how can I backup PST files on laptops

[sys-eng]

My point was...you tried to illustrate that with a hosted Exchanged solution, no internet means no e-mail. I mentioned that it's the same if you do POP too...as in most situations..the POP servers are hosted out in the cloud too. So...no internet, no e-mail.

As to ability to still work with existing e-mail in your inbox with Exchange...and reply to/send e-mail and have them sit in your outbox...have you heard of "Work Offline"? Does the same thing...for Exchange users.
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/o...n-working-offline-and-online-HP005242598.aspx
When setup to an Exchange server...Outlook keeps an "OST file" locally....similar to a PST, but tied to their domain user account & permissions. And since Windows NT can cache the user account credentials locally (hence...why laptop users can still log into their laptops even when away from the office)...it works..and works very well.

Your original post said "fully hosted solution" which I interpreted as webmail with no client. Your comment about is working offline with OST file is understood. The times that I have had to reinstall a system (Windows & applications), Outlook could not read the OST without reconnecting to the Exchange server but I never had that problem with PST files.

 

[sys-eng]

Well, in this particular case, the users bring their laptops home half the time so they're not always on the network. Also I don't like requiring users to shut down Outlook nightly, I don't like asking users to do anything really, you can never count on them as you know haha.

Perhaps this may help you:

Script to schedule your pst-file back-up

Forget all about it and schedule you Outlook back-ups instead of using the Microsoft add-in which remembers you only when shutting down Outlook.

http://www.howto-outlook.com/downloads/backupscript.htm