How to Backup Outlook Pst Files

Outlook 2007/2003/2002 Add-in: Personal Folders Backup

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 2002 and later versions, making it easy to keep all of your Outlook folders safely backed up.

With Personal Folders Backup, you can choose which of your .PST files you wish to back up, and how often you wish to back them up.

Each .PST file contains all of your Outlook folders, including the Inbox, Calendar, and Contacts. You can have a single .PST file (usually called "Internet Folders" or "Personal Folders" in your Folder List), but you might also have an additional .PST file that you use for archiving ("Archiving Folders"). Personal Folders Backup lets you back up any or all of these .PST files.

System requirements

Supported operating systems: Windows 2000 Service Pack 3, Windows 98 Second Edition, Windows ME, Windows Vista, Windows XP

Works with the following Office programs:
        Microsoft Office Outlook 2007
        Microsoft Outlook 2003
        Microsoft Outlook 2002

Using the PST Backup tool

Before you begin the backup process, you might want to check the size of your .pst file. If you have multiple folders in your .pst file, you must select the top-level folder to determine the total file size for all the folders.



To install the Microsoft Outlook Personal Folders Backup tool

1. Quit Outlook.
2. Download the tool from the Microsoft Office Online site by clicking the Download link and following the instructions in the dialog boxes.   (Note:   To change languages, select a language in the Change language list, click Go, and then click Download.)
3. To start the setup program, double-click the Pf backup.exe program file on your hard disk.
4. Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the installation.
5. Start Outlook.

Instructions for use

1. The Personal Folders file (.pst) that you want to back up must be open. If the file is visible in Folder List, it is open.
2. On the File menu, click Backup.
3. Click Options.
4. In the Backup these personal folders files list, select the check box for each item you want to back up.
5. Change the .pst file name shown. Or, to select a different folder, click Browse, navigate to the location you want, and then click Open.( Note :  The default file name and location where the .pst file is saved is shown in the File location box.)
6. To have Microsoft Outlook automatically remind you to make a backup copy of this file, select the Remind me to backup every x days check box, and then type the number of days between 1 and 999.
7. Click OK.
8. Click Save Backup.

 Note   The items selected will not be backed up until you quit Outlook.

1. Lists Personal Folders files (.pst) that will be included in the backup.
2. Displays the last time a backup was completed.
3. The Options button is where you can set reminders for the backup, which Personal Folders files are included, and the file location where the backup is saved.
4. You can open previously created backups.

1. Selecting the check box specifies that reminders are to be used. You can specify any number between 1 and 999 days.
2. Select the check box for each Personal Folders file you want to back up.
3. The file location is where your data will be copied to. Your original data will not be moved and changed. Once a backup is complete, you can use Windows Explorer to go to this location and see the backup file or copy it to removable media such as a CD, DVD, portable hard drive, or portable memory device.