How to back up Personal Address Books

Your Personal Address Book might contain email addresses and contact information that is not included in an Outlook Address Book or contact list. The Outlook Address Book can be kept either in an Exchange Server mailbox or in a .pst file. However, the Personal Address Book creates a separate file that is stored on your hard disk drive. To make sure that this address book is backed up, you must include any files that have the .pab extension in your backup process.

Use the following steps to locate your Personal Address Book file:

1. Follow the instructions for the version of Windows that you are running:
   • Windows Vista: Select Start.
   • Windows XP: Select Start and then select Search.
   • Windows 95 or Windows 98: Select Start, point to Find, and then select Files or Folders.
   • Windows 2000 or Windows Millennium Edition (Me): Select Start, point to Search, and then select For Files or Folders.
2. Type *.pab, and then press Enter or select Find Now.
   Make a note of the location of the .pab file. Use My Computer or Windows Explorer to copy the .pab file to the same folder or storage medium that contains the backup of the .pst file.

You can use this backup to restore your Personal Address Book to your computer or to transfer it to another computer. Follow these steps to restore the Personal Address Book:

• Close any messaging programs, such as Outlook, Microsoft Exchange, or Windows Messaging.

• Select Start, and then select Run. Type control panel in the Open box and then press Enter. This will open Control Panel.

Note

If you see the Pick a category screen, select User Accounts.

• Double-select the Mail icon.
• Select Show Profiles.
• Select the appropriate profile, and then select Properties.
• Select Email Accounts.
• Select Add a New Directory or Address Book and then select Next.
• Select Additional Address Books and then select Next.
• Select Personal Address Book and then select Next.
• Type the path and the name of the Personal Address Book file that you want to restore, select Apply, and then select OK.
• Select Close and select then OK.