Email Backup.

[Michael_Lambert]

Question for those using Windows.


If you are like me and save every email you have ever sent and recived you would have large PST files. I have every email from 2001 and doing so what i do is every Jan i create a new PST file and rename the old one to what ever that year was and then make the new one the primary PST file.

This might not be needed and i am looking to see what everyone else does?

Currently my 2005 is the smallest PST file at 1.2gigs.

I know Outlook which i currently use has an issue with files larger than 2 gigs which is why i do what i do i then add then copy the PST files to the backup drive which is backed up with my images. Just incase.

Just wondering who else has issues with LOTS of emails and what sort of back up do you use, if anything?

I find backing up my emails important maybe not 7 years worth but you just never know when you would have to refer back to one for something that could end up saving you alot of grif.

[MSIGuy]

I use Gmail as my primary email. Chances are if Google loses my email, there are worse problems in the world, like Armageddon... lol

[Michael_Lambert]

Does Gmail give you unlimited usage, and can you setup other SMTPs on it?

My thing is i use outlook as i have 5 different email address that go through it so they are all setup the way i want with the rules setup so they send the emails to the folders assigned and such.

[neil_g]

glad i dont have you on our exchange server lol :p

tbh id suggest the PST route and then archive off to DVD.

[Michael_Lambert]

Yea i do a lot of proof work so i tend to get and send alot of attachments :D On top of crap friends and family insist on sharing :D

But somethings do work out, i had a family friend make a statement in an email in Feb 2002 about when his company makes his first million he will pay me what i was deserved for setting up his office ( installed a email server, app server and storage server... 15 desktops and 3 printers) for free.

Well last year he was celebrating how his company made its first million so i sent him off an invoice for fun for just over 8 grand for services rendered in 2002 with the old email attached for fun of course and got a cheque in the mail about a week later with a note saying " I keep my word... would not be here with out you!"

[PixelMagic]

I just use the free Personal Folders Backup Tool (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=8B081F3A-B7D0-4B16-B8AF-5A6322F4FD01&displaylang=en) and backup daily to a separate hard drive. So essentially I have a mirrored copy of this year's PST file and a larger PST that contains all my imporant e-mail going back several years.

Of course I don't keep every piece of junk mail so my PST files aren't approaching your sizes.

[perfarny]

relying on Google for data retention is not a good move. last time i checked they offer no SLA for data recovery, and losing mail is frighteningly easy to do even without armagedon at hand.

Starting with Outlook 2003, there is no longer the 2GB pst size limit. Theoretical is up to, I think, 33TB or something ridiculous like that.

i've got a ton of mail, but i host my own, and backup the server regularly. if i were you, i'd continue with your pst strategy, perhaps with larger file size (I would still do periodic new files, your annual schedule seems low overhead and meeting your needs).

my 2 cents.