Windows 7: Outlook 2010 storing pst file in encrypted locker problem

Hi



I hope this is an appropriate request for this forum.

For some time I have been using Outlook 2010 with the pst files stored on a separate Data drive (internal). It has worked fine up until now.

Now, after becoming more security aware I have decided to create a Folderlock encrypted folder on that data drive for my sensitive data, which includes my Outlook data files (pst files).

When I sign into windows I then unlock the data locker which creates itself as a virtual drive. All my software seems fine with this except Outlook which opens the data files, that is the emails and my contacts lists are shown, but Outlook then complains that it can't get access to the pst file when I try to do a send & receive.

Outlook is directed to the correct drive/pst file.

Any help greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Encrypted folder looks like a single encrypted 'file' to the os. The OS will not open or read attributes in an encrypted location. Thus Outlook cannot determine your .pst any longer.

Hi Brady

Thanks for coming back.

Yes, the encrypted folder does look like a single file and it is inaccessible until it is unlocked. Then, as you probably know, the encrypted folder opens itself as a virtual drive which is completely accessible. Outlook is directed to this virtual drive to the pst files address and it does find them, because it is loading the data. E.G. the emails and contacts are visible in outlook.

All other software I use can access this virtual data area and Word opens files from there as well as saves to there.

Something more is afoot here.

Would not use an encrypted folder to hold your .pst file. This is not to say it's not possible... just not recommended. The encrypted folder would open in a virtual environment, usually in read only! Outlook would be able to read the contents but wouldn't be able to execute a file change.

Why is it not recommended?

Security-wise it makes a lot of sense.

Is there a reason to say it is not recommended?

As I have said this virtual drive is full read and write enabled. All other software is happy reading and writing to it. Indeed it is fully networked and I can access it and edit files on it from other locations.

Outlook 2010 can write to it because I can edit contacts. It is only send and receive which has this 'Can't access the pst' error.

Lastly: I am on a dual boot system. In Win XP, accessing the very same data drive using Outlook 2007, with the same account settings as my Win 7/Outlook 2010, I have no problems sending and receiving.

There is something odd with this.

Thanks again for your continued focus on this problem.

I have browsed the net for hours with no success on this.

brady

I am editing this, my last post... it was a little unfriendly toward you.

I am sure you were trying to help.

I would have preferred responses from someone who had taken a little more time to read my post carefully and who could make more informed suggestions than you did this time.

Uninformed suggestions are always welcome... but not uninformed advice.

Perhaps this is the wrong forum for my query?

I am desperate for help and have browsed the Web for hours trying to find a solution to this.

Even a good guess might help right now.

I suspect it is a problem relating to Win 7 and Outlook 2010 interacting (too) closely... possibly Win 7 loading something to do with send and receive on boot up before I have unlocked the encrypted folder.

TIA

Problem solved:

It was not what I was doing, but how I was going about it.

I was unceremoniously moving the pst file to the encrypted folder. Then when Outlook started it complained that it could not find the pst file and I would simply point it to the new location.

Solution: Copy the pst file to the new location and then navigate to Data Files in Outlook (File\Account Settings\Account Settings\Data Files and Add the new pst file here. Next make the new file the default file and let Outlook copy the settings accross from the old pst file. The old pst file can now be deleted from the Data files display and then from the drive itself. All works well.