OT: Outlook Express

[RJ]

OK, this question is for all the computer geeks out there in busnut land:

I bought a new desktop (Dell 9200 Dimension), and want to copy my archived OE emails, especially the ones with communications with fellow busnuts, over to the new machine.

As is typical for MicroSlop, their export/import funtion is virtually useless.

I don't really want to use something like LapLink to dump all the files from one machine to another.

The two machines are networked together, which should make the process a little easier. . . operative word being "should" here, seeing as we're dealing with Redmond WA's finest.

Both machines are running XP Pro, btw.

Any good suggestions?

[H3Jim]

Look in the folowing directories for your favorites, adress book and dictionary.  Hoe this helps.  They really buried it,  you can copy it, but its just difficult to find.  I found it by waiting a day, changing an address, then doing  a global search by date.   Specfc user, is your user name for the machine...

Hope this helps


Favorites:     Documents and settings/specific user/favorites/

Outlook Express Address book:   Documents and settings/specific user/application data/Microsoft/address book/user.wab

Dictionary:   Documents and settings/specific user/application data/Microsoft /proof/custom.dic

[HighTechRedneck]

It has been about a year, but I had a similar situation using the full version of Outlook on two XP machines.

Do a file search on both computers for "*.pst" (you may have to go to Tools>Folder Options>View>Advanced Settings and enable viewing file extensions and hidden/system files).  The "pst" files are the files that contain the "Personal Folders" that Outlook uses for the Inbox and any Archives.  The exact location may vary per your installation (that is why I suggested the search).  But it should be found at something like:  c:\Documents and Settings\(your user name)\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook\ . Or in your case that last one may be ...\Microsoft\Outlook Express\ .

On the new machine move the existing PST file(s) to a safe location (as a backup in case of failure) and then copy the PST files from the old machine to the new one.  If it has any trouble showing the archive files in the folder list, look for "Data File Management" in the Outlook Express menus and use the resulting dialog to point it to the files (in Outlook this is on the File menu).

[Sean]

The data structures in OE and Outlook are very different -- looking for .PST files will not help.

The simplest way to "find" the mail store for OE, which is in a very obscure place by default, is to simply tell OE to put it someplace else.

I posted full instructions for this over on the other board...

-Sean

[Hartley]

Basically what the others said..

You also can do a search and look for where the files are by looking for inbox.*

On the machine with the mail that you want,

As you may find several copies of the inbox files you will need to "open" the containing folder.

Look for the file size and date stamp to find the most recent. You may also find files with mail folder
names such as deleted items, outbox and any other folders that you have mail stored in.

Note the location.

Then do the same on the new machine and note that location.

Copy the files from the old machine to the new one.

In the tools section you may want to export mail settings into an IAF file and copy that over also.
In the case of address book. Search for *.ADB or *.WAB and do the same.

This is the easy way if all you want are the messages and mail settings on the new machine.

I do this all the time with computers at the office when people change desks or old people leave
and new people come in.

Works for me..

[oldmansax]

This is a pretty easy operation.

Open your old OE.

Choose  "File/Export"

Choose "Address Book"

Choose "Microsoft Exchange Personal Address Book"

Follow instruction to export address book. Make sure you save the file to a known location so you can find it again.

Next, open the Outlook Express or Outlook on the new machine.

If using Outlook:

Choose "File/ Import/Export"

Choose "Import from another program or file"

Choose "Personal Address Book"

Navigate to where you stored exported file.

Finish import wizard/

If using Outlook Express:

Choose "Import/ Address Book"

Navigate to where you stored exported file.

Finish import wizard/


You will have to repeat the same operation for your messages.



I will send you a bill for services...


TOM

[HighTechRedneck]

I just checked an Outlook Express machine and the file extension for its folders is DBX.

In this case they were located at:

C:\Documents and Settings\{Windows user name}\Local Settings\Application Data\Identities\{long hex id}\Microsoft\Outlook Express

In the original post you mentioned that the import feature wasn't working for you.  So if the other's suggestions don't work out for you, copying the files over should work.

With computers as with our beloved busses, there are often many ways to accomplish the desired results.

[RJ]

Thanks, everyone, for your suggestions.  Will be attempting the migration this weekend, after reading the Sunday comics.  (Gotta get in the right frame of mind when dealing w/ Bill Gates & Co.!)