Mailbox migration to PST

[redloop]

A client of ours is a BT Business email user and has been caught up in the removal of basic authentication problem.  they wish to migrate to using their own domain for email going forward, but clearly don't want to lose the years of email content built up within their current mailbox(es).  Normal practice would be to add the account to the desktop outlook client and export the mailbox as a PST for importing into another platform later. 

Obviously this can't be accomplished when local clients are no longer supported with @btconnect.com mailboxes.

OWA doesn't natively allow backup of mailboxes to PST - what are the options for my customer in this case.  do BT offer a migration or backup path via the MyBT portal, will a support call be required to kick something off, or is it just plain impossible (and therefore another excellent reason to jump ship to another platform)?

Thanks in advance

Tony

Thanks in advance

[ashcroft]

If Outlook desktop can no longer connect to the @btconnect.com mailbox, then the conventional approach of 'adding the account to Outlook and exporting to PST' becomes problematic. My first step would be to confirm with BT whether a mailbox export/migration option is available through their support team, if the mailbox has a few years of important messages.

If there is still access to the mailbox through OWA, another approach could be considered: if migrating emails directly into the new mail platform is an option, rather than a PST export. IMAP-based migration may also be possible if the BT mailbox still supports the access method required.

In relation to an offline copy of the mailbox, the situation is a little different. Typically, OWA does not provide a straightforward option for 'Export mailbox to PST', similar to desktop Outlook. If you already have an OST file from an old Outlook setup, you may be able to use that local mailbox data as the source for a PST conversion. The key thing is to make a backup of the original OST before trying anything.

If the original Outlook profile is still active, the standard Outlook export option (File > Open & Export > Import/Export > Export to a file > Outlook Data File (.pst)) remains the easiest option. If the profile is no longer operational and you only have the OST file, an OST-to-PST converter may be necessary to extract the mailbox data.

In relation to smaller OST files, you could also consider OSTtoPST. com Converter. It's free version allows the conversion of up to 500 MB of OST data to PST, and it previews the mailbox before conversion with the ability to filter emails. This could be helpful in previewing or recovering a part of the old mailbox before migrating everything to the new platform.

I would also request confirmation from BT as to which migration/export options are currently available for the specific @btconnect.com account before proceeding with any changes, as the available options can depend on the mailbox setup and current service.
I hope this is helpful for you