Transferring Outlook Express

Bucksone · 3rd September 2003

I got a new computer with Windows XP to replace my old 98SE machine. I had the current version of Outlook Express on the old computer. I would like to transfer all of our old emails and addresses to the new computer. We have five accounts in Outlook Express, so there is quite a bit there. I can't use the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard as I don't have the cabling neccessary to connect the two machines. I do have a CD burner on the old computer. Is this possible, and how do I do it?
Thanks in advance.

**Steve R Jones** · 3rd September 2003

OLEXP: How to Back Up the Outlook Express Address Book and Mail Folders

OLEXP: How to Backup and Restore Outlook Express Blocked Senders List and Other Mail Rules

irdreed · 3rd September 2003

Bucksone,
Follow the steps from the first KBA article Steve R Jones suggested, which is KBA188854. Then, Yes you can "Burn" these Folders that you created.
To get the WAB into XP see this MS KBA article:

http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;308670

For the messages this is what MS Offers:

http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;316981

Not sure if this applies in your case though.

Hope this helps.

Bucksone · 3rd September 2003

These suggestions look like something I can do, but I have a question before I start. There are five of us using the computer, so do I first need to set up all five accounts on the new computer before importing the addresses and messages from the old computer?

irdreed · 3rd September 2003

Bucksone,
For the Address Book....Negative, since there's only one Address Book.

For the 5 Accounts...Yes, save each account to a seperate folder and follow the MS KBA directions for Importing to each account, that is if I correctly understand the way you say it it set up.

Bucksone · 4th September 2003

Well, I was able to back up the address book wab files, but I'm having trouble with the message files. The knowledge base article said to locate the mail message store folder by finding the *.mbx files. I couldn't find any. Could this be because the article is based on Outlook Express 4 and I have Outlook Express 6?

**PeteC** · 4th September 2003

Correct - look for *.dbx files - these are the OE6 message folders.

Bucksone · 10th September 2003

Yea, it worked. I've successfully transerred the adress book and all of the messages. Once again, I've been rescued by this board. Sorry it took so long to get back with the results, but I got busy with other stuff. Thanks to all.

knucles · 27th April 2004

Nothing seem to do everything !!!

I triple boot w2k, xp and 2003 server trial and want to backup and restore the whole of OE6 (including the rules) to each of the OSes.

Ideas......Welcome??

**PeteC** · 28th April 2004

Try OEBackup or OEBackup - may be the same!

knucles · 28th April 2004

In the past, i've had the problem of my "rules and blocked" entries not being backed up and restored.

As we all know, it takes a long time to get all our rules right where you like them and really hate to loose them.

Does the gang absolutely know that this OE backup does the whole 9-yards??

I don't have a problem paying or donating for something that works or (better said) fit's my needs.

**PeteC** · 28th April 2004

Afraid I can't answer that - not used the program(s).

**Steve R Jones** · 29th April 2004

Other Mail Rules

Click Start, and then click Run.
In the Open box, type regedit, and then click OK.
Locate and click the following registry subkeys (save each key to a different file):

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Identities\{Identity Number}\Software\Microsoft\Outlook Express\5.0\Rules\Mail

Rjsphoto · 23rd June 2004

Hello ! I have a simitiar OE6 restore prob. While getting rid of Adware my OE6 was reset and I lost all my emails. I tried the the instructions for 188854 OLEXP and 270670 OLEXP however they are not for this prob.
My emails were actually DELETED! There was nothing to export!. I was able to Undelete with a utility. I can not get OE6 to Import these from a folder. I can point to the folder but the import window does not show the OE6 folders. I can show them with windows search or thru MyComputer.
I tried creating folders in the OE6 to have it recognize the existance of a folder. Then using windows, went into the OE6 folder, deleted the new empty folder, coppied in the old recovered folder.. To no avail! Restsrted OE6 and it still showed the folder as empty.????

How do I import folders not exported???

**PeteC** · 23rd June 2004

Tjsphoto - Welcome to the Board

If you can see your OE *.dbx folders then you could try DBXtract to extract the individual emails - possibly to the OE message store, but certainly to a folder of your choice. According to the Help file extracted *.eml files (emails) can then be reincorporated into OE. DBXtract used to be freeware, but is now $5 - coild be well spent!