Unable to copy .pst files for backup

[Lyn]

Hi,
Every month I back up my files to a CD-RW, including my .pst files. This
has worked well -- until this month. Now when I try to copy my two .pst
files (ihug.pst which is my Personal Folders file, and Archive.pst) to a
folder from which I burn the CD, I get the following message:

"Error copying file or folder.
Cannot copy <filename>: The process cannot access the file because another
process has locked a portion of the file."

When attempting the copy, I have Outlook shut down. I have also rebooted
the PC several times, but I always get the same message. Other than this,
Outlook works just fine as far as its normal functions are concerned.

Does anyone know how these files could be locked, and how to unlock them?

I am running Windows XP Home SP2, with Office 2003 SP1. Outlook is my
default mail client.

I am not sure of the relative dates, but it is possible that I have upgraded
to Win XP SP2 since the last time I successfully copied the .pst files.
Could SP2 be implicated here? I am running Norton Internet Security 2004
(which is up to date), using their firewall rather than the new Windows
firewall.

Thanks for any help.

 

[BillR [MVP]]

Something is holding them open.
See if the Outlook process is running and close it if it is.
Knockout can be useful for this:
http://sunflowerhead.com/software/knockout/

 

[Lyn]

Bill,
Thanks for your response. When Outlook is shut down, there is nothing in
Windows Task Manager that is related in any way (that I can see) to Outlook.

I have downloaded KnockOut and installed it. It says "Outlook: not
running." when Outlook is shut down. I have also tried forcing Outlook shut
via KnockOut -- it says "Outlook has exited. Outlook and Word both
closed.".

In all cases, I still cannot copy the .pst file. However, FWIW I *can* copy
the .pab file OK. Any further thoughts ???

 

[BillR [MVP]]

Something is locking it.
Maybe try to export the whole PST as a PST, close Outlook (use Knockout
again to ensure it's closed) then see if you can copy the exported file.

 

[Brian Tillman]

In all cases, I still cannot copy the .pst file. However, FWIW I
*can* copy the .pab file OK. Any further thoughts ???

Copying the PAB is pointless, since Outlook doesn't use it any more.

 

[Lyn]

That did it! At least now I can backup my emails. I'd still like to know
what was locking the original .pst files. I will advise if I ever find the
answer.

Thanks once more for the helpful suggstion.

 

[BillR [MVP]]

ditto.
there are ways to determine this but you'd need to install an application
and debugging tools and ....
if the workaround works then ... use it.