For many corporate employees the Christmas season can be both a time of stress and joy as the push to complete projects on time goes into overdrive and employees look forward to year end Christmas bonuses. Likewise, the year end for many corporate computer users can be a source of both stress and cheer as end users learn about plans to upgrade their computers and laptops.

An upgrade can be as simple as adding more memory or as ambitious as replacing slower and less efficient computers. Or sometimes the upgrade is software. Whichever the case, end users and administrators will be facing many tasks, one of which will include migrations of data and software applications such as Microsoft Outlook.

For an administrator an email migration can involve different facets of email such as customizations of both graphical and non-graphical interfaces. Such customizations that will need to be migrated can include:  any personal folders files (.pst), shortcuts, toolbar or menu customizations, rules, nicknames, signatures, stationery, Personal Address Book, and custom categories.

One of the first things an administrator should do is a quick inventory of the email clients and versions that are currently in use on end users desktops and laptops. Ideally, an inventory will only involve confirmation of the last inventory performed and any noted changes since then. A quick visual inspection can be performed by clicking on the Help menu and then on the About Microsoft Outlook option. Some of the results can include: Internet Mail, Corporate or Workgroup.
Once an inventory has been completed you can begin your migrations.

Continue reading Performing Outlook Migrations