDocs again to resume backing it up weekly. Any help?

 

[jamal]

I like to back up my data by just dragging "MyDocuments" to my external drive.

When I got this computer, someone out there showed me a way to move
Outlook.pst successfully to a MyDocuments folder so that it would get backed
up whenever I saved "MyDocuments".

Well, it worked great when I had a C: crash last week and I was able to
import it to Outlook and get all my mail and contacts back.

The PROBLEM is that I no longer have the instructions on how to get it under
MyDocs again to resume backing it up weekly. Any help?

 

[Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]]

Here you go,

Ensure Outlook is completely closed (C+A+D to make sure there is no
outlook.exe in task manager)

Cut your .pst file from its current location and paste into My Documents.
You will need to turn on searching hidden files and folders to locate it
initially.)

The next time you open Outlook and it complains about the .pst file, point
it to your My Documents folder.

Remember to completely close Outlook before backing up the My Documents
folder to prevent corruption of the .pst file.

--
Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]

Post all replies to the group to keep the discussion intact.
ALWAYS post your Outlook version.
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/KB/555375


After furious head scratching, jamal asked:

| "Milo-in-San-Diego" wrote:
|
|| I like to back up my data by just dragging "MyDocuments" to my
|| external drive.
||
|| When I got this computer, someone out there showed me a way to move
|| Outlook.pst successfully to a MyDocuments folder so that it would
|| get backed up whenever I saved "MyDocuments".
||
|| Well, it worked great when I had a C: crash last week and I was able
|| to import it to Outlook and get all my mail and contacts back.
||
|| The PROBLEM is that I no longer have the instructions on how to get
|| it under MyDocs again to resume backing it up weekly. Any help?

 

[Jrene]

--
Jean Rene

 

[grytsen]

I like to back up my data by just dragging "MyDocuments" to my external drive.

When I got this computer, someone out there showed me a way to move
Outlook.pst successfully to a MyDocuments folder so that it would get backed
up whenever I saved "MyDocuments".

Well, it worked great when I had a C: crash last week and I was able to
import it to Outlook and get all my mail and contacts back.

The PROBLEM is that I no longer have the instructions on how to get it under
MyDocs again to resume backing it up weekly. Any help?

 

[legijonas]

You still need to be FAR more detailed. What EXACTLY happens when you do
File-Open-Outlook data File? ("I get no response" is so vague as to be
useless).

 

[DL]

Is there a question there?

 

[Tato]

Hi Milly.

Saved my day.
Was about to reinstall Windows from scratch.
Just because couldn't figure out how to move .pst

Infinitely grateful for your advice.
Blessings.

 

[Stephen714]

Simple. Close Outlook. Locate the .pst file and move it (don't copy) to
the folder of your choice. Open Outlook and when it complains, point it to
the new location.

Also, never import/export the .pst file when installing on a new drive or
reinstalling. Simply use File->open- Outlook data file to access your data
or configure your profile to point to your .pst file initially.


--Â
Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]

Post all replies to the group to keep the discussion intact. All
unsolicited mail sent to my personal account will be deleted without
reading.

After furious head scratching, Milo-in-San-Diego asked:

| I like to back up my data by just dragging "MyDocuments" to my
| external drive.
|
| When I got this computer, someone out there showed me a way to move
| Outlook.pst successfully to a MyDocuments folder so that it would get
| backed up whenever I saved "MyDocuments".
|
| Well, it worked great when I had a C: crash last week and I was able
| to import it to Outlook and get all my mail and contacts back.
|
| The PROBLEM is that I no longer have the instructions on how to get
| it under MyDocs again to resume backing it up weekly. Any help?


Why shouldn't the pst file be imported when reinstalling? Also, is there any reason not to just back up the Outlook files from their default location and then when reinstalling, just replace the new pst files before Outlook is used with the manual backup?

 

[Leonid S. Knyshov // SBS Expert]

I am guessing that is your question.

In the future, please do not type them on a line that starts with > as
it makes it impossible to follow the thread.

Importing carries a risk of data loss, is extremely slow, and resets the
"Received" headers to the moment of import. Neither of that is desirable.

The correct approach is to File -> Open -> Outlook Data File and either
set the old file as the default location (advanced) or simply drag and
drop information from old PST into a new one inside Outlook (simple).
--
Leonid S. Knyshov
Crashproof Solutions
510-282-1008
Twitter: @wiseleo
http://crashproofsolutions.com
Microsoft Small Business Specialist
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