Link to home
Start Free TrialLog in
Avatar of rogerleclercq
rogerleclercqFlag for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

asked on

Can pfbackup be used on the same machine for two different users AND make backups to each users's separate backup folders?

I've read the other solutions relating to pfbackup which all deal with making the program available to a different user but do not address the issue of ensuring that if user A sets his backup options these options will not apply when user B runs his own backup. Since the utility creates a file named Outlook backup.pst in each case it is obviously essential these can be differentiated and stored in different places.

If this can be achieved I should also appreciate seeing a definitive procedure for bypassing the install problem whereby when the utility is operational for user A the installation by user B is denied. I need to know the answer to the first question before bothering to resolve the install issue because if only one set of backup options can be set this is not the way to go....

Thanks for any help!
Avatar of StuartWhyte
StuartWhyte
Flag of United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland image

i have not used this tool, but I would expect it to place its backup file within the users "documents and settings" folder, and as such each users location would be different.

I would test this to see what happens.

HTH

Stuart
Avatar of rogerleclercq

ASKER

Stuart:

I don't disagree but the point is:I need to know if this program can operate for 2 discrete and separate users with two discrete and separate backup places on the same PC. It appears doubtful because once the program is installed for User A it refuses to install for User B "because it already exists". Although it exists it is not available to User B. It CAN be made available to User B (see other "solutions") but nobody has actually vouched for it still being fully functional for User A......

Lots of programs in XP and/or Office retain their own settings in local settings which means each user enjoys his own individual control. But this pfbackup, once installed, does NOT make itself available to anyone other than the installer and then REFUSES to install for anyone else. So it does not follow the rules that you assume it would. This I know. I need to know more and although I could spend a few hours testing to find out I prefer to ask an expert!!!

Any offers?
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
Avatar of mark-wa
mark-wa

Link to home
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
Start Free Trial
Mark - Thanks for an "almost perfect" answer. It did not actually answer the fundamental question of whether pfbackup will behave correctly if it is used by two different users on the same machine but you made it so easy to make that registry change that I did  it and tested and can report that the answer is YES. I was afraid that the program would retain the target backup info from whoever had last used the utility whereby the backup.pst file of user A would be overwritten by the backup.pst file of user B or else that the settings would have to be edited on each and every use to avoid this. Needless to say this requirement would totally cancel out the benefit of this otherwise excellent add-in.

To make your answer perfect I'd add the words "available to that user....accepting and retaining that user's different file location options". I don't think your solution is a "workaround" - its actually the answer.

Anyhow - great stuff and thanks again.
 
Avatar of mark-wa
mark-wa

Glad to have helped!  Take care.

Mark