Default location for Outlook .pst file

[Fisheagle]

Is there a way to change the default location for the Outlook .pst file.

[Scott Tiger]

Just to clarify - do you want to change the location of your current .pst file or do you want to change the defualt location it points to when you create a new one?

If you want to change the defualt location when you go to create a new one I'm of no help to you.

If you want to change the location of your current .pst file then just exit Outlook and then move your .pst file. When you restart Outlook just point it to the new location of your old .pst file.

Hope that helps..

[Fisheagle]

Thanks but that is not what I was trying to do.

I would like to have my pst file automatically saved to my D drive so in the event I have to restore my C drive with a ghost image I don't loose my pst file.

If you right click on personal folders and and go to properties... home page you can see the default path, but it is grayed out.

I found the setting in the registry with a search for "pst" but am somewhat wary of changing the setting in registry... because they have it grayed out for a reason.

Any thougts?

Path:
C:\Documents and Settings\Len\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook\outlook.pst

It looks like this can be modified in the registry.

[Scott Tiger]

^^bump^^ because I don't know

[JimG]

I looked through Outlook and I don't see any options for what you want to do. Maybe you could write a macro, that would copy the .pst file every day or so. Just a thought. Might want to check your registry. Outlook could be using something in there to do it.

[Fisheagle]

Thanks all, will let you know what I find out, if anything?

I did find an automated backup add-in for Outlook. Now if I can just figure out how to automate a daily or X to the n activation of this add-in, I'll have it... "made in the shade, man".

(60s flash back + senior moment = arcane language)

http://search.office.microsoft.com/result.aspx?qu=pst

Fish

[Strong Watchman]

Yes it can be done. Here is how. Read the whole thing. It does work.
Note this creates the new default folder by referencing a registry entry on the creation of an Outlook Profile. Not sure if you have to reboot for it to read the registry or not. But certainly you at least have to create the new Outlook Profile.

By default, Outlook places each Offline Folders (.ost) file and Personal Folders (.pst) file that it creates in the %userprofile%\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook folder. You can either use a registry value to change that default location, or you can manually create a new profile and specify the .ost filename and folder.

To use a registry value to set the default path, open a registry editor and navigate to the HKEY_ CURRENT_USER\Software\ Microsoft\Office\11.0\Outlook key, create a new expandable string value named ForcePSTPath, and set it to the path to the folder in which you want Outlook to create .ost and .pst files. You can use environment variables, such as %userprofile%, to specify the path.

Alternatively, you can use the Custom Installation Wizard and Custom Maintenance Wizard tools from the Office 2003 Resource Kit to set the value of ForcePSTPath. The resource kit also contains the administrative template for Group Policy Editor (GPE), which you can use to mandate the value for ForcePSTPath as a policy setting in HKEY_CURRENT_USER\ Software\Policies\Microsoft\ Office\11.0\Outlook. The Microsoft article "You cannot specify a separate folder to store the .ost file when you use the ForcePSTPath value in Outlook 2003" (http://support.microsoft .com/?kbid=896591) explains how to get and use a hotfix that adds a new ForceOSTPath registry value to set the .ost file path separately from the .pst file path. . . .

This info taken from Changing the Default Location for .Ost and .Pst Files

Strong Watchman

[djmaxx007]

That's all good stuff, but it can be WAY easier. Why not just move the location of the folder Outlook keeps the files in (%userprofile%\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook) to a much safer place???
Because when you open up Outlook, it will look for a folder that isn't there anymore! To get around that, use symbolic links! Google it. Windows 7 makes it manageable, but you can download a program here called Link Shell Extension. It makes it easier by adding easy-to-use shell extensions when you right-click a file/folder.

If you don't know what symbolic links are, they are pretty much an advanced shortcut. Many programs won't see shortcuts correctly, so you can't just move a folder like the Outlook folder to a safer place then create a shortcut to where it used to be. So what you do is, move it to your other drive, right-click the folder, click "Pick Link Source", then click where the folder used to be and click "Drop As". Since it's a folder you will want to choose "Junction" as they type.
What this does is make Windows think the folder is actually there when it is really just a shortcut to it, but better than a regular shortcut. It's at the OS level. To make things even safer, use Dropbox. It's a folder that syncs to a free account (2GB for the free account) online. It acts just like a regular folder, so you can treat it as such. Copy your Outlook folder there, then create a symbolic link to where it used to be. So now every time you open up Outlook, it's really getting the profile from your synced folder rather than your hard drive. So your house can burn down (hope not, but just saying) and you can go out and buy another computer, install then log onto drop box, install Outlook, make the symbolic link again and you are right where you left off! You can also do the same type of thing with your Firefox profile and etc etc etc.

[GrayOwl]

Old thread but props @djmaxx007, thanks for reminding me about LSE. That works a treat. Junctioned %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook to my RAMDisk. Bam!