Hi DL,

Thanks for the input - I managed to wade myself through it, but it was not
as expected.

First off, the backup tool does not save a .pst file. At least, not in my
case it did not. What I had to do was this: I used the backup tool to open
the backup file (listed only as a 'file' in Windows Explorer, with no file
type, ect / 14153KB). That opened it and allowed access to it in Outlook, but
did not pull in any data. Then I used the backup tool to 'open' it a second
time, and this created the 2nd set of personal folders within Outlook. This
allowed me to copy/move all of mail and personalized folders to within the
'personal folders' for the active .pst. I also then made a .csv file from the
contacts.

Went back in to Outlook 'options' - 'data files' and closed the extra two
instances that were open via the backup tool, and the extra folders
disapppeared. Imported the .csv file to my contacts list, and now everything
is back in order.

Just wanted to point out that at least for me, the backup created by the
backup tool was not saved as a .pst file and could not be accesed with any
traditional methods expected with a .pst file.

If Microsoft ever created a backup option for any of their E-mail clients
that was easy to use and user friendly, it would be quite a blessing.

Vg
--
"Friends Don''t Let Friends Dial-Up"


"DL" wrote:

The outlook backup tool merely creates a copy of your pst named backup.
If you started / configured Outlook, then within Outlook opened this backup
pst. then you will, as expected have two sets of Personal Folders; what you
do next depends,
Using data management, or acessing the Outlook Profile via the control panel
mail applet (with outlook closed) you can designate the backup pst as the
default mail store - all mail & contacts are within this pst
BTW Importing / exporting is generally a no no with respect of the outlook
data file

"Vgolfmaster" wrote in message
...
Hi,

I recently wiped my hard drive in order to create some partitions and
install the Windows7 trial. Intead of saving the ,pst file from Outlook
like
I normally would , I decided to use the Outlook Backup Tool.

I was able to direct Outlook at that saved file, and it opened it where I
could move the saved folders/e-mails into Outlook but it created a new
instance of my 'personal folders', instead of importing the folders/emails
into the existing instance of 'personal folders'; and now I have two of
everything in Outlook I am also unable to find a way to recover my
contacts
that were saved to that file.

Anyone have any detailed info on how to recover from a backup file created
with the Backup Tool? I've searched in vain on Googls and Microsoft, and
can't seem to find what I need.......
--
"Friends Don''t Let Friends Dial-Up"