Thread: backup email

although i know i can back up with the xp facilities how do i back up emails only..... not addresses but the actual messages and not on to the hard drive but to disk, also how do i mirror image all on my hard drive to a separate hard drive that i can take off and store somewhere safe.

This can be done is a number of ways depending on what your email program is.

1. If your using Outlook then a simple way is to use the Import Export feature which is located under the File menu
Choose export to file, personal folder file (.pst),
now choose the email folders your want to backup, inbox, sent, etc etc,
choose a location to save to, and a filename of your choice.

Once done copy your .pst file to a cd or back up device.

2. If your using outlook express then this is more difficult, as you will need to export your messages to outlook first using the file>export menu then follow step 1 from outlook

3. An easier way may be to get hold of a email backup program for outlook express, there are hunderds of these available, do a google search for "outlook express backup".

Mirror image your drive

The best way would be to add second drive (identical to the first if possible) and attach them both to a raid controller (check you machine, may have one built in), and set up a mirror volume, this will basically constantly duplicate your data onto the second drive so if one fails the second will take over.

Another way would be to use something like Nortons Ghost which will create an image file of your HDD, if your HDD were to fail you can then use this image to recreate the drive back to how it was, the downside is its you would need to update the image file once a week or somthing to make sure it was current.