Making Outlook portable - can I install it in a portable drive?

[dmkAlex]

We run a business in the interenet and have a very large email pst file.

It would be nice if the outlook program, or at least the pst file is installed on a portable hard drive so I can carry it from office and home.

I think I tried it once and when I took it home, the computer at home can open the pst file because of authorization problem.

Alex

 

[brontosaurus]

It should not be an issue. A PST can live anywhere.

 

[dmkAlex]

But isn't the pst file "registered" to the machine.

Once time when I changed machine, I copy the pst file onto a portable hard drive then copy it back onto a new machine with Outlook already install. When I set the file from Outlook to open the old file, it told me that I was not authorized, or registered. I had to use the import function to import the personal folder. With the size of my pst file, it is a 45 minutes plus endeavor.

Alex

 

[brontosaurus]

I have never encountered a PST being registered to a particular machine. I have opened these files as secondary mailboxes in numerous locations for various reasons. Are you trying to use the PST as your primary mailbox?

 

[dmkAlex]

I tried it and you're right. I was able to open the other pst file in a new machine.

It came the Outlook as another personal folder.

Would I be able to make it the primary personal folder where incoming mails be save here instead of the default one?

Alex

 

[brontosaurus]

I believe you'd only be able to do this, but only after you've attached it as a secondary. You'd have to go into the properties of the profile at that point and redirect incoming messages.

 

[58sniper]

.pst files aren't registered to anything. But, they cannot reside "anywhere" and be supported. Microsoft only supports them on the local machine. Not networked.

Something to keep in mind is that the .pst file needs to be writable - even for Outlook to just open it. So - CD/DVD options would not work.

If your organization uses Exchange, you'd be far more efficient, and far safer putting the mail in the mailboxe and ditching the .pst file. Exchange supports access to mailboxes via the web, SmartPhones, PDAs, Outlook (internally and externally to your environment), and more.

Pat Richard, MCSE MCSA:Messaging CNA
Microsoft Exchange MVP
Want to know how email works? Read for yourself -

http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc2821.txt

 

[dmkAlex]

We are small company with 1 or two individuals using email. We currently are only set up with a router to share files, not much of a network.

Questions:

Is Exchange a different program we have to buy?
Do we need a true network with mail server to have it set up?

Alex

 

[58sniper]

Exchange is Microsoft's flagship email server application. It requires Active Directory. Yes, you have to buy it.

Pat Richard, MCSE MCSA:Messaging CNA
Microsoft Exchange MVP
Want to know how email works? Read for yourself -

http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc2821.txt

 

[dmkAlex]

Didn't realize how big this document was and hit the print button and 30+ pages came out.

Thanks.