Exchange administrator, it is possible to restrict the ability to use PST files. There are two settings available, and both can be applied using Group Policy registry changes PSTDisableGrow and DisablePST. PSTDisableGrow prevents new data being added
to existing PST files, and DisablePST prevents users creating or opening PST files altogether.
Description
|
Registry Path
|
Registry Value
|
Disable PST files
|
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Office\12.0\Outlook
|
DisablePST
|
Prevent PST file
growth
|
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Office\12.0\Outlook\PST
|
PstDisableGrow
|
Table - PST Restriction Registry Values
Note: The registry paths are specific to Outlook versions 12.0 refers to Outlook 2007, the registry path for Outlook 2003 would be ...\Office\11.0\Outlook and so on.
In an environment where PST files already exist, these settings can be applied separately or together to phase out their use. The first step could be to implement restrictions on the growth of PST files using PSTDisableGrow which would allow users to
access existing data but not allow it to be added to. Subsequently, all PST file use could be disabled by implementing DisablePST.
In a new Exchange environment, or one where PST files are not used (and the Exchange administrator wants to keep it that way), the DisablePST setting can be applied on its own to stop users being able to add PST files to Outlook.
In any Exchange environment it is probably worth considering implementing a server-side archiving solution before disabling PST files. Server-side archiving has many benefits compared to PST files, and as many users are determined to keep large quantities
of historic e-mail it is better to have a managed solution than unmanaged ad-hoc PST file use a scenario often know as PST hell.
If you are ready to disable PST file use the settings can be applied to Outlook 2007 with Group Policy using the Office 2007 Group Policy Administrative Templates.
Applying PST Group Policy for Outlook 2007
1. Download the Office 2007 ADM Templates and extract the files
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=92d8519a-e143-4aee-8f7a-e4bbaeba13e7&displaylang=en
2. Launch the Group Policy Management Console, click Start -> Administrative Tools -> Group Policy Management
3. Expand the Forest, Domains, and domain containers then select "Group Policy Objects"
4. Right-click Group Policy Objects and select New. Give the new GPO a name, for example PST Policy, and click OK. (Skip this step if you want to add these settings to an existing GPO.)
5. Right-click PST Policy (or the existing policy you wish to edit)and choose Edit
6. Expand User Configuration, right-click Administrative Templates and choose Add/Remove Templates
7. Click the Add button and browse to the location of the files extracted in step 2. Open the ADM folder and the appropriate language subfolder (en-us for English), select the file named outlk12.adm and click Open
8. Click Close to close the Add/Remove Templates dialogue box
9. Expand User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Microsoft Office Outlook 2007\Miscellaneous\PST Settings
10. To implement the DisablePST restriction enable the Prevent users from adding PSTs to Outlook profiles... setting and set the option to Only Sharing-Exclusive PSTs can be added. This will allow PST files for application such as SharePoint lists,
but will prevent user-created PST files from being added.
11. To implement the PSTDisableGrow restriction enable the Prevent users from adding new content to existing PST files. setting. If the PSTDisableGrow setting is implemented users will still be able to create and open PST files, but they will not
be able to add any data to any PST files. If they try they will receive this error message:
If the Disable PST setting is implemented the user will see changes in the Outlook user interface. While any PST files which were already loaded will remain part of the profile, the options to create new PST files or to open any other existing PST
files will no longer be in the menu. Archive options will also be removed.
Disable PST implemented
PST files can be a headache for Exchange administrators, but they dont have to be. With easily-applied Group Policy settings the use of PST files can be limited, and the problems they cause can be eradicated.
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Proposed as answer by
Vikrant Wakchaure
Friday, June 26, 2015 10:54 AM