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

  • Manual copy of the PST file

To backup your PST file, an easy way is to copy that file to somewhere else. Here 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/

After that, just copy the file you will find at the previous location to: another folder, or another file, or some USB flash drive, or some external hard disk, or to a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM.

In case of some system crash so to restore the data, open your Outlook, go to ‘File’ – ‘Data File Management’ and click the ‘Data File’ tab. 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. Browse for your backup file and open it.

  • To use the PST file from somewhere else

The moment your Windows will crash, be aware that files and folders on the C drive will become compromised. Moving your PST file to another drive is indeed a good thing. The next step is to set the path for Outlook of that file pointing to that different drive. To do that, close Outlook, transfer the PST file from that default folder (see above) then restart Outlook then search for that new location upon seeing the prompt.

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

So with Outlook, you do have a feature that permits you to export your personal folders and to re-import them later if needed. With this method, you can export your PST file to a secure (and different) location on your hard drive. Then later, you can reimport it, in case, let’s say, of a system crash. To export the PST file, in Outlook, go to ‘File’ – ‘Import and Export’. In the dialogue box that comes up, choose Export to a File. Select ‘Personal Folder File (.pst)’ in the next window. Then in the following dialogue box, choose the folders you want to export. Keep the Include subfolders checkbox ticked to ensure that all your folders and subfolders are included in the exported file. In the next window that will pop up, select a name for the file you will export and browse its new location.

To import your file from the backup, go to ‘File’ – ‘Import and Export’. From the Dialogue box then select ‘Import from another program or file’. After that, select ‘Personal Folder File (.pst)’. Browse for your backup file and import it. This way all the settings that were included in your old file will be applied to Outlook.

  • How to use the add-in part of the PST file backup

You can also backup your PST file with a single click. Including with Outlook, there is a free add-in that can do that (thanks to Microsoft !). That add-in is called ‘Personal Folders Backup’, from Microsoft. You simply have to download and install it. This adds a new option titled Backup to the File menu. This useful program helps you to choose what files (and folders) you want to make a backup of besides its frequency.