Outlook .pst file size never changes

[Vivienne]

Hi

Our Outlook .pst file size never changes and when backed up and restored it is always empty even though there are addresses and emails in it.

I had changed the directory where the file is kept but I did it from within the program. I am also exporting and importing from within the program.

I know that it is the right folder that I am backing up but it is always at 265 kb which is the initial size when installed ( so a google search tells me )

I cannot understand what is happening and am quite concerned as I cannot figure out a way of backing up this file. It worries me as there is important things in it that I must not lose!

Does anyone have any ideas as to what this is happening??

Thanks!

Vivienne

[mylanta]

Vivienne,
Don't view size of folder, open it and look at size of files inside... and I am not sure if you are aware there is a backup available for Outlook from Ms also:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&familyid=8B081F3A-B7D0-4B16-B8AF-5A6322F4FD01

[Vivienne]

Hi Rich

Vivienne,
Don't view size of folder, open it and look at size of files inside... and I am not sure if you are aware there is a backup available for Outlook from Ms also:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&familyid=8B081F3A-B7D0-4B16-B8AF-5A6322F4FD01
Thanks for the reply. It's the office computer so I shall check it again after.
I did know about the microsoft backup as Fred so kindly told me. I have tried it on my own computer without much luck. It backs up okay but when I ask it to 'open'. It says it cannot open as either the file is corrupt or incompatible.

You can't imagine how crazy it makes me when things do not work as you expect them to!!! I cannot even export the address book, When I export 'contacts' it saves everything *except* the email addresses!

Copying everything by hand does not seem like the best solution but it is the only thing left for me to do if I want to save those addresses!

:-(

Vivienne

You have mentioned several reasons why I can't stand and do not use the program....

[rVidia]

Copying everything by hand does not seem like the best solution but it is the only thing left for me to do if I want to save those addresses!
I'm not sure if this will work, or if you have tried this before, but you could make a very simple batch file for this purpose. Just serving as an example,
@echo off
echo ### Backing up the Outlook folder
xcopy /e /h /r /y "%appdata%\Microsoft\Outlook" "C:\Backup"
echo Backup: complete.
@pause
In the above, "%appdata%\Microsoft\Outlook" is the location of the Outlook folder and "C:\Backup" is where you would be backing the folder up to, so if you were going to back up to CD, for example, you could change "C:\Backup" to the CD drive, e.g., "D:\"

If you want to back up additional files/folders, you could add this to the code:
xcopy /e /h /r /y "backthisup" "savebackuphere"
To make a batch file, open Notepad (Start > Run > notepad.exe), type in the appropriate code, and save the file as a .bat file (File > Save As... > change Save as type to All Files > name the file backup.bat)

I don't know if this is what you're looking for, but it may come of some use to you in the future ;)

Good luck,
Ray

[Vivienne]

Ray:

I'm not sure if this will work, or if you have tried this before, but you could make a very simple batch file for this purpose.

I don't know if this is what you're looking for, but it may come of some use to you in the future ;)

Thank you!!!!!!! What an education I am getting!!! I am going to try that! Even if it doesn't work, I will still know how to make a batch file!! It will be so handy!!

Thanks so very much!!!! I so very much appreciate your help!

Vivienne

[Vivienne]

Rvidia and Rich

I think I have it solved. I was copying the wrong folder. I had done a search and it only found the folder on the D Drive to which I had changed the save default. How I found the right one was by right clicking on Personal Folders in Outlook, going to properties and then advance. Voila there was the right folder on the C:Drive. Don't know how that happened but I will not attempt to change it and just have that one backed up on the Online backups.

Thanks very much for all your suggestions!!!

Vivienne

[mylanta]

Glad to hear it!

[golfmore]

MyLanta, what do you use instead please? Thanks.

[mylanta]

MyLanta, what do you use instead please? Thanks.
Sorry for density but instead of what? if you mean for email, I use OE and I have tried them all and keep coming back.

[golfmore]

I may have misunderstood, but I took it that you do not like Outlook. What instead? Thanks.

[mylanta]

I hate it but I don't remember saying that int his thread but anyway I use Outlook Express and since the new Windows Mail in Vista reminds me too much of Outlook and has removed the best features, I plan to move ti Incredimail when installing Vista.