Cannot access OST files about outlookbackupaddin HOT 6 CLOSED

Hello Kurt,
if you are using PST files, you dont need any symbolic link.
You can just move the pst file to e.g. D:\outlook and work with the relocated pst file.

If you use ost-Files, then backup of these files won't be suitable.

Greetings,
Thomas

from outlookbackupaddin.

Hi Thomas,

Thank you for the swift reply!!

I am using OST files, since it is what Outlook itself produces.
Or can I “force’ Outlook to work with PST files?

I have however exported to a PST file on the D:\ location.
But that does not seem to work either. Or should I create a PST file on a fixed location, and then move it to the D:\ disk. If so, can you mention where the original PST file needs to be created?

Looking forward to your feedback.

Kurt

from outlookbackupaddin.

Hello,
the background about ost and pst files are documented here:
https://github.com/HoffmannTom/outlookbackupaddin/wiki/Files-are-not-shown-for-backup(%3F)

Usually the file format depends on the protocol you are using (IMAP, POP, Exchange, ...)
Which procotol are you using?

Greetings,
Thomas

from outlookbackupaddin.

Hi Tom,
I use 8 different IMAP mail accounts 2 different servers, one of which is Google. The OST files are symlinked to a D:\ SSD disk.
I have cerated exported PST files of all 8 accounts to the same D:\ SSD disk (so far, as a backup). If they can be useful, please tell me how.
The idea is to create a local (on one machine) Backup of all settings, calendars, contacts, signatures etc. which the servers of course do not keep, since they are not Outlook related.

Thanks and greetings,
Kurt

from outlookbackupaddin.

Hello Kurt,
maybe it is important to explain how the add-in works.
It's purpose is to backup pst files. These files are usually used for POP-accounts.
If you have IMAP, then you only have a cache file to speed up working with mails. The cache is stored in the ost file.
ost-files can't be restored on another computer and backing up a cache is also not recommended or useful.
When you use IMAP, the mails and calendar entries are stored on the server side. Thus if your windows crashes, all mails remain intact on the server.
Signatures on the other hand are stored in your user profile. The add-in doesn't backup these files.
The outlook settings are stored in the registry and are also not included in the backup.

pst-files contain emails and calendar entries and a local backup is only feasable, if you have the mails downloaded locally and removed from the server, like POP accounts do.

There are possibilities to backup ost-files as described in the wiki. But as mentioned, it is not advised nor very helpful if your OS crashes.

Greetings,
Thomas

from outlookbackupaddin.

from outlookbackupaddin.