This article describes how you can automatically backup your personal folders (.pst) file.

Your personal folders file contains all of your local Outlook folders, such as Calendar, Inbox, Tasks, Sent Items, Outbox, Deleted Items, and user-created folders. To automatically back up these folders, create a backup of your .pst file. The Microsoft Outlook 2000 Personal Folders Backup is an Outlook add-in that automates the backup process.

The Personal Folders Backup add-in is available for download at the following:

Click here for the backup utility

With Personal Folders Backup, you can choose which of your .pst files you want to back up and how often you want to back them up.

Each .pst file contains all of your Outlook folders, including the Inbox, Calendar, and Contacts. You can have a single .pst file (usually called "Internet Folders" or "Personal Folders" in your Folder List), but you might also have an additional .pst file that you use for archiving ("Archive Folders"). Personal Folders Backup lets you back up any or all of these .pst files.

NOTE: Personal Folders Backup only backs up .pst files. If you have a Microsoft Exchange Server mailbox, your server mailbox folders are backed up regularly by your server administrator.

To use Personal Folders Backup, start Outlook. On the File menu, click Backup. To change the backup options, such as which .pst files to back up, click Options. The Personal Folders Backup is capable of backing up to a disk; however, it cannot spread the .pst file across multiple disks. When changing backup options select a storage location with enough free space to accommodate your entire .pst file.