Windows (Un)Easy Transfer

Anyone planning to upgrade to Windows 7 (a good move, IMHO), needs to be aware that Easy Transfer doesn't handle Outlook profiles well and for best results, users should make a new profile before opening Outlook.

“I used Easy Transfer to move files and settings to my new Windows 7 computer. Outlook isn’t working… my address book is missing...“

While Windows Easy Transfer (WET) works well for many programs, Outlook profiles are a problem, in part because the PST is stored under the user account path. We recommend creating a new profile and setting the transferred PST as the message store before opening Outlook using the new profile.

Admins who use WET to move users to new system may find it works fine with Exchange accounts, although I'm not sure why an administrator would use it when better migration tools exist for corporate use.

Note that when leaving mail on the server, the new account will download all messages. The file that Outlook uses to identify which messages were previously downloaded is stored in the PST but it’s tied to the computer and profile that created it. Moving the PST to a new profile creates a new file, after all messages on the server are downloaded again.

Moving Outlook data to a new computer

If Windows Easy Transfer is not a good way to move Outlook data to a new computer, what method is better?

When it comes to profiles, users not on a corporate network should make a new profile from scratch. To create a profile, go to Control panel, Mail. It's under User accounts in the Category view and in Vista 64 bit, you'll find it under the 32-bit category. Or use my method: type Mail in the Start search field and let Windows find it. (Administrators should provide their users with a PRF.)

If you are using PST files, find and copy the PST to the new computer then configure the new profile to use it, before opening Outlook.

The PST file is located in the user's Application data "Local" directory. This is a hidden folder under the Documents and Settings or Users folder. You can find it easily by entering the following in the address bar of Windows Explorer or the Start search field in Vista and Windows 7.
%appdata%\Microsoft\Outlook

You'll probably want to grab the nickname file (NK2), and, if you have macros, the VBA file, and move them to the new computer. They are located at in the Application data "Roaming" folder and the following command will take you directly to the folder.
%USERPROFILE%\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook

While you are transferring data, you'll also want to move Signatures and any custom stationery. These are in the following locations.
%appdata%\Microsoft\Signatures
%appdata%\Microsoft\Stationery

AutoArchive to a Public Folder?

Can Outlook 2007 be configured so that autoarchiving uses a folder within the Public Folder system?

No. Autoarchive moves archives data to PST files only. Public folders don't make a very good archive system, you'd just be moving data from one message store within Exchange server to another. For best results, you really should use a real archive system. If that is not possible, and you need to reduce the size of your mailbox, archive to a PST.

Exchange Quick Tip: Resource Calendar, Subject, and Organizer

Another week, another calendar question. This time the user doesn't like that Exchange 2007 appends the Organizer name to the Subject when booking Resources.

"Our resource calendar changes the subject line to the organizer's name after automatically accepting an invitation. How do I change this so the subject isn't changed?"

Using Exchange management shell, the administrator needs to run the set-mailboxcalendarsettings command:

set-mailboxcalendarsettings "Meeting Room 1" -AddOrganizerToSubject $false

What version of Outlook do you use?

We have a new poll this month. This topic this time is "What version of Outlook do you use? " The early results show Outlook 2007 is way ahead, with 60% of all users, and Outlook 2003 follows with about 30%. Outlook 97 gets one vote, while Outlook 98 has none. I'm surprised that anyone is still using Outlook 97.

You can make your selection at http://forums.slipstick.com/showthread.php?t=27072. As always, polls are anonymous and do not require registration to vote.

The results of our earlier poll "Do you keep Outlook open all the time? " has nearly 90% of users reporting that they either keep Outlook open 24/7 or try to. This poll is still open, if you haven't yet voted.