E-mail, one of today’s most convenient methods of communication, plays an important role in both work-related and personal matters. Because of users’ growing dependence on e-mail as a main mode of communication, it is very important that you prevent any significant data loss by backing up your files.
For those who use Outlook on Windows XP, backing up your Outlook data can be completed in several fairly simple steps.
1. Locate the pst-file.
2. Backup the pst-file.
3. Test the backup by restoring the pst-file.
To backup your Outlook files, the first thing you need to do is locate the file. The pst-file, also known at Personal Folders, is the single file with a pst-extension where all Outlook data is stored. You can locate your pst-file at “C:\Documents and Settings\%username%\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook.”
Once you have located the pst-file, performing a backup of the file is fairly easy to do. Copy the pst-file into your safe location once you close out of Outlook. Use one of the following as a safe location:
– an external hard drive
– another physical hard drive in your machine or another
– a USB stick
– a Flash memory card
– a CD-R(w)
– a DVD+/-R(W)
– a backup tape
Once you’ve backed up your files, it is important to test the backup by restoring the pst-file. To do so, copy the file to the location where you want it to work. Now that you know how to back your files, remember to do it regularly to avoid losing your work. Perform backups during and after major projects so you don’t have a heart attack if your computer crashes. If any of these instructions seem too complicated or you are uneasy performing it yourself, don’t hesitate to hire a trained professional to help. Use TalkLocal to be connected to a local computer repair business within minutes who can help backup outlook files windows xp.
