How to backup your emails, address book and calendar
Disclaimer:
The following advice is based on our knowledge and experience of backing up emails and the adress book for
Microsoft Outlook / Outlook Express and also the calendar for Outlook.
For advice on backing up emails using different email browsers, please refer to the Help files within that application.
Please be aware that we are not the authors of these programs and cannot answer questions related to these products. Our customer support team will only deal with the backup and restore process relating to Depositit and not the setup or import/export requirements of Outlook or Outlook Express.
| For complete help using Microsoft Outlook or Outlook Express, visit the Microsoft Customer Support website |
This advice is specific to Microsoft Outlook and Outlook Express only.
- To Backup Outlook e-mails, address book and calendar
- To Restore Outlook e-mails, address book and calendar
- To Backup Outlook Express e-mails
- To Restore Outlook Express e-mails
Outlook information such as e-mail, contacts and calendar are stored in a data file, called a personal folders file. This file has the extension .pst, and is commonly called a .pst file.
It is this .pst file that you need to backup to TOTALcomputerbackup.
Unless you have saved your .pst file in a specific area, it will generally be stored in the following directory: C:\documents & settings\username of your machine\localsettings\application data\Microsoft\outlook\outlook.pst
To backup your .pst file to TOTALcomputerbackup:
Open the TOTALcomputerbackup software
Click on NEW
Create a name for your backup (i.e outlook) and click OK
On the right hand side your drives should appear
Left click on the '+' next to your 'C' drive to open it up
Left click on the '+' next to documents and settings
Left click on the '+' next to your username
Left click on the '+' next to local settings
Left click on the '+' next to application data
Left click on the '+' next to Microsoft
Left click on the '+' next to outlook
You should now see the outlook.pst file - PLACE A TICK IN THIS BOX
Go down to bottom right of the window where it says Backup Cycle and reduce this from 30 to 5*
On the bottom left side schedule what time and how frequently you wish your backups to run
Go up to the top left and click SAVE
IMPORTANT: Your Outlook program must be closed before backing up (and remain closed for the duration of the backup). For example, if you set the .pst file to backup weekly on Thursday evenings then ensure you close down Microsoft Outlook on Thursday before the backup is due to take place. If you backup your .pst file daily you will need to close down Microsoft Outlook each day, before the backup is due to take place. As soon as the backup has been successfully carried out, you can reopen Outlook.
If Outlook is not closed when TOTALcomputerbackup backs up, you will receive a "Backup Unsuccessful" email from us. Ensure Outlook is closed before the next backup and it should run successfully.
* It is strongly recommended that all Email definitions have a reduced backup cycle, this is because your Email files will tend to double in size with each backup cycle (reduce from the default 30 to between 1 & 7).
Restoring Microsoft Outlook Emails, Address Book and Calendar
You must first restore the file following the instructions on how to restore data using TOTALcomputerbackup. Once the file has been restored to your computer:
- Open Microsoft Outlook.
- Select the File Menu.
- Select Import and Export.
- Select Import from another program or file.
- Select Next.
- Select Personal Folder File .pst
- Select Next.
Browse to where you have saved the file (example, in the My Documents folder).
- To save time, we recommend you select ‘Do not import duplicates’.
- Select Next.
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Select the folder, which will usually be the Inbox (or address book or calendar if you are dealing with these files).
- Select Finish and the files you have chosen to restore will be restored.
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Backing Up Microsoft Outlook Express Emails
The first step to creating a backup of the e-mail folder is locating it. The easiest way to locate the folder is to:
Open your Outlook Express program and go to Tools > Options and select Maintenance
Halfway down this window there is a button on the right hand side called 'Store Folder' - click on this
A pop up window will appear showing you the path to where your emails are kept. Make a note of this path (which will look something like:
C:\WINDOWS\Application Data\Identities\{1EE7E060-C5CC-11D4-92C5-F266BA315152}\Microsoft\Outlook Express)Then click OK to close the window
If you cannot see the entire path (because it's too long), left click with your mouse on the path and a flashing cursor will appear, you can then move this along with the forward arrow key on your keyboard which will reveal the rest of the path
Now you know the location of your emails, you can back them up to Depositit
Open the TOTALcomputerbackup software
Create a new definition called "my emails" (or whatever you wish to name it)
Click on NEW
Create a name for your backup (i.e. emails) and click OK
On the right hand side your drives should appear
Left click on the '+' next to your 'C' drive to open it up and then follow the path you noted down for your emails, clicking on the appropriate '+'s to drill down until you find the folder where your emails were stored. Once found PLACE A TICK IN THE BOX.
Go down to bottom right of the window where it says Backup Cycle and reduce this from 30 to 5*
On the bottom left side schedule what time and how frequently you wish your backups to run
Go up to the top left and click SAVE
* It is strongly recommended that all Email definitions have a reduced backup cycle, this is because your Email files will tend to double in size with each backup cycle (reduce from the default 30 to between 1 & 7).
To back up your address book
The address book in Outlook Express is usually a .wab file and can normally be located under this path: C:\windows\application data\Microsoft\address book
If it is not located under that path
Click on the Start button on the bottom left corner of your screen.
Click on the Search button and then click on Find: files and folders.
In the file name text box, enter *.wab
Click on the Search button.
In the results section of the search window you will notice your .wab file. To the side of this, you should see the folder it is located in.
If for any reason the folder is not listed, left click once on the .wab file so it is highlighted. Then go up to FILE and click on Open Containing Folder. This will open the folder where the file is stored.
Once located, create a new definition on TOTALcomputerbackup called, address book and you can back this up in the same way as before.
Restoring Microsoft Outlook Express Emails
Open the TOTALcomputerbackup software, click on the "Restore" tab and follow the normal restore procedures for restore. See restore your data for more information.
Select either the complete folder or just the individual .dbx file/s that you wish to restore.
Restore to either Original or New Location as you wish.
Note: If you restore to a new location, you will need to ensure that you transfer the data (.dbx files) to the appropriate folder on your computerso that your Outlook Express program can read them.
Restoring your Address Book
From within the TOTALcomputerbackup software, go to the "Restore" tab and follow the normal restore procedures (as noted above).
Restore to Original Location.
Once restored, open your Outlook Express program
Click on FILE > IMPORT > ADDRESS BOOK
Your address book details will now be restored
If you require additional information about working with Outlook Express files we strongly reccomend that you visit Microsoft support.