Easiest way to transfer Microsoft Outlook files
 

I am reinstalling Windows and need to make a backup of everything inside my Microsoft Outlook. I want all the e-mails, all files, notes, contacts, everything. What's the best way to do this?

I found the following instructions and they sound good, I just want to make sure that they cover everything I want.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/287070

http://www.genie-soft.com/home/Genie...p/Default.aspx Use this it restores the psts and all that other shit from Outlook

you can use the easy transfer function, that takes care of that - including the email setup etc

or you copy the pst files and replace them after the reinstall

So the pst files take care of everything for me?

no that just holds your emails NOT outlook settings n shit like that

Sly other way is to backup all OUTLOOK crap in the app data folders.... I have done this a few times with reformats till i started using the Genie thingy..

just check n double check and recheck before you do the format

Do you archive emails from your Outlook? In that case, you might need to get the archive copies too, but as a general rule of thumb - yes - grab the pst file (usually outlook.pst or your windows-username.pst) and you are good.

If you really wanted to be on the safe side, you can do an export into a PST file from the Archive menu, just be sure to select ALL the folders, like calendar, contacts mail, notes and so on, because it will only back up the shit you select.

For future use, I recommend you move to a hosted exhange solution, they will do all your backups for you and handle any eventual shit which might come your way. Unlimited exchange storage, backup and push mail / Active Sync for mails, calendar and contacts to/from your phone for $9.95 per month. See more here: http://www.myhostedsolution.com
Then if you ever lose your local copy, they have everything on their server for you. Also come with webmail, Outlook via Web access, very convinient when travelling without the laptop.

i back everything up with .pst files no problem

holds EVERYTHING Mr Links... task, contacts, emails blah blah blah etc.. but not email accounts I think... only ALL the data. i back up a .pst to another drive after every major data change in outlook

C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook
C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Roaming\ICQ
C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Roaming\Skype
C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data
some stuff from here C:\Users\[username]
export ftp accounts & settings
and some other stuff

ahhhhh so you just gotta redo the email accounts with psts...

Coolio.. Ii always hated reformatting anf especially trying to get Outlook back to "Normal"... Ii need a mac lol

First, you can easily move the PST files to the new computer, no problem. That contains all your emails, notes, journal, etc.

If you are moving FROM Outlook 2002 or lower TO Outlook 2003 or higher, note that the PST file has a new format and does not have the 2G limit. It's not enough to just add the PST files to Outlook, you need to move them to a new Personal Folders in order to convert them to the new format. Let me know if you need help doing that. You need to do that BEFORE importing anything else.

Only after you are finished with the PST files, you want to recreate your email accounts. They are encrypted and stored in your registry in your Outlook profile. There is an unapproved way to export them, but it's risky if you are not familiar with registry hacking. So the second thing you should do is re-create your email addresses on the new computer (you'll notice that you have no Send/Receive option because there is no email accounts).

For your rules, use the rule export wizard.