Comments on: Microsoft Outlook Data Backup Utility

By: Simon

Simon — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 14:47:39 +0000

Hi!

I think the best solution is an Outlook backup tool. Many programs are able to backup your outlook data automatically. I use Lookeen Backup Manager and i’m very satisfied! http://www.outlook-backup.com/en/buy.html

By: Maria Isabel Morillo

Maria Isabel Morillo — Fri, 06 May 2011 12:00:53 +0000

Hi: I restored my Outlook Backup but it didn’t retore my calendar or contacts. I checked the boxes for calendar and contacts on all persolnal folders, but still blank.
Any ideas please?

By: MARIA ISABEL MORILLO

MARIA ISABEL MORILLO — Thu, 05 May 2011 13:42:20 +0000

HI:
I RESTORED MY OUTLOOK BACKUP AND I CAN’T FIND MY CALENDAR.
I CHECKED THE “CALENDAR ON PERSONAL FOLDER” BOX AND IT IS STILL BLANK.
ACTUALLY, MY BACKUP DIDN’T RESTORE MY CONTACTS EITHER. (THIS IS NOT SO CRITICAL BECAUSE I HAD ANOTHER BACKUP FOR THIS)
ANY IDEAS PLEASE?

By: Bhavesh Gudhka

Bhavesh Gudhka — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 11:01:42 +0000

Thank you for your post. I would like to learn more about software which can do incremental backup of OUTLOOK PST file.

By: Mike McEvoy

Mike McEvoy — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 01:15:07 +0000

@Peter — Wow, perseverance pays off. I really appreciate you coming back and sharing what you learned. It’s helpful to me and others. Thanks for the update. I’m glad you were able to get this solved. Cheers!
–Mike

By: Peter

Peter — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 01:32:09 +0000

Hi Mike,

Thanks for the tips. I wanted to get back to you with the direction I eventually took. Before I went with setting up multiple profiles, I wanted to give the MS fix a try. So, I downloaded WinRAR, which was able to extract the pfbackup.msi file from the self-extracting pfbackup.exe archive. Upon running the file (on the login that didn’t have the utility), it appeared to go through the install process again. Great. All done? Hmmm, no; still no backup option in the Outlook File menu. O.K. so, I ran it again. It never seems rational, but I’ve been a windows user for long enough, ya know? So, upon the next execution of the msi file, it opens up a repair utility (it’s the only way I know how to descrive it). That does its thing, and voila, I’m good to go. Phew. Fifth time’s a charm, eh? Cheers!

By: Mike McEvoy

Mike McEvoy — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 03:50:00 +0000

Hi @Peter — Hmm, interesting scenario. In all honesty I haven’t tried to install the backup utility for multiple users on the same computer. Have you tried installing it to a location other than C:\Program Files? Although that probably won’t resolve the issue because after you install it the first time it will show up on the Installed Programs list for all users. Perhaps it’s an issue with both users using the default Outlook Profile. Try setting up a different Outlook Profile with a different name and see if the Backup Utility treats it any differently.

By: Peter

Peter — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 02:48:45 +0000

Hi Mike,

I’m in the same boat as Romo, above. O.K. so, now I have the utility, but it wants to only install on one user’s login or the other. I set it up under my login, and all was good..but it didn’t show up on the wife’s side. I uninstalled it from my side and reinstalled it on her’s, so now I don’t have it. Arg! Whenever I try to reinstall it on the opposing account, it fails because I am notified that it is already installed, and I must unistall it first. When I attempt to do that (from the other side) it tells me that it can’t because it isn’t installed. Thank you Mr. Gates! Any words of wisdom to help me get this most-needed tool for all users of my system? I haven’t tried the MS fix of extracting the pfbackup.msi from the install file. But I have to say, that’s because I’m not really sure which utility can do that. I appreciate any advise you have to offer.

By: Mike McEvoy

Mike McEvoy — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 18:47:17 +0000

The archive Calendar will be included in the Archive.pst file that is normally stored in the same location as the Outlook.pst file. When you launch the Outlook Backup utility click the Options button which will show both the Outlook.pst file and the Archive.pst file. Check the box for each to back up both files.

By: thead

thead — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 10:44:39 +0000

These are indeed very user-friendly instructions which I have used with ease. However, the archive calendar does not seem to be included in this back up… is there any way of backing up the archive calendar?

By: thead

thead — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 10:44:04 +0000

The archive calendar does not seem to be included in this back up… is there any way of backing up the archive calendar?

By: Twitted by teksquisite

Twitted by teksquisite — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 20:05:31 +0000

[...] This post was Twitted by teksquisite [...]

By: JR

JR — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 06:14:08 +0000

That is the one flaw of outlook, along with the difficulty Microsoft puts in getting to the data. Because of those reason, I find web-based email a little more convenient although issues arise from it as well.
.-= JR´s last blog ..U-Haul Rates =-.

By: Mike McEvoy

Mike McEvoy — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 19:23:23 +0000

@RomoT – Sorry to hear about the HDD crash. Hopefully the Outlook data backup utility will provide better data security for the future. Thanks for stopping by and commenting.

By: RomoT.

RomoT. — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 03:46:27 +0000

Great article. I only wish I had this little utility a month ago when my HDD crashed and scrambled by Outlook.pst file and all my email & contacts. I’ll get this and put it to use ASAP — along with a better backup system.

Thanks for the clear info and instructions. Very helpful. I especially like the feature about being able to create multiple backups over time in case of corruption.