What is correct procedure for restoring backup after reformat?

[frankieplus]

Is it best to

1. Reformat drive and re install outlook 2007, then run outlook for the first time and maybe set up email accounts and then overwrite outlook.pst with the backed up one?

or

2. Reformat drive and re install outlook 2007 then immediately copy outlook.pst into folder -without- first running outlook?


-Frankie

 

[DL]

1) May corrupt both the Profile & pst
2) is one method

 

[Roady [MVP]]

2) is not a method. When creating a mail profile while there is already an
outlook.pst file in the folder will not automatigically configure that
folder with Outlook but will create a new outlook1.pst file.



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[Roady [MVP]]

See http://www.howto-outlook.com/howto/backupandrestore.htm

 

[frankieplus]

Ok I read that link (http://www.howto-outlook.com/howto/backupandrestore.htm)

And it said this:

To restore your pst-file copy the file to the location where you >want to work with it like D:\My Documents\My Outlook\Temp. Now >open Outlook and connect to the file by choosing File-> Open-> >Outlook Data File.

This is fine and I understand.

But, Isn't it best to backup more than just outlook.pst? As per this link

http://www.slipstick.com/config/backup2007.asp

As per that link, I'm assuming it's best to backup everything in \microsoft\outlook and in \roaming\microsoft\outlook

How would I restore all of that? Or am I wasting my time?


-Frankie

 

[Roady [MVP]]

It all depends on what you want to restore. The pst-file contains all
Outlook data. If you have more then 1 pst-file, you'll of course have to
backup and restore those too.

Other files are mainly settings or support files. You might want to consider
to backup and restore your Signatures or macros if you have defined any.

If you want to backup and restore your settings, data files, signatures,
account configuration etc... and you don't want to mess around with all
these files manually, I would recommend using Outlook Backup from ABF
Software.

http://addins.howto-outlook.com/abf_outlookbackup
If you decide to order use ABF-1HTJ8 to get a discount.



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[frankieplus]

I don't mind messing with those files manually.

To restore those data files is it safe to overwrite the existing ones? The ones I'm tallking about are in \roaming.

Is it ok to overwrite microsoft\roaming\outlook.nk2, outcmd.dat, *.xml files?

Is the way to restore them by overwriting or do I have to somehow reconnect them as well as I do the outlook.pst file?


-Frankie

newsgroups_DELETE_ wrote on Mon, 30 June 2008 03:0

 

[Roady [MVP]]

They can be overwritten but it is not a guaranteed way that they will work
again in the newly created mail profile on another computer (configuration)
as sometimes they can contain information that is either tied to the mail
profile or the computer (configuration). It's worth a shot though. If it
fails you simply rename them to .old and Outlook will create them with the
default settings.

 

[frankieplus]

So really then, you can't simply do a restore by copying and pasting/overwriting files. (Which I thought you could)

To restore an outlook.pst you have to first open that pst in outlook (open outlook data file) and then make it the default mail delivery file. Am I right?

And as for the other things like default views etc, there's no real way to back that up by saving the contents of \microsoft\roaming, yeah?

The best way to backup anything I'm guessing is with a backup tool?

I always thought that one could simply copy everythign from \microsoft\outlook and \microsoft\outlook\roaming to a backup folder and at any time just copy it all back while overwriting all the originals. Could you confirm that I'm wrong here for my own peace of mind ?


-Frankie


newsgroups_DELETE_ wrote on Mon, 30 June 2008 19:4

 

[Roady [MVP]]

So really then, you can't simply do a restore by copying and

pasting/overwriting files. (Which I thought you could)

Yes, you can restore (one computer configuration to same computer
configuration) like that.
What you were asking is about a migration (one computer configuration to
another computer configuration). In that case it doesn't work like that for
the settings files you were talking about.

To restore an outlook.pst you have to first open that pst in outlook (open
outlook data file) and then make it the default mail delivery file.
Am I right?

Yes, never overwrite existing pst-files in that case.

And as for the other things like default views etc, there's no real way to
back that up by saving the contents of \microsoft\roaming, yeah?

Views are stored within the pst-file. You'll backup those settings when
making a backup of your pst-file.

The best way to backup anything I'm guessing is with a backup tool?

The benefit of of using a backup tool is that it back ups both data and
configuration files in 1 go. This can reduce backup and restore time and
also makes much more convenient to do and manage. The tool I referred to
earlier from ABF Software also supports migration scenarios.
http://addins.howto-outlook.com/abf_outlookbackup

I always thought that one could simply copy everythign from
\microsoft\outlook and \microsoft\outlook\roaming to a backup folder and
at > any time just copy it all back while overwriting all the originals.
Could you confirm that I'm wrong here for my own peace of mind ?

That's wrong. That's only part of a bigger whole. It works as a backup and
restore in most cases but not for migration purposes.



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[frankieplus]

Robert, thanks for your help. I'm getting it now. I got mixed up thinking 'migration' meant 'backup'. This is where I think I got confused.

In regards to what you said below and my last question I promise

What would happen in this scenario.

1) You copy the entire contents of \microsoft\roaming\outlook and \microsoft\outlook (including .pst file of course) to a backup drive.

2) A week later, you purposely delete everything in the default \microsoft\roaming\outlook and \microsoft\outlook folders and replace it all with the backed up files from a week ago.

Would Outlook simply pick up where it left off a week ago and all is well?

My guess is that it should be. This is the way I have been 'restoring' my backups each time I reformat my machine.


-Frankie

I always thought that one could simply copy everythign from
\microsoft\outlook and \microsoft\outlook\roaming to a backup folder and
at > any time just copy it all back while overwriting all the originals.
Could you confirm that I'm wrong here for my own peace of mind ?

[You Said]

That's wrong. That's only part of a bigger whole. It works as a backup and
restore in most cases but not for migration purposes.

 

[Roady [MVP]]

Would Outlook simply pick up where it left off a week ago and all is well?
Yes, most likely. But as I said, some of these files don't stand on their
own. They are either linked to another file, registry setting, account
configuration or Outlook addins.

This is the way I have been 'restoring' my backups each time I reformat my
machine.

That would be the migration scenario again.



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Robert, thanks for your help. I'm getting it now. I got mixed up thinking
'migration' meant 'backup'. This is where I think I got confused.

In regards to what you said below and my last question I promise

What would happen in this scenario.

1) You copy the entire contents of \microsoft\roaming\outlook and
\microsoft\outlook (including .pst file of course) to a backup drive.

2) A week later, you purposely delete everything in the default
\microsoft\roaming\outlook and \microsoft\outlook folders and replace it
all with the backed up files from a week ago.

Would Outlook simply pick up where it left off a week ago and all is well?

My guess is that it should be. This is the way I have been 'restoring' my
backups each time I reformat my machine.


-Frankie

I always thought that one could simply copy everythign from
\microsoft\outlook and \microsoft\outlook\roaming to a backup folder and
at > any time just copy it all back while overwriting all the originals.
Could you confirm that I'm wrong here for my own peace of mind ?

[You Said]

That's wrong. That's only part of a bigger whole. It works as a backup and
restore in most cases but not for migration purposes.