Does windows xp system restore back up the outlook express folders (dbx files) and the outlook.pst file or do I need to unhide these folders (they are currently hidden within my name under document & settings) and then back them up onto cd/dvd?

Thanks

No, it doesn't.

You need to back up this data seperately. This article explains how ...

Microsoft Techy Article

Thanks for the clarification.

Having looked at the article/related article it would appear that once the dbx folder, pst file and wab file for the address book locations have been established these can then be copied to a back up folder or back up medium. Then it would appear to be a question of restoring to the same file paths in the event of a corruption or whatever.

I may try a dummy run by creating a dummy dbx folder later, backing it up, deleting it and restoring to make sure it works.

Having looked at the article/related article it would appear that once the dbx folder' date=' pst file and wab file for the address book locations have been established these can then be copied to a back up folder or back up medium. Then it would appear to be a question of restoring to the same file paths in the event of a corruption or whatever.

[/quote']

Yip, thats exactly how to do it. You shouldn't get into any problems

er well I created a dummy folder which I deleted and then copied back into the relevant folder using windows explorer.

the folder didn't seem to appear in the list of folders on the left hand side. am wondering whether when the folder is first created there is some link to the program itself which links the program to the folder and that merely copying the folder back into the folder does not restore this link.

Perhaps if I were to use File/import to restore then it might work - using this function can I select an individual file to restore or is it all or nothing. If the former then will it then just add the one folder to my existing folders as opposed to wiping out all that is already there. I am rather loathe to try this out in case of the latter!

Outlook Express keeps a list of all your folders in a file called "Folders.dbx".

Did you close Outlook Express between each create/delete/recreate operation?

I just tried what you say you did, and it worked, as long as I closed Outlook each time, to allow it to write to the folders.dbx file.

You can prove to yourself that this method will work for a backup by doing the following (I just did it, and it definitely works )

1) Close Outlook Express.

2) Cut ALL the files from your 'Identities\xxxxxxxx\OutlookExpress' folder using Windows Explorer, and paste them into a temporary location.

3) Open Outlook Express. Everything will be gone! Outlook will create a new set of empty default folders.

4) Close Outlook Express, copy your original files back in to the folder, and then re-open Outlook Express.

5) Everything will be back again

The only thing you need to watch if you back-up to a CD-ROM like this, is that the files will become 'Read Only' when you copy them back from the CD. You need to change the permissions to 'Write' (using 'Properties' in Windows Explorer) after you've copied them back.

Before you mess about too much, it might be wise to make a copy of your dbx files, and store them out of the way somewhere, to avoid a ****-up

Thanks for that - it was the CD properties - it was ticked to archive which I removed and then the folder was restored.

I changed the store location of Outlook Express from it's default c:program files/ etc to a folder on my backup partition. All mail goes into this folder now, and if the c drive screws up all mail is still kept. After a reformat I just import the dbx. files back over. I also copy this folder (along with others) to dvdr fortnightly or there abouts.

I changed the store location of Outlook Express from it's default c:program files/ etc to a folder on my backup partition. All mail goes into this folder now, and if the c drive screws up all mail is still kept. After a reformat I just import the dbx. files back over. I also copy this folder (along with others) to dvdr fortnightly or there abouts.

I have a similar system to Kentish... but use a powerful little tool called "Synctoy"

Which allows you to do various thing.. like consolodating items from different sources etc..

I use it to synchronise a copy of my my-documents folder (where i keep everything important) to a share on my NAS.. altho this could be anything including a pendrive.

It can be scheduled to be automatic too.. i have it set to once a week at the moment