A SIMPLE DATA FILE (PST) BACKUP TOOL FROM MICROSOFT – Outlook Tip #5

Posted on July 20, 2010, 11:58 pm, by admin, under Outlook Tips, linkedin.

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Backing up your Outlook Data Files is easy if you know where they are and you remember to do it. This tool takes care of both of those issues.

As a parting comment in Outlook Tip #2 Your Outlook Data Files. Out of sight, out of mind I suggested you back up your data files but didn’t tell you how. This free tool makes back up easy.

You can download the Microsoft Outlook Personal Folders Backup tool here and you can learn more about it here. I was able to download, install and try it all within a minute.

In a nutshell

It creates an exact copy of your any or all of the data files in your Outlook profile. You choose where they are backed up to and you choose how often (in days) it reminds you to run the backup. Then it simply performs the backup by prompting you when you exit Outlook. After you install it you will find a Backup command on your Outlook File menu to configure it (I had to restart Outlook to see it).

A few comments:

  • Be sure you have enough space at your copy destination. The files may be huge.
  • If you just copy to your hard drive you’ll only be guarding against PST corruption. It you have access to a backed-up network drive, copy to it. Otherwise, copy it to a flash drive or some other external drive. A backup isn’t really a backup unless you have an offsite copy too (but you know that).
  • If you happen to be using Outlook 2010, here’s a tweak you’ll have to make.

Thanks to Gerard den Hertog of Caelo Software for suggesting this tool.
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