How can you backup your contact list from outlook?
Assuming that you are using Outlook Express on a normal Windows
PC.
The address book is just another file, you can make a 'backup
copy' of it in another directory, then if you destroy the original
you can just copy the backup over the original.
Use Windows Explorer (aka 'My Computer'). Find the folder
'Documents and Settings', expand this (click the little '+'
symbol). There will be another folder with the user name you use to
log on to Windows; if you log on as 'Dave' the folder is called
'Dave', expand this in the same way. Normally the first folder in
the list now is 'Application data', expand this, find folder
'Microsoft' and expand this. Near the top of the list will be
'Address Book', expand it. Now you should see a file with the name
of 'yourusername.WAB' e.g. Dave.WAB
Use Windows Explorer to drag a copy of the file somewhere safe -
take care 'copy' the file not 'move' it!! A USB memory stick is a
good place as you also can use it on another computer.
Sorry it looks so complex - blame Microsoft for the complicated
folder structure.
Another theoretically simper alternative - open your address
book, use 'file' then 'export' - 'export WAB' to get Outlook to
make a copy. However I have had problems with this method, I found
that when you 'Import' your backup to recover a damaged address
book Outlook may not correctly re-create any folder structure you
have in the address book with the addresses in the folders. If you
have a simple 'flat' address book this will not be a problem.