Where is my Outlook "PST" file located?

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I use outlook 2003.Is there a way to backup one particular email message to a cd. The message has both text and pictures in the body.It was sent in HTML.
Thank you.

This was a very helpful article. Does saving your PST file on a external hard drive backup the all the following in outlook: inbox, contacts and calendar?

Thanks, Chris

Yes, it does. (If you use more than one PST, make sure you backup all.)

I tried to do this-- I also use Outlook 2003-- but when I go into Properties there is no "advanced" button! I'm the administrator on this machine, so it shouldn't be that kind of a problem. WHat am I missing?

Molly- I couldn't find my PST file either through the advanced button, NUTS!I just bought my computer two weeks ago so its not an old computer. If anyone figures out another way to locate that file please let me know. I would also be interested in knowing how you reinstall the PST file if one needs to use it.

The article is very helpful for me. Thanks Leo. Could you explain how to backup the .pst and how to read it without Outlook?

Backup the PST by simply copying the PST file somewhere. And I'm not aware of any programs other than Outlook that can read a PST.

For those who dont have the advanced tab, try this..

- click on the AutoArchive tab in the Inbox properties form
- select "Archive this folder using these setttings"
- select "Move Old Items to:"
- copy the string in the textbox to a browser and you should be taken to a pst, i think your archive settings will determine how relevant that pst file is though...

hope it helps, and i hope its not wrong

I think you can find pst files with a file search. Click on the Start menu, then click Search, then click "For Files or Folders". In the field named "All or part of the file name" enter "*.pst", then click on the Search button. This found the pst files on my computer.

There is a further issue in that the default location for these files is in a folder that is typically hidden by the OS, so you may have difficulty navigating to the files. The default location (Windows XP, Outlook 2002) is as follows:

C:\Documents and Settings\Username\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook

where Username is your username on this computer. If you try to navigate to this folder, typically you will not find it as it is hidden.

To alleviate this, open My Computer, click on the Tools menu and select Folder Options. In the resulting window, click on the View tab. Click on the button labeled Show hidden files and folders so that it is selected. Also, uncheck the box labeled Hide protected operating system files. Click on the Apply button at the bottom of the screen, then click on the Apply to All Folders button near the top. Now you should be able to navigate to the default path listed above.

I hope this helps someone...

I am not having any problem locating my .pst files.
However, my wife, myself and my business email all share the same Email program (Outlook 2002)using multiple profiles. This is exceptionally tricky due to the fact that I have three .pst files which I did
archive to a CD for safe keeping :-)
Now, the question is, which .pst file is which?
And do I need install them according to the individual profile?
My wife is ready to kill me or worse, From now on I am relying on GMail and Outlook express solely, I dont need all of the Bells and whistles associated with Outlook 2002. My wife on the other hand runs a business and uses her personal email for her business. Needless to say she is a little more than mad.

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