moishie wrote:

i just moved over from 2002, using the slipstick (?) artcile -
placing the PST and other files in the correct locations.

It seems i may have a corruption (someone said i do) - because i have
2 folder called "personal folder" in my folder list - both are
IDENTICAL.

Something in what you did corrupted your mail profile and the Sliptick
instructions wouldn't have done that. You need a new profile.
http://www.howto-outlook.com/faq/newprofile.htm

either way - my outlook told me today that my PST is full, and i
should consider using the new Outlook 2003 folder system because it
allows for more space. i;d love to do that!

Until you buy Office 2003, it's a simple matter to use multiple PSTs, with
one being the default as now, and another into which you can move data to
keep the default folders smaller. You can also use autoarchive, which will
move older messages from your default folders into another PST, keeping your
default folders cleaner.

Can someone point me in the right direction of how to do this
properly -
- maintain multiple PST files

There's no real "correct" or "incorrect" about maintaining multuiple PSTs.
Organize them in whatever way pleases you.

- conserve Contacts

Contacts generally don't take up a lot of room. Mail is the real space user
in Outlook.

- main rules, nick lists, signatures and all other valuable usaeble
data

Outlook 2002 doesn't have "nick lists". Perhaps the following will give you
some information:
http://www.howto-outlook.com/howto/backupandrestore.htm
http://www.slipstick.com/config/backup.htm
--
Brian Tillman