Backing up large files

Hi,

Any decent backup software can certainly do an incremental backup (usually based on the archive bit in the NT environment) which will only backup changed files...but since the .pst file is a single file, and is changed everytime its re-created, there is no easy way to get just part of it.

If the users were to create multiple .pst files, dated perhaps, then their .bat file could be selective about what was copied to the backup area.

It would mean multiple archives of their old mail,though. It ought to be possible to script this. Hopefully DKlippert will answer this on how it might be done. He seems to be the Office guru in TechRepublic...

Cheers,
Tim.

TimTheToolMan is right. It would be better to archive the at least part of the PST files.
This can be painless. The users may also like the ability to have all messages of a particular type in a easily accessed form. You can have all messages from1999 in one file. Everything from Headquarters grouped together. Supplier?s communications in a specific place.
Most of this work can be done using the Rules Wizard and setting the properties of folders (Right-Click>Properties).
For other suggestions and some third party solutions look at the mother lode of Outlook knowledge ? Slipstick.com. Here?s a specific URL:

http://www.slipstick.com/addins/housekeeping.htm

If the files are at the 2 Gig limit, users maybe be forced to use the Crop tool. This will arbitrarily lop off messages to get the file into manageable size.

Oversized PST and OST Crop Tool

Q296088

You don't need an additional tool for that. You can use your existing batch file to do incremental bakcups.

Here is the batch file I use for that very purpose. (Except I backup from one networked drive to another.)

d:
cd N-Drive
xcopy n:\*.dwg/s/d
xcopy n:\*.xls/s/d
cd..
cd P-Drive
xcopy p:\*.*/s/d
cd..
c:
echo off
echo .
echo .
echo .
echo .
echo .... "Backup of N-Drive and P-Drive completed" ....
echo .
echo .
echo .
echo .
pause

------

Of course, you'd have to cahnge it accordingly depending on you backup source and destination.

The line:

xcopy n:\*.dwg/s/d

includes the switches /s and /d. The /s will copy subdirectories, and the /d will copy incrementally, that is only files that have been added or changed since the last backup.

Feel free to emai me if you have any questions.

good luck,

Maxwell

TimThe ToolMan is right. Those are some hefty PST files. If they go ocer the 2 gig mark, your users could be faced with having to have there message files pruned. They'll lose information.
A better set up is to use the Rules Wizard to move messages into folders and then set up arciving by right-clicking on the folders.
Here is some information and some third party solutions.

http://www.slipstick.com/addins/housekeeping.htm

(There are no spaces in the URL)

---Thought I answered this earlier, but must have been in my dreams. (:')----