Archiving emails outside of Outlook

[Brent]

Our company ferrets out email over a certain length of
time. It is just plain deleted. The archive utility is
also disabled. Is there a program that will archive older
messages outside of Outlook? Or, is there some other
method available?

An Outlook Newbie -- THANKS!

 

[Alex Yu [MVP - Academic]]

Our company ferrets out email over a certain length of
time. It is just plain deleted. The archive utility is

That's really 81*!)*#@(!*@#(!@*#&*!@#^!@#...

You should be able to create a new Personal File Folder on your local
machine and archive mails there... What's the account type? POP3,
IMAP, or Exchange?

Alex

 

[Brent]

Thanks for the sentiment Alex...

Here's the deal: 1) the PC is a 'managed' PC so I have no administrative rights, though I do have some write access to the network; 2) Outlook is horribly crippled in that the archiving function is disabled entirely; 3) personal folder systems can be made within Outlook, but these are scoured by a 'worm' every 12-18 months deleting 'older' emails; 4) the IT department is further handcuffed by lawyers which are requiring this methodology. (The obvious problem is that the lawyers really don't understand the need for looking back over data...they just worry about who is looking over your shoulder.)

To answer your question, I think the account type is an Exchange account. (At least that is an option on the 'Send/Receive' option on the 'Tools' pull-down.)

I did find the OST file and copied it out to a private file for safekeeping, but I don't know how to read this file outside of Outlook. I guess the most appropriate tool would be one that could do one of two things: 1) archive my email to a safe location, without requiring outlook; or, 2) read the OST file. The first option could be a program that would save the emails in a 'good' format (I'm not talking about the 'Save As' option here) to a safe location.

Thanks for any help you can provide.
Brent

 

[Alex Yu [MVP - Academic]]

Thanks for the sentiment Alex...

If I am in your position, I am going to fight it hard. Even if you make
and use a private personal file folder, they will still go in and delete
all these files? You should be able to create a new personal file
folder and locate it on your local hd or somewhere you have write/read
access.

You can try this trick. Open the private pst file only when you need to
archive e-mails in there...

Are you working in top secret agencies???

Alex

 

[Brent]

Ha! No I'm not working for that high level of a company (dealing in secrets that is). I really don't understand the thinking behind the policy.

I'm not sure what you mean on making a "private personal file folder". Is this something beyond the "inbox", because if it is, I've already done it and those folders are scoured too. (I've got an unbelievable folder structure for the work I do, just to keep things straight.)

Thanks
Brent