How to Remove Virus

Now let’s talk about how to backup PST file.

• PST File – Manual Copy

The easiest way to backup your PST file is to simply copy it to another location. Here how to repair PST file you will learn how to repair your PST file. In Windows XP, the PST file is located at:

C:/Documents and Settings/%username%/Local Settings/Application Data/Microsoft/Outlook/

Under Win Vista or Win 7, the file is here:

C:/Users/%username%/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Outlook/

Then you have to copy the above located file to: another file, or folder, or an external hard disk, or an USB flash drive, or a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM.

If you do have a system crash and wants to restore the data, simply open Outlook and go to ‘File’ – ‘Data File Management’ and choose the ‘Data File’ option. Check here how to backup pst file to learn how to backup pst file, and here corrupt pst file repair how to repair corrupt pst file. Search for your file that you backup and open it.

• Use your PST file from a different location

You should be aware than when Windows crashes, the files (and folders) on the C drive will become corrupted. So it is a good measure to move your PST file to a different drive and set the Outlook path for the data file to that drive. To do this, first close Outlook, then relocate the PST file from the default folder mentioned above, restart outlook and browse for the new location when the prompt comes up.

Rename your old Outlook file to something different (use a different file extension) so it will be easy to retrieve it if something is to happen to the relocated file.

• Import and Export

Including with MS Outlook, there is a feature enabling end-users to export their personal folders besides re-importing them later. Using the above way, you will be able to export your PST file to a different (and secure) location on your hard disk. After you can re-import that file if needed. If you want to export the PST file: in Outlook, go to ‘File’ – ‘Import and Export’. In the dialogue box that will come up, select ‘Export to a File’. Then in the next window, choose ‘Personal Folder File (.pst)’. On the following dialog box, choose the folders you need to export. Be sure to keep the ‘Include subfolder’ checkbox ticked so all your subfolders, and folders, are included in the file you will export. In the next window that comes up, choose a filename for the exported file and browse for its new location.

To import from the backed up file, go to File Import and Export, then choose Import from another program or file from the Dialogue box. The next step it to choose ‘Personal Folder File (.pst)’. Browse for your backup file, then import it. Once done, Outlook will get all the previous settings found in your old file.

• PST file backup: using the add-in

Thanks to Microsoft, there is a free add-in part of Outlook that with a single click permits you to easily backup your PST file. That add-in is called ‘Personal Folders Backup’, from Microsoft. You simply have to download and install it. You will see a new option called ‘Backup’ part of your ‘File’ menu. This useful program helps you to choose what files (and folders) you want to make a backup of besides its frequency.