Jennifer, sent me a question last week:

Steve,

Jen

Yes, There is a way to do this. Now it is not foolproof, but it will work most of the time.

First, we need our script to close Outlook, that way the PST files will not be in use.

We will accomplish this with a little bit of VB Script:

Set Outlook = CreateObject("Outlook.Application")
Outlook.Quit
Set Outlook = Nothing


Save this as “CloseOutlook.vbs”

Now, we will use this script, in combination with a bat file. The bat file will run CloseOutlook.vbs, and then copy the PST files.

Most of the time PST files are located in the users AppData folder. We can use an environment variable to find this.

It is called %LOCALAPPDATA%. For our backup, we will copy it to a share named backup, and we will copy it to a folder matching the users name.

The copy command will look like this:

COPY %LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\Outlook\*.pst \\server\backup\%USERNAME% /y

/y – This allows us to overwrite without being prompted.

So, we have both things that we need. The ability to close Outlook (So the user does not have to remember to do this), and a way to find and copy our PST files.

Here is what the final bat file would look like


cscript.exe CloseOutlook.vbs
COPY %LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\Outlook\*.pst \\server\backup\%USERNAME% /y
@if errorlevel 1 goto ERROR_HANDLER
@goto SUCCESS
:ERROR_HANDLER
@echo "==================="
@echo "= Backup Failed =
@echo "==================="

:EXIT
pause

I added an error handler, so the user will be notified if the copy could not complete.

Save it as BackupOutlook.bat and throw it on their desktop.

Now your users can backup their PST files – If they remember to do it

One of the problems when deploying Microsoft Outlook is that there is always some form or wizard that needs to be completed before a user can start accessing their email.

Even in the latest version of Outlook, there are still setup pages the user has to fill out.

This can get especially annoying if you have users that logon to different computers across your network.

“Michael here. Um I am at the branch in Siberia. Need help with my Outlook again.”

Wouldn’t it be great if Michael could just launch Outlook and get right into his email?

Yes, you wouldn’t get to hear Michael’s great stories, but then you would have time to do other things.

We have an answer for this problem, and it is called Profile Generator.

Here is how it works. Simply visit the download page:

(Link: http://www.intelliadmin.com/index.php/outlookprofilegeneratordownload/)

Set your exchange server name, and pick your options.

Want Outlook to be configured with cache mode disabled?

- Check that box.

What about those laptops on the road?

- You can set it to configure HTTP based access.

Need to enable encryption?

- Check that box.

Then, once you have completed your selections, click the download button.

Our server will build a custom program that will apply all of the requested settings, and you can download it instantly.

Put the program in the users logon script, and now you have a lot more time on your hands.

Users are happy because their Outlook “Just works” everywhere on your network, and you are happy since you no longer have to deal with helping them set it up.

It works with Exchange 2003, 2007, and 2010 – and is compatible with Outlook XP, 2003, 2007, and 2010.

Only $299 for a company license. No per-user costs, just one price.

Check it out at:

http://www.intelliadmin.com/index.php/profile-generator/

One of the issues when deploying Microsoft Outlook is that there is always some form or wizard that needs to be completed before a user can start accessing their email.

Even in Outlook 2010, there are still setup pages the user has to fill out.

This can get especially annoying if you have users that logon to different computers across your network.

We have an answer for this problem, and it is called Profile Generator.

Here is how it works. Simply visit the download page:

(Link: http://www.intelliadmin.com/index.php/outlookprofilegeneratordownload/)

Set your exchange server name, and pick your options.

Want Outlook to be configured with cache mode disabled?

- Check that box.

What about those laptops on the road?

- You can set it to configure HTTP based access.

Need to enable encryption?

- Check that box.

Then, once you have completed your selections, click the download button.

Our server will build a custom program that will apply all of the requested settings, and you can download it instantly.

Put the program in the users logon script, and now you have a lot more time on your hands.

Users are happy because their Outlook “Just works” everywhere on your network, and you are happy since you no longer have to deal with helping them set it up.

It works with Exchange 2003, 2007, and 2010 – and is compatible with Outlook XP, 2003, 2007, and 2010.

Only $299 for a company license. No per-user costs, just one price.

Check it out at:

http://www.intelliadmin.com/index.php/profile-generator/

For quite some time we have had a product called Profile Generator.

It is a command line application that you can drop into a logon script. Once it is there, users can launch Outlook and get right into their email. No more setup wizards, and no more support calls for those users that roam from location to location.

One of the problems with it – all of the options are passed to it via the command line. In addition, it was missing a few features that people asked for over and over:

-Enabling, or disabling cached mode
-Delete all current profiles
-Setting a connection to an Exchange server via HTTP

We started cramming all of this into the command line. It was a mess. Too many options.

Our solution? We decided to take some technology from our Remote Control product. This new tech will allow users to generate custom versions of the Remote Control agent by making selections on a web page.

The remote control stuff isn’t ready yet, but with profile generator, we saw we could easily move it to the new system since it is only a command line application.

Here is how it works. You visit this web page:

http://www.intelliadmin.com/index.php/outlookprofilegeneratordownload

And pick your options – Make sure you at least fill out the exchange server host name…it won’t complain yet if you don’t (I did say it was beta right? )

If you are a current customer, don’t forget to put in your serial number at the bottom.

Click download, and you have a custom build of profile generator that is designed for your network.

