Mail location and db format change on 98 SE to XP SP2 upgrade

I am using Netscape 7.0 browser with Netscape Mail 7.02 and have recently upgraded from 98 SE to XP sp2. When I did this, my default directory for mail changed (\Program Files\netscape\users ... moved to \Documents and Settings\username\ ... and didn't bring my mail with it.

I have read the sticky on "lost mail" and followed that procedure, but it did not work. Likely since the mail files are in the wrong place. I have no problem copying the proper files over to the new location, but the Inbox.snm file is now the Inbox.msf file. These files appear to be in different formats (code - .snm versus text - .msf) so I was reluctant to take advice from the "Migration" thread (Neuron) to copy files over without the .msf extension.

Did this problem arise as a result of not having a profile in 98 SE? How do I fix it?

 

Welcome to the Forum, prwatson701!

prwatson701,

When moving a Profile from one OS to another, it is necessary to edit the prefs.js file to change the path of the Mail. This you found out as your Mail wasn't available.

This is the Solution you needed, rather than "Lost Mail ":
Moving Profiles From PC to PC and/or OS to OS

Start here, in the above referenced page:
"On the New Windows 2000 / Windows XP PC, or PC #2 "
This will explain why your Profile didn't work.

I think you may need to start again, as you mention SNM files. There are no SNM files in either Netscape 7.01 or 7.02? SNM Mail files are only associated with Netscape Communicator 4.x. I also wonder why you would use the browser of 7.0, and the Mail of 7.02? The MSF files, or Mail header files, should never be moved to a new location. When the files containing the Mail are moved to a new location, a new header (MSF) file should, and will be created.

Both of these browsers (7.0/7.02) are sadly obsolete, and have security vulnerabilities, and bugs. You should seriously consider installing either:
Firefox 1.0.4 and Thunderbird 1.0.2, both standalone applications (browser and mail client) or:
Mozilla 1.7.8, a suite, including Mail.

Something else I didn't understand, is your stating that you did not have a Profile in Windows 98? Could you clarify please.

Ramona

 

.snm file are the header files of NS4.8 or lower. The .msf file are the header files for any of the new NS,Mozilla or Thunderbird. Having said that, just forget about them. The header files are created when a file without extention is copy/pasted in the account folder. So if you have the "Inbox" file, from any of the NS, old or new, Mozilla or Thunderbird, and you have pasted it into the appropriate Windows Explorer folder, with your new program closed, on reopening it you will create a new and suitable header file.
So, if you have copied or moved only the file with the extention you will see nothing, because it is a header file linked a much larger file. You need to have a file like Inbox, and delete any file with the extention.
I see that Ramona beat me, but I think that my summary may help.

 

Ramona and Westside,

Thanks for the help. I was easily able to retrieve my messages by simply copying the mail folder over from the default location (I think created by XP???). I never created individual profiles for family members before as we have a common email address. And the profile created in NS 4.x was about 3 years ago.

I have been usin Netscape simply because my ISP provided it as the default software. I will look into your suggestions Ramona.

 

By the way the default is a different thing from the mail accounts. You can have separate mail accounts for different family members, or yourself. But information like bookmarks, address books, etc. are in profiles, and such information can be different for different people. That's why my wife and I use different profiles with the same installation of Netscape (or any other other similar program).
You are using the minimalistic approach, which is fine. Also NS4.xx would allow only one mail account/profile, while you could have several with the newer programs.