Back Up Outlook Data with ABF Outlook Backup

[Jason Dunn]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.mywebattack.com/gnomeapp.php?id=106165' target='_blank'>http://www.mywebattack.com/gnomeapp.php?id=106165</a><br /><br /></div>"ABF Outlook Backup is a backup and synchronization tool for MS Outlook, that allows you to backup and restore your messages, address book, settings, accounts, message rules, junk email lists, signatures, and also your internet favorites. Using the program, you can also backup your data on one computer and restore them to another, for example your laptop. ABF Outlook Backup has an easy to use interface. It integrates with Windows Task Manager, so you can easily schedule backups to be performed."<br /><br />Since many of us here are Outlook users, I thought this software might be useful to some of you. I regularly back up my PST files, but Microsoft unwisely (IMO) chose to only keep the raw data in the PST file, not the settings that a user would need if they were importing all that data again - settings, accounts, message rules, signatures, etc. Worth a look!

[jkendrick]

I've been using Outback Plus for several years and it's been indispensable for restoring the whole Outlook environment every time I've rebuilt my computer, or gotten a new one.

I highly recommend it.

http://www.ajsystems.com/obp4.html

[Empyrean]

Microsoft Office has a "Save My Settings Wizard" that will backup your configuration information for Outlook. It used to allow for uploading to Microsoft for storage as well. I'm not sure if that is any longer the case.

There are also a few other products that claim Outlook settings backup. Here are a two:

HandyBackup (http://www.handybackup.com)
BackRex (http://www.backrex.com)

HandyBackup seems interesting because it allows you to backup registry information as well which is really neat. I like that feature for some applications that don't have their own backup untilities.

// AJ

[stjohn1335]

I can't find the "Save My Settings" Wizard. Do you know if it exists in Outlook 2000?

[mekmek]

I have tried a dozen programs to backup Outlook, and I have yet to find one that can work while the MAPI subsystem is holding a PST file open. This means that they do not work when Activesync is running (green), or if other utilities such as Intellisync GoAnywhere are accessing the PST data.

An automated backup process doesn't work well if you have to remember to shut down programs, and disconnect your PPC first.

Programs such as Activesync, Go Anywhere, Workgroup Folders and others have no problem accessing the PST files through the MAPI subsystem. I am waiting for someone to make a backup system that works the same way and uses MAPI to copy PST data so that you can have a fully unattended automated backup process, even if you tend to leave Outlook open most of the time, which I find many people do.

[Jason Dunn]

An automated backup process doesn't work well if you have to remember to shut down programs, and disconnect your PPC first.

Indeed - which is why I have mine set to run at 2 AM, and before I go to sleep at night I shut down Outlook. :-)

[Mark from Canada]

I can't find the "Save My Settings" Wizard. Do you know if it exists in Outlook 2000?

You can download it from http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=0F04E7E9-0272-4396-BDE4-6CC3375C6A21&displaylang=EN

[ChrisHasenpflug]

What I need is a piece of software that will sync on an object level, not an entire PST level. Something that will do like ActiveSync does with my PPC and Laptop, but between two full versions of Outlook instead.

Scenario: An Object (appointment, contact, e-mail) may be created on one machine while a different object is created on the other machine. Both files have changed since the last sync. Conventional backups will overwrite one of those files losing the object contained on the machine that recieved the file.

I need something that will compare PST/OST on an object leve and syncronize the two. I'm sure this exists, right? Help me out please!

[Jeff Rutledge]

I've been using Outback Plus for several years and it's been indispensable for restoring the whole Outlook environment every time I've rebuilt my computer, or gotten a new one.

I highly recommend it.

http://www.ajsystems.com/obp4.html

Do you happen to know if this can be run by a command line (with an INF file or something similar)? I'd like to look into integrating something like this with an existing application to migrate user data and settings.

[jkendrick]

I've been using Outback Plus for several years and it's been indispensable for restoring the whole Outlook environment every time I've rebuilt my computer, or gotten a new one.

I highly recommend it.

http://www.ajsystems.com/obp4.html

Do you happen to know if this can be run by a command line (with an INF file or something similar)? I'd like to look into integrating something like this with an existing application to migrate user data and settings.

I don't believe it can be- it's a complete environment. Their support is very responsive though so drop them a line.

[Jeff Rutledge]

I don't believe it can be- it's a complete environment. Their support is very responsive though so drop them a line.

Will do. Thanks!