Tips for using Outlook .prf files to configure profiles

Last reviewed on March 6, 2013

Outlook 2002 makes the Newprof.exe and Modprof.exe utilities used by administrators obsolete. Instead, .prf files can be run directly, as part of the command to Outlook, or as part of the Office installation. This page is devoted to tips for creating and using Outlook .prf files, which are not totally documented. See More Information below for general information.

Avoid extra backups

Even if the profile .prf file includes these lines:

DefaultProfile=Yes
OverwriteProfile=No
ModifyDefaultProfileIfPresent=False

it may create multiple “Backup of …” profiles if you run it multiple times. The solution is apparently to add this undocumented line

BackupProfile=No

to the Section 1, [General] section.

Create a Unicode PST file

If using the CMW or CIW (Custom Wizards from the Office Resource Kit) to create a *.PRF containing a Unicode pst, note that there is a bug in the wizards and you’ll need to change the Unicode pst’s encryption type from:

EncryptionType=0×40000000

to

EncryptionType=0×50000000

Written by

Diane Poremsky
A Microsoft Outlook Most Valuable Professional (MVP) since 1999 and involved in IT support since 1985, Diane is the author of several books and video training CDs and online training classes for Microsoft Outlook. You can find her helping people online in Outlook Forums as well as in the Microsoft Answers and TechNet forums.