Greek2Me wrote:

I am trying
to decide if I should use the Outlook calendar or stick with the MS
Works calendar (I don't like having to open Outlook and then my
email, etc, etc, to access the Outlook calendar; I think I prefer the
simplicity of the Works calendar).

You can certainly create a shortcut that will open Outlook in your Calendar
when it starts.

In either case, for the Outlook or
the Works calendar, is it possible to restore items posted or to find
a copy of the calendar somewhere in the system with the retrieval
software?

In Outlook, all your data (i.e., calendar, contacts, mail, tasks, notes,
etc.) are contained within the same file. It's called a "Personal Folders"
file, or PST. Backing up a PST is EASY. With Outlook closed, just copy it
somewhere for safe-keeping. See this:
http://www.howto-outlook.com/howto/backupandrestore.htm
--
Brian Tillman