Move back from Windows Mail to Outlook Express 6

Is it possible to downgrade [so as to speak] from Windows Live Mail [XP version] to Outlook Express 6.0 ?

I would like to do this as I intend to start using Thunderbird as my mail client, but Thunderbird doesn't import from Windows Live Mail & Windows Live Mail doesn't export to anything except Microsoft Exchange and Windows Live Mail .

 

PeteC,

I have OE installed. What I need is data including my folders [some 120 of them ] and my contacts to be imported to OE and Address Book respectively.

 

I've tried this and it works:
Copy the .eml files (not other files such as winmail.fol) to the XP machine via an external device. Create a folder in Outlook Express (File > New > Folder named, say, Old Inbox), which will initially receive the copied files. Close Outlook Express. Now open both Outlook Express and Windows Explorer and arrange the windows side by side.

Select (highlight) all the .eml files and drag them (strangely copy and paste will not work) to Outlook Express, either to the new folder name in the left pane or to the folder contents in right pane. Now open Old Inbox and drag the contents to your usual Inbox.

Note: The normal location of mail boxes is the hidden folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Mail\Local Folders then Inbox, Sent Items, etc.

Export your contacts from Windows Contacts as a CSV file and Import them to Outlook Express.