My Documents vs Microsoft Outlook plugin

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drtim
Posts: 38
Joined: Sun Jul 08, 2012 3:50 pm

My Documents vs Microsoft Outlook plugin

Post by drtim »

It appears that with the way the new Outlook saves PST files in the Documents\Outlook Files folder that the My Documents plugin will backup PST files. Is that necessary when also using the Microsoft Outlook plugin? Is there a reason or benefit to have both backing up PST files? Thanks.

Adrian (Softland)
Posts: 2005
Joined: Thu May 23, 2013 7:57 am

Re: My Documents vs Microsoft Outlook plugin

Post by Adrian (Softland) »

Hi,

The Outlook plugin includes other settings too, not just the email pst files.

drtim
Posts: 38
Joined: Sun Jul 08, 2012 3:50 pm

Re: My Documents vs Microsoft Outlook plugin

Post by drtim »

Yes, I am aware of that. Any PST files that are closed within Outlook are not backed up via the Microsoft Outlook plugin. Can that be changed to include even closed PST files?

And with the My Documents plugin I get the following warnings for PST files that are open:
"Warning: Skipping file - Source error (code 33). The process cannot access the file because another process has locked a portion of the file."

I do not get the above warning for closed PST files with the My Documents plugin. The My Documents plugin backs up successfully closed PST files but has problems with open PST files. How is that solved?

The best solution from my perspective would be to edit the settings for the My Documents plugin to exclude the My Documents\Outlook Files where the PST files are stored by default, and to have the Microsoft Outlook plugin backup all PST files (open and closed) within the My Documents\Outlook Files folder. Can that be done? And in that manner I am only backing up PST files (closed and open) once, as opposed twice and would eliminate warnings and skipping of files.

Thanks.

Adrian (Softland)
Posts: 2005
Joined: Thu May 23, 2013 7:57 am

Re: My Documents vs Microsoft Outlook plugin

Post by Adrian (Softland) »

Hi,

Are you saying that the Outlook plugin cannot backup open PST files while the My Documents plugin can back them up?
The file permission to be accessed or not has nothing to do with the plugin file.

Please send us the last backup log for the Outlook backup job to [email protected]

drtim
Posts: 38
Joined: Sun Jul 08, 2012 3:50 pm

Re: My Documents vs Microsoft Outlook plugin

Post by drtim »

Hi,

I am saying that if a PST file is open within Outlook, then the Outlook plugin will back up the PST file. If the PST file is closed within Outlook (I have numerous PST files both open and closed, for the purpose of archiving and minimising PST load on Outlook), then the Outlook plugin will not back up the PST file.

To not get any warning/errors within FBackup, the Outlook plugin does not require me to shut down Outlook before backing up all open PST files, whereas the My Documents plugin does require me to shut down Outlook before backing up PST files to not get any errors/warnings within FBackup.

I have not sent any log files as I I understand how to not get error or warning messages, but it is not easy and nor is it hands free. It requires constant vigilance to have it backing up in this manner. The ideal solution is to have the Outlook plugin back up both closed and open PST files. Can that be done? Right now it only backs up open PST files.

I hope I have made myself clear. There is no need to back up PST files twice through 2 different plugins. I would like to have the option to not back up PST files (open and closed) using the My Documents plugin as it does not handle open PST files without warnings/errors. We can edit the My Documents plugin already to not include the My Documents\Outlook Files where the PST files are stored. The downside to this process, is that I am not backing up closed PST files, as the Outlook plugin does not backup closed PST files. Thus, this is not the best strategy.

The best solution from my perspective would be to edit the settings for the My Documents plugin to exclude the My Documents\Outlook Files where the PST files are stored by default, and to have the Microsoft Outlook plugin backup all PST files (open and closed) within the My Documents\Outlook Files folder. Can that be done? And in that manner I am only backing up PST files (closed and open) once, as opposed to twice and would eliminate warnings and skipping of files.

Thanks.

Adrian (Softland)
Posts: 2005
Joined: Thu May 23, 2013 7:57 am

Re: My Documents vs Microsoft Outlook plugin

Post by Adrian (Softland) »

Hi,

You said "Right now it only backs up open PST files." I think you wanted to say it backs up only closed PST files.
The difference between open and closed files is that the Volume shadow copy service is used. If you cannot backup open files and all the conditions are met (to use an administrator account, sources being on a local hard drive formatted as NTFS, Windows newer than XP), that means the service is not working properly.
In this case, please go to Control Panel->Administrative Tools->Services->Volume Shadow Copy service. Make sure it is set to Automatic mode and it is started.

drtim
Posts: 38
Joined: Sun Jul 08, 2012 3:50 pm

Re: My Documents vs Microsoft Outlook plugin

Post by drtim »

Hi,

Actually, no, the Outlook plugin only backs up open PST files. The Outlook plugin does not back up closed PST files.

Thanks.

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