Software to backup and restore Outlook

1. How much you paid for the license for Outback Plus?

2. Was this license for one computer or for many computers?

Best regards,

KOR!

 

KOR, I don't know why you have such a hostile attitude toward me! - did I offend you in any way? ...and where/how have I posted contradictory information? My only agenda here on Wilders is to provide and receive assistance.

That said, I have two outlook.pst files, one on my desktop and one on my laptop. I know it would be best to have the same pst file on both PCs (that's what spurred my interest in Dropbox when you mentioned it above). Then I realized (from your explanation) that Dropbox wasn't able to sync my existing two pst files (into one consolidated file).

My version (v6.x) of Outlook Plus does not provide a syncing function (if only it did!), just backup functions. I've been using it to maintain separate backups of my desktop and laptop pst files.

Scott

 

Dear Scott,

You have two choices:

1. Pay for the upgrade to v7.x and sync your desktop and laptop .pst files.

OR

2. Do some manual work. Bring your laptop.pst file on your desktop. Open both .pst files on your desktop, where desktop.pst is the default. Copy any emails, contacts, calendar and so forth from your laptop.pst to your desktop.pst. Now you have one combined desktop.pst file, from then on start using Dropbox to sync your one combined desktop.pst file automatically.

So, the decision is yours. Pay more money OR do some manual labor.

Best regards,

KOR!

 

Dear Pete,

Thank you for the information. It is cost benefit analysis. To some about $70 USD is peanuts, to others it is one month's pay.

However, one hardly does a new Outlook install very often. And, the following steps I have described don't take more than 2 to 3 minutes.

1. Copy the old.pst file from the old machine to a location in a new machine.
2. Start Outlook without an email support and let it set up a default.pst.
3. Open the old.pst in Outlook and it set as the default.pst
4. Close Outlook and restart Outlook.
5. Now the old.pst is default. Close the other .pst file.
6. Close Outlook.
7. Import registry entries.
8. Start Outlook. Click "send/receive" and copy/paste the passwords in the email accounts.
9. Done!

BTW, out of curiosity, does Outback Plus copies your password to the new Outlook install, or do you copy/paste them manually as described in step 8 above.

Best regards,

KOR!

 

Indeed, KOR, on both counts. I do, however, understand, and see the utility of, paying for and using a s/w product such as the one mentioned in this thread, provided new Outlook installs are done more than just occasionally. Otherwise, the procedure you outlined should suffice for, what I would imagine to be, the vast majority of users.

 

No, I wasn't asking about the password for Outlook. I was asking about the password for your email accounts. See my below quote.

Best regards,

KOR!

 

The last time I did a new Outlook install, I set up the accounts manually before I pasted the "old.pst" (i.e., didn't import the registry entry - typed in all account information, including passwords).

However, looking at that registry entry, I'm seeing values for all the accounts in the POP3 password keys (or subkeys or whatever). Since I'm never asked for these passwords, they must be stored somewhere. ??

 

Well that is frightening and a big security risk. Most backup programs never backup the email passwords and/or any passwords.

WHY?

1. Because there are no email passwords saved in the registry. And, almost all backup programs use the registry to backup the Outlook installation, and I believe Outback does the same.

It use the same manual step to set up a New Outlook installation, which I have described above. Here is the link from their sites.

http://ajsystems.com/outbackplus/transfer-outlook-data.html

2. If your computer is lost and Outback Plus can backup the email passwords, then all your email passwords are compromised.

Best regards,

KOR!

 

Hi Prius04,

See my above post for full explanation. There are no email passwords and/or any passwords are saved in the registry.

I don't think even Outback Plus backups the emails passwords, as it acquires the data for backup from the registry.

Best regards,

KOR!

P.S. I did a search on their site regarding passwords, and got zilch in return.

 

Here are the Outlook settings which Outback Plus backups, there is no mention of backing up the email passwords and/or any passwords.

All the above items are in the registry and the files are under "user data".

Best regards,

KOR!

 

KOR: See my screenshot below. There is definitely a value for POP3 passwords in the registry. I don't know what else to say. Since all I have to do is hit "send/receive" in Outlook to send and receive email (both of which require a password), the password must be stored somewhere - I only had to type my passwords in once, when I set up my accounts.

 

Passwords are stored but are never allowed to be backup and/or copy.

Try it. In the same computer backup (export) the registry key and import it back again. When you now open Outlook and hit "send/receive", it will ask you to provide email passwords.

Best regards,

KOR!

 

I'll take your word for that, KOR (makes sense in terms of security). I can only presume that some of these programs have found a way to circumvent that "security feature".

 

Kor, regarding your two points (above):

1. I wasn't aware that OutBack Plus v7.x introduced a syncing option (I'll be sure to look into that)!

2. My Outlook files are quite large, so this method would require way too much time and effort.

Thanks,
Scott

 

Yes, but Outback Plus doesn't backup the email passwords. You are only quoting from your memory, when you once did a New Outlook install, thus proving that New Outlook install is a rare occasion.

Can you show me from their site if it does. Here is what Outback Plus does as far as Outlook settings are concerned, which I have already posted in my post above post #38:

See the above doesn't mention about backing up the email passwords.

And, also check out my above post #38 too!

Selective reading can be detrimental to one's health. lol

Best regards,

KOR!

 

When a software vendor makes a software, the vendor doesn't make the software only for Pete's scenario. The vendor makes the software for all his customers taking all scenarios into account.

I am not sure if Outback Plus is even able to backup the email passwords, let alone restoring them. I have been wrong in the past, and it wouldn't be the first time.

However, so far I have not seen on their site, that it does backup the email passwords and then restores them too.

Best regards,

KOR!

 

KOR,

Do you know where the Outlook email passwords are stored?

 

Mrs

Hi Pete,

Many thanks! Keep up the good work!

Being a MOD is never a thankful job.

Best regards,

KOR!

 

Hi Brain,

It appears that they are kept in the following registry key, which I posted earlier.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows Messaging Subsystem

However, when I export the same registry key and then import it to a New Outlook installation on a different machines, it doesn't copy the Outlook email passwords.

Even, when I export the same registry key and import it back to the same machine, when I open Outlook and hit "send/receive", it asks me to input the Outlook emails passwords again.

Best regards,

KOR!