Email Archive Backup is Not Just For Business

Your computer’s email archive probably holds more important information than any other program on your computer. From passwords to business documents to family photos, it is essential that you backup your email archive on a regular basis. I know that I would literally have a heart attack if I lost my important e-mail archives where all my precious information is stored.

How To Backup Your Outlook Email Archive

If you use Microsoft Exchange, you should contact your server administrator for information about backing up your email archive as there is a special procedure for server-based backups. Plus, if your server administrator makes regular backups, there’s nothing you need to do.
Users with a personal copy of Microsoft Outlook have several backup options. The easiest and cheapest way to backup your email archive is with Microsoft’s Personal Folders Backup for Outlook, a free download for all licensed copies of Outlook. Personal Folders Backup backs up your Outlook .pst files on a regular basis.

Backup Your Outlook Email Archive

1.  To download a free copy of Personal Folders Backup go to Microsoft.com and search for “Personal Folders Backup.” You can also click here.
2.  Download and run the installer, then restart Outlook.
3.  In the restarted Outlook, go to the File menu and click Backup.

4.  You can choose which .pst files to backup using the Options menu.

5.  On the Options menu, as shown below, you can also ask Outlook to remind you to backup on a schedule you set. I highly recommend that you set this option.

6. Press on the Browse button to choose a location to save your email archive backup.
7.  After you have filled in your options, press Ok.
8.  Now you will see the Outlook Personal Folders Backup dialog box. Now you can backup by pressing the Save Backup button.
You also want to make sure you backup to something besides your main drive, so the failure of your main drive doesn’t wipe out both your original and backup email archive. I would recommend you backup your computer files and email archives to an external hard drive or usb drive. 

To find your .pst file, use the following instructions:

• On Windows Vista and Windows 7, go to C:UsersYourUserAppDataLocalMicrosoftOutlook and select all of the files ending in .pst for backup in Mozy. Replace YourUser with your user name—for example, “Harding”.
• On Windows XP, go to C:Documents and SettingsYourUserLocal SettingsApplication DataMicrosoftOutlook and select all of the files ending in .pst for backup on Mozy. Replace YourUser with your user name—for example, “Harding”.

If you have any tips about how you backup your email archive and keep it safe, please add a comment below.