I'm having a few problems with my computer and am worried about possible hard drive failure.

I've copied the content of "My Documents" to DVD but am worried in case I loose my e-mail records (ie. outbox and inbox).

Is it possible to back these up and what happens to any attachments which, I believe, are held in a seperate temporary area?

John.

In Windows Explorer search for *.pst - they are "post" files, i.e. email for Outlook. Then you can copy them or back them up or whatever.

AFAIK any attachments to emails are held within the .pst file - they are only put into temporary folders when you open them from within the email.

Don't forget to 'export' and save your addressbook as well.

If you install Thunderbird you can ask it. to copy everything from Outlook when it installs. Then install and use Mozilla backup to back up everything from Thunderbird to a memory stick or to a directory which you can save to CD --- it can save everything ie server settings, mail, passwords the lot.

Then everything can be restored to Thunderbird at a single click ie servers settings, mail, adddress books, passwords. --- however if you want to take the mail back into Outlook it aint so easy.

do a search for "files and settings transfer wizard"...

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb457090.aspx

Then if you want to belt and braces your data,

Files...Export...to file....

Select PST
Tick the subfolders icon
select the top level ( "Default Folders" ?)

and then export to somewhere safe...

also don't forget to make a note of your mailbox server settings - these are normally the bits that are forgotten/lost

Don't forget the .nk2 file usually found somewhere like Cocuments and SettingsusernameApplication DataMicrosoftOutlook this is the history file that autofills the to box if emailed previously. You may have to unhide the files beforehand to be able view hidden files.

Cheers

Rich

[Edited on 5/12/08 by RichardK]