Outlook Personal Folder Backup--How to Use

[Chad Harris]

I'm using MOS 2003 with Outlook 03 on a Machine with Win XP Pro, and it
seems to be working fine, but I have 3 questions:


Often but not always, when I close Outlook, I am prompted with this
dialogue box: It's title bar says "Outlook Personal Folders Backup"..."Save
Backup Copies of these personal folder files"--Personal folders (it doesn't
list any) then below: "Last Backup 2/23/04" and only because I probably
said OK then, not understanding since I don't know of any personal folders
I've generated yet. (I haven't yet configured it for mail and with BCM but
will soon--I've just been using the calendar features). When I click
options in the box, I get another dialogue box that says "Backup these
personal folders" and there is a checkbox with a check in it that says
"remind me to backup every 7 days." Then below "Backup the file selected
to this location": C:\Documents and Settings\User Name\Local
Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook\Outlook backup.pst

1)How can I stop being prompted?
2) But should I back the folders up and how often? What is "best practices"
or the best way to handle this?
Do the "folders" refer to mail, attachments I might include, and drafts?
3) I've just been hitting cancel not seeing the need to back anything up
yet. Is this OK?

TIA,

Chad Harris

 

[James M. Fisher {MVP}]

Using the Microsoft Outlook Personal Folders Backup tool:
http://office.microsoft.com/assistance/preview.aspx?AssetID=HA010875321033

I have mine set to remind me to backup every 2 days, but set it at your own
comfort level. Basically, ask yourself: Could I lose all my emails from 2,
3, or 4 days back and not miss them? I back mine up to My Documents, then it
will get backed-up with my regular Windows backup routine. Every once in
awhile, I copy it to a CDRW as well.