Configure Outlook to use the backed-up data file.

Now that we’ve got a backup copy of our Outlook data, it’s time to tell Outlook to use this new file instead of the one on the system partition that it uses by default.

Go to your Tools menu and choose “Account Settings.”

Click on the “Data Files” tab:

As you can see above, the default (highlighted) data file resides on the C drive. I have already clicked the4 “Add” button to add my own, previously exported, data files and set the Outlook.pst file as the default. Straightforward.

All that’s left to do is to delete the original Outlook.pst file. Rules, accounts and all other data will be copied over and instructed to download data into the new file (you will get a dialog box telling you this when you try to delete the original default file from the list).

That’s all there is to it. Outlook data now resides on a non-system partition for easy access for dual-booters and frequesnt reinstallers as well as anyone that upgrades their OS or has a problem requiring a Windows reinstall.