I use Outlook on a laptop and a desktop in a home environment. Is there any way of synchronizing the folders on my laptop with the folders on my desktop? I have done it the long winded way using CSV's to copy each folder but that did not help me with the calendar. Is there some pst file that I could back up on one machine and transfer to the other. I am using Outlook 2003 and Windows XP professional on both machines.

Use the XP search function to find the *.pst file(s) on one machine and then copy those *.pst files to a directory of your choosing on the other machine. You can rename the file, for instance "2006.pst." Before starting Outlook on the machine you moved the file to, go to CONTROL PANEL, then click on "MAIL." A "Mail Setup" dialogue box will open. Click "Data Files" button and follow the instructions listed on the "Outlook Data Files" dialogue box that opens.

Here's an article on dealing with Outlook PST files you may find worthwhile.

You really need Exchange server to do it seamlessly with the offline folders feature.

As suggested you could do regular exports & imports to pst files, a lot of manual work though.

Use the XP search function to find the *.pst file(s) on one machine and then copy those *.pst files to a directory of your choosing on the other machine. You can rename the file, for instance "2006.pst." Before starting Outlook on the machine you moved the file to, go to CONTROL PANEL, then click on "MAIL." A "Mail Setup" dialogue box will open. Click "Data Files" button and follow the instructions listed on the "Outlook Data Files" dialogue box that opens.

Here's an article on dealing with Outlook PST files you may find worthwhile.

Many thanks for your help both computers now identical Outlook folders