Outlook Default Location [WiredBox.Net

>I have a recommendation/suggestion for Outlook products.
>
> This recommendation comes after numerous problems that I have encountered
> with the Windows environment. I would REALLY like it if we had an option to
> change the default mail location like we do with the My Documents directory.
> I have had a rash of problems with teh system over the past year for various
> reasons, some non-Microsoft related and others because of Microsoft problems.
> each time I get into a situation where I have to repair or replace the OS,
> the system wipes out the PST files associated with Outlook and as a result, I
> lose a LOT of valuable emails.
>
> Just this past weekened, I got a report that the HAL.DLL file is missing. I
> followed all the directions in the KB and tried several others after doing a
> web search. If using NTFS, I have been unable to use the EXPAND command,
> which makes the Recovery Console completely useless and a waste of disk
> space. As a result of being unable to repair the OS, I elected to reinstall
> the OS without a format, it wiped out the directories that contain all the
> email PST files that were in the Documents and Settings directory.
> Everything associated with Outlook was wiped and is not in the Trash Can.
>
> What a PAIN IN THE *$$. Not only do I lose all the email, I also have to
> recreate EVERYTHING associated with Outlook. I run a web hosting business
> and so I have quite a few email addresses associated with various positions.
> Not only can I not replicate and then modify the account data, I have to
> manually input each and every item which is a complete waste of time; albeit
> a necessary waste of time as Microsoft hasn't figured out how to do account
> replication.
>
> My recommendation:
>
> Make it possible to move the email folders to some location that is not in
> such a volatile location as the useless Documents and Settings directory and
> also make it possible to replicate the accounts.
>
> ----------------
> This post is a suggestion for Microsoft, and Microsoft responds to the
> suggestions with the most votes. To vote for this suggestion, click the "I
> Agree" button in the message pane. If you do not see the button, follow this
> link to open the suggestion in the Microsoft Web-based Newsreader and then
> click "I Agree" in the message pane.
>
> http://www.microsoft.com/office/community/en-us/default.mspx?mid=1303e4ef-2da5-4953-a77e-7d80633e21ab&dg=microsoft.public.outlook.installation

> It is already possible to control the default location for new .pst files; see http://support.microsoft.com/kb/883401/
>
> And it has always been possible to store a .pst file anywhere on the user's local drive.
>
> --
> Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
> Author of Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003
> http://www.turtleflock.com/olconfig/index.htm
> and Microsoft Outlook Programming - Jumpstart for
> Administrators, Power Users, and Developers
> http://www.outlookcode.com/jumpstart.aspx
>
> "IleyP" <ileyp[ at ]community.nospam> wrote in message news:1303E4EF-2DA5-4953-A77E-7D80633E21AB[ at ]microsoft.com...
> >I have a recommendation/suggestion for Outlook products.
> >
> > This recommendation comes after numerous problems that I have encountered
> > with the Windows environment. I would REALLY like it if we had an option to
> > change the default mail location like we do with the My Documents directory.
> > I have had a rash of problems with teh system over the past year for various
> > reasons, some non-Microsoft related and others because of Microsoft problems.
> > each time I get into a situation where I have to repair or replace the OS,
> > the system wipes out the PST files associated with Outlook and as a result, I
> > lose a LOT of valuable emails.
> >
> > Just this past weekened, I got a report that the HAL.DLL file is missing. I
> > followed all the directions in the KB and tried several others after doing a
> > web search. If using NTFS, I have been unable to use the EXPAND command,
> > which makes the Recovery Console completely useless and a waste of disk
> > space. As a result of being unable to repair the OS, I elected to reinstall
> > the OS without a format, it wiped out the directories that contain all the
> > email PST files that were in the Documents and Settings directory.
> > Everything associated with Outlook was wiped and is not in the Trash Can.
> >
> > What a PAIN IN THE *$$. Not only do I lose all the email, I also have to
> > recreate EVERYTHING associated with Outlook. I run a web hosting business
> > and so I have quite a few email addresses associated with various positions.
> > Not only can I not replicate and then modify the account data, I have to
> > manually input each and every item which is a complete waste of time; albeit
> > a necessary waste of time as Microsoft hasn't figured out how to do account
> > replication.
> >
> > My recommendation:
> >
> > Make it possible to move the email folders to some location that is not in
> > such a volatile location as the useless Documents and Settings directory and
> > also make it possible to replicate the accounts.
> >
> > ----------------
> > This post is a suggestion for Microsoft, and Microsoft responds to the
> > suggestions with the most votes. To vote for this suggestion, click the "I
> > Agree" button in the message pane. If you do not see the button, follow this
> > link to open the suggestion in the Microsoft Web-based Newsreader and then
> > click "I Agree" in the message pane.
> >
> > http://www.microsoft.com/office/community/en-us/default.mspx?mid=1303e4ef-2da5-4953-a77e-7d80633e21ab&dg=microsoft.public.outlook.installation
>

> Except that the link you provide does not go to a page that exists, it is
> impossible to see what you are referring to. Also, I have always created a
> new PST file so that I can archive everything. However, that PST file does
> not include the addresses to everything that is associated with my accounts,
> etc.
>
> So while you may have written a book about Outlook, that does not preclude
> teh need to put all the information associated with my personal accounts into
> some location that is not volunerable to stupid little OS quirks.
>
> Of all the email programs out there, Outlook is also one of the few that
> does not allow a user to replicate an account and change little things like
> the username and password. Each account must created and all the entries
> have to be added in manually, each and every time that the system locks up
> and requires that I format the drive with the OS and resintall the system.
>
> So thaks for the feedback, but it doesn't answer the problem that I pose.
>
> "Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]" wrote:
>
>> It is already possible to control the default location for new .pst files; see http://support.microsoft.com/kb/883401/
>>
>> And it has always been possible to store a .pst file anywhere on the user's local drive.

> Except that the link you provide does not go to a page that exists,