Simply add it to a users logon script, and the next time they login they can launch Outlook without hassles.

This starts the public beta today. If you purchase Profile Generator now, you will get an upgrade for free. All current customers will also get a free upgrade. If you purchased before November 2005, or do not have your serial number handy…send us an email at support@intelliadmin.com and we will take care of you right away.

Please send your bug reports to support@intelliadmin.com. If you see a feature you want added, let us know…we will try to get it in before the final release.

It is not as simple as it sounds. You have Exchange, and want forward to an outside email address.

With some other email servers, there is a one line entry where you can add an external account. Not so with Exchange.

Lets me walk you through it.

First, you need to create a contact. You do this by getting on your domain controller. Open up Active Directory Users and Computers

Go to the place where you want to create the contact, right click and select new contact

Click Next, and see that empty email address with the button next to it?

Click on it, and pick the SMTP address option

Click OK, and you can enter the external address you want to forward the mail to.

Click OK. Now you have your contact. What Next?

It depends on what you want to do. If you want to simply forward email for an existing user…simply go to the properties of that user and get to the “Exchange General” tab.

If you want to forward email via an internal account, then create a dummy user account and create a mailbox for it. Then go to the “Exchange General” section of the properties of that user.

Click on the delivery options button.

See the middle part, click the modify button and select the contact you created earlier. If you want email to go to the external account, and the local exchange user, make sure you check the option that says “Deliver Messages to both…”

Now. Click OK on all the boxes. Does it work yet? No. You need to wait a few minutes before Exchange will process all the changes. Keep that in mind when testing – or you might pull all your hair out.

One of the issues when deploying Microsoft Outlook is that there is always some form or wizard that needs to be completed before a user can start accessing their email.

Even in Outlook 2010, there are still setup pages the user has to fill out.

This can get especially annoying if you have users that logon to different computers across your network.

“Michael here. Um I am at the branch in Siberia. Need help with my Outlook again.”

Wouldn’t it be great if Michael could just launch Outlook and get right into his email?

Yes, you wouldn’t get to hear Michael’s great stories, but then you would have time to do other things.

We have an answer for this problem, and it is called Profile Generator.

Here is how it works. Simply visit the download page:

(Link: http://www.intelliadmin.com/index.php/outlookprofilegeneratordownload/)

Set your exchange server name, and pick your options.

Want Outlook to be configured with cache mode disabled?

- Check that box.

What about those laptops on the road?

- You can set it to configure HTTP based access.

Need to enable encryption?

- Check that box.

Then, once you have completed your selections, click the download button.

Our server will build a custom program that will apply all of the requested settings, and you can download it instantly.

Put the program in the users logon script, and now you have a lot more time on your hands.

Users are happy because their Outlook “Just works” everywhere on your network, and you are happy since you no longer have to deal with helping them set it up.

It works with Exchange 2003, 2007, and 2010 – and is compatible with Outlook XP, 2003, 2007, and 2010.

Only $299 for a company license. No per-user costs, just one price.

Check it out at:

http://www.intelliadmin.com/index.php/profile-generator/

I was trying to install Microsoft Exchange 2007 on a new 2008 server.

During the install plan I got to this step:

If you click on that link it leads you to a download page. Everywhere you look you see downloads for 2003, and XP. Nothing about Windows Server 2008.

I decided to try one of the 2003 downloads to see if that was acceptable – nope.

OK, Looking around the net I read everywhere that PowerShell is cooked into Windows 2008 server.

Hmm….That means it should be a ‘feature’ under server manager.

Sure enough, in server manager I found it, and was able to install it.

To do this click on the start menu, then administrative tools, and finally server manager.

The server manager will pop up, then click on the features icon:

Then, click on the “add features” button to the right. A list of features available to you will be displayed. Pick Windows PowerShell:

(Notice that I already had installed in the shot above)

After that I learned you can’t install Exchange 2007 on 2008 server. Doh!

I am sure it is possible, but Microsoft currently does not support it.

Back to the drawing board.

One of the issues when deploying Microsoft Outlook is that there is always some form or wizard that needs to be completed before a user can start accessing their email.

Even in Outlook 2010, there are still setup pages the user has to fill out.

This can get especially annoying if you have users that logon to different computers across your network.

PRF Files can be used to automatically generate the profile, but getting your arms around the PRF format can take weeks to figure out.

We have an answer for this problem, and it is called Profile Generator.

Here is how it works. Simply visit the download page:

(Link: http://www.intelliadmin.com/index.php/outlookprofilegeneratordownload/)

Set your exchange server name, and pick your options.

Want Outlook to be configured with cache mode disabled?

- Check that box.

What about those laptops on the road?

- You can set it to configure HTTP based access.

Need to enable encryption?

- Check that box.

Then, once you have completed your selections, click the download button.

Our server will build a custom program that will apply all of the requested settings, and you can download it instantly.

Put the program in the users logon script, and now you have a lot more time on your hands.

Users are happy because their Outlook “Just works” everywhere on your network, and you are happy since you no longer have to deal with helping them set it up.

It works with Exchange 2003, 2007, and 2010 – and is compatible with Outlook XP, 2003, 2007, and 2010.

Only $299 for a company license. No per-user costs, just one price.

Check it out at:

http://www.intelliadmin.com/index.php/profile-generator/