Outlook 2007 Archive Prompts

[24inchGamer]

Hi Guys,

We are now using Outlook 2007 and all have our Archive folders open. These archives are located on a Network drive.

A couple of users take their notebooks home (where they don't have net access) and open up their Outlooks to read mail/view their calendars etc but they get flooded with '..archive.pst cannot be found' errors.
Obviosuly I am aware why this is happening, as the network drive is no longer available, but is there any way around receiving these errors other than making sure they close archives when they leave the office?

I tried forcing Outlook to start offline, which it did no problem, but still prompted for the archive location

Thanks in advance,
Nick

[Head_slinger]

We have this on the network i work on. The best way todo it is to make the Network drive available offline. Then they will have access to there archive at home.

[Sazar]

I think you simply have to make sure the folders are searching for the .pst files in a different location (the correct folder) and the prompts should vanish.

I would consider moving all personal folders off the network and onto your hard-drive.

That way you won't have to worry about prompts or not being able to access your emails when the network is down.

But if something happens to your hdd, you are SOL so be sure to make backups :cool:

[24inchGamer]

We have this on the network i work on. The best way todo it is to make the Network drive available offline. Then they will have access to there archive at home.
Would this work if I just told it to make the archive available offline instead of the entire drive? I dont really want to do this with the drive as its 1tb in size!

[Head_slinger]

Would this work if I just told it to make the archive available offline instead of the entire drive? I dont really want to do this with the drive as its 1tb in size!

Yes making individual files available is also possible! :] Although we make the whole drive available as its only a couple of hundred meg. Ive just tried this in Windows Vista and it worked. Im pretty sure this works in XP aswell though!

If this works for you it will be the ideal situation, giving them the ability to access their archive rather than just supressing the messages. I like it!

[Head_slinger]

Also if this does work for you ill welcome you to the joys of windows offline files synchronisation! It can be your best friend or your worst enemy :]. Although 1 file should be a total breeze!

[24inchGamer]

Also if this does work for you ill welcome you to the joys of windows offline files synchronisation! It can be your best friend or your worst enemy :]. Although 1 file should be a total breeze!
Unfortunately it didnt work, I tried to make the folder available offline and it came back with the error 'files of this type cannot be made available offline' it says this for all .pst files within this folder. We are running SBS2003, any ideas? Cheers, Nick

[24inchGamer]

Also if this does work for you ill welcome you to the joys of windows offline files synchronisation! It can be your best friend or your worst enemy :]. Although 1 file should be a total breeze!
I just found this on MS support. How have you managed to do it mate?

SYMPTOMS
When you attempt to make files or folders available offline, the following error message may be displayed:
Offline files (\\server\share): Unable to make file Filename available offline on \\server\share. Files of this type cannot be made available offline.
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CAUSE
By default, files with the following extensions are excluded:
.db?
.ldb
.mdb
.mde
.mdw
.pst
.slm
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RESOLUTION
Microsoft does not recommend modifying the list of excluded files. See the "More Information" section for more details.
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STATUS
This behavior is by design.

[Head_slinger]

We dont actually use this for pst files. But according to that KB article you can set which files are excluded using Group/Local policy settings.

Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Network\Offline Files\Files not cached

I would maybe get someone to trial it and see if it has an adverse effects, ie the pst file becoming corrupt or whatever.

the reason they have done this is if someone takes there laptop home and it runs AutoArchive any mail will be dumped in that archive folder. If autoarchive runs on any other machine it will also dump the mail into the archive folder. Now when the person brings the laptop in when they sync it will overwrite the pst causign any changes to the pst not done by the laptop to be wiped.

If the person only ever checks their mail with the laptop i cant see a problem. but if they use multiple machines etc. Then i can see where it might cause a problem.

[24inchGamer]

We dont actually use this for pst files. But according to that KB article you can set which files are excluded using Group/Local policy settings.

Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Network\Offline Files\Files not cached

I would maybe get someone to trial it and see if it has an adverse effects, ie the pst file becoming corrupt or whatever.

the reason they have done this is if someone takes there laptop home and it runs AutoArchive any mail will be dumped in that archive folder. If autoarchive runs on any other machine it will also dump the mail into the archive folder. Now when the person brings the laptop in when they sync it will overwrite the pst causign any changes to the pst not done by the laptop to be wiped.

If the person only ever checks their mail with the laptop i cant see a problem. but if they use multiple machines etc. Then i can see where it might cause a problem.
Excellent, all they use is their notebook, they never check with other machines (only via web access but no archiving is done here)
Can you think of any reason why it would become corrupt?
Cheers,
Nick

[Head_slinger]

Excellent, all they use is their notebook, they never check with other machines (only via web access but no archiving is done here)
Can you think of any reason why it would become corrupt?
Cheers,
Nick

Nope non whatsoever. Ive never known of it currupting anything i cant see pst files being any different. It will simply overwrite the old one.

What i would suggest is if the pst files start becomign extremely large, you create new archives. So they arnt having to download and upload 1gb archive files everytime they sync.

[24inchGamer]

Nope non whatsoever. Ive never known of it currupting anything i cant see pst files being any different. It will simply overwrite the old one.

What i would suggest is if the pst files start becomign extremely large, you create new archives. So they arnt having to download and upload 1gb archive files everytime they sync.
Hey, just gave this a try and found the files not cached setting, how exactly do I configure this as its currently set to not configured, do I simply disable it? My only concern is that if I disable it then .mdb files are also going to be sync'd which are in my docs
Cheers,
Nick

[Head_slinger]

Hey, just gave this a try and found the files not cached setting, how exactly do I configure this as its currently set to not configured, do I simply disable it? My only concern is that if I disable it then .mdb files are also going to be sync'd which are in my docs
Cheers,
Nick

Set it to enabled, and type the following in the exceptions box

*.slm;*.mdb;*.ldb;*.mdw;*.mde;*.db?

When the setting isnt configured it basically defaults to the ones above plus *.pst. So all i have done is removed the pst and added the other ones back in..

Let me know if it goes well!

[24inchGamer]

So far so good! Its working well!
Thank you for your help!
Cheers,
Nick
Set it to enabled, and type the following in the exceptions box

*.slm;*.mdb;*.ldb;*.mdw;*.mde;*.db?

When the setting isnt configured it basically defaults to the ones above plus *.pst. So all i have done is removed the pst and added the other ones back in..

Let me know if it goes well!