Restore Backup pst file

[denmarfl]

Using Outlook 2007; Vista Home 32bit....

I am using the Microsoft pst Backup program (pfbackup.exe) to backup my
Default pst file. The backup file is being saved on my External Hard Drive.
When looking at the backup folder I see the file is being backed up the file
is much smaller in size than my original pst file and assume that is because
it is a Backup and compressed...correct?.

How do you use this backup file to restore your original pst file should it
become necessary? What are the steps to follow?

 

[Hal Hostetler [MVP-P/I]]

Simple. Open the backup file from within Outlook using 'File|Open|Outlook
Data File'. Everything in the backup file will be available so you can drag
and drop whatever you need into your default .PST. If the default
completely dies, create a new default .PST file and drag and drop whatever
as above. In addition to using the backup tool, you can just as easily make
a copy of your default .PST file with Outlook closed - same difference,
you'd open it as above, everything is available, etc.

Hal
--
Hal Hostetler, CPBE -- (e-mail address removed)
Senior Engineer/MIS -- MS MVP-Print/Imaging -- WA7BGX
http://www.kvoa.com -- "When News breaks, we fix it!"
KVOA Television, Tucson, AZ. NBC Channel 4
Still Cadillacin' - www.badnewsbluesband.com

 

[DL]

You are sure you are backing up the correct pst?

 

[denmarfl]

Thanks....

Most backup softwares include a Restore Command and that is where I was not
clear as to how to restore my .pst backup file using the Microsoft automatic
backup Software...I simply expected to see a Restore Command which was not
found. So this smaller\compacted backup file when opened by using the
File\Open menus within Outlook, opens the Backup file, expands it (since
again its file size is smaller than the Original pst Default file) and it
opens as a New File....it does not open and overwrite the exiting Default pst
file...... am I correct?

As to making an exact copy (with Outlook closed), and opening that file
should my Default pst file fail, I could delete the original pst file (let's
call it the corupted file that no longer will load), copy and paste the full
backup into the same folder the original pst file was in, and when I open
Outlook I will have restored my pst file to the point where the Full Backup
was recorded? Would this work if I pasted the Backup file in the default
folder istead of the Full Copy?

Knowledge is everything and if you don't ask the questions you'll never know
the answers, thanks for taking the time to read my reply, and your response.

 

[Hal Hostetler [MVP-P/I]]

You NEVER paste a .PST file over the top of an existing file or into the
default directory if it has the name of the default .PST file or you'll
corrupt your Outlook profile. Change it's name slightly, then you can paste
it into the default dirrectory. Open Outlook, open the .PST file, set it as
default, and off you go.

Hal
--
Hal Hostetler, CPBE -- (e-mail address removed)
Senior Engineer/MIS -- MS MVP-Print/Imaging -- WA7BGX
http://www.kvoa.com -- "When News breaks, we fix it!"
KVOA Television, Tucson, AZ. NBC Channel 4
Still Cadillacin' - www.badnewsbluesband.com