.PST files...

.PST files...
Today morning all of a sudden MS-Outlook of my client's PC displayed some error message and refused to open. after doing some wrestling with his PC for about nearly 1 & half hours (Soft-boot, hard-boot, increase memory, increase swap area and what not)..... then I found that the size of .PST file is more then 2.GB. Long back I had read somewhere that Outlook can't open it if size exceeds 2.GB.

"Any Knowledge does not go waste" stands true.......

But 2.GB ... sounds a crazy size.....Anyways for General Knowledge... Outlook stores all data in a .PST file located in folder C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook\outlook.pst. To the best of my knowledge .PST stand for Personal Storage Table. if you are using Windows XP or 2000, ..PST files are considered to be as system files and are hidden by default. you will need to go to Folder options->View Tab of Windows explorer under Tool Menu to enable "Show hidden files and folders" option.

pst2gb.exe is the utility from Microsoft to recover most of your data from .PST file during such events

So the thumb rule to prevent accidents...

Try to keep any .pst files well under that 2GB limit
Use more than one .pst file.
Use the archive feature
Use compact the .pst file option ( right-click your folder's top level , click Advanced, and click Compact Now)
Keep deleting unwanted mails. OR Backup .PST file. (Burn it into a CD-R)

Outlook Express edition is better ... ;) at least it creates .dbx files for each folder. I use and prefer Outlook Express. what others feel ? ...... if some has better ideas, tips, tricks on MS-Outlook then do share it here, I would love to read them....