Note: It is important to back up e-mail files on a regular basis. Here is some backup information that may be helpful to you.
Microsoft Outlook provides a Personal Folders Backup download. It backs up Outlook 2003 .pst files, which store everything for Outlook.
Microsoft Outlook 2003 may contain the following data store and configuration files that need to be backed up. Some of these files might be hidden folders.
To view hidden files and folders:
Click Start, and then click My Computer.
From the Tools menu, click Folder Options, click the View tab, and then click the Show hidden files and folder option.
For Windows 2000/XP:
Double-click My Computer on your desktop.
From the Tools menu, click Folder Options, click the View tab, and then click the Show hidden files and folder option.
Note: Your Outlook configuration may not include all of the following files. Some files are created only when you customize Outlook features.
File Drives
Outlook data files (.pst) drive:\Documents and Settings\\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook
Offline Folders file (.ost) drive:\Documents and Settings\\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook
Personal Address Book (.pab) drive:\Documents and Settings\\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook
Offline Address Books (.oab) drive:\Documents and Settings\\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook
Command bar and menu customizations (.dat) drive:\Documents and Settings\\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook
Navigation Pane settings (.xml): This file includes Shortcuts, Calendar, and Contact links. drive:\Documents and Settings\\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook\Outlook.xml
Registered Microsoft Exchange extensions (.dat) drive:\Documents and Settings\\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook
Outlook contacts nicknames (.nk2) drive:\Documents and Settings\\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook
Rules (.rwz) drive:\Documents and Settings\\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook
Note: If you upgraded from a version of Outlook prior to Outlook 2002, you may have a .rwz file on your computer hard disk drive. The file is no longer needed and the rules information is now kept on the server for Microsoft Exchange e-mail accounts, and within the personal folders file (.pst) for POP3 and IMAP e-mail accounts. You can delete the file.
Rules import or export (.rwz): If you use the rules import or export feature, the default location for .rwz files is:
drive:\Documents and Settings\\My Documents.
Print styles (Outlprnt with no extension) drive:\Documents and Settings\\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook
Signatures (.rtf, .txt, .htm) drive:\Documents and Settings\\Application Data\Microsoft\Signatures
Stationary (.htm) drive:\Documents and Settings\\Application Data\Microsoft\Stationary
Custom forms drive:\Documents and Settings\\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Forms
Dictionary (.dic) drive:\Documents and Settings\\Application Data\Microsoft\Proof
Templates (.oft) drive:\Documents and Settings\\Application Data\Microsoft\Templates
Send/Receive settings (.srs) drive:\Documents and Settings\\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook
Message (.msg, .htm, .rtf) drive:\Documents and Settings\\My Documents