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Transferring Messages in Outlook Express

Discussion in 'Internet Explorer & Microsoft Edge' started by chickbull, 2005/11/23.

  1. 2005/11/23
    chickbull

    chickbull Inactive Thread Starter

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    I can't find the message files for outlook express as I now want to transfer the Draft messages to another computer. Both have XP. How can I find them?
     
    chickbull,
    #1
  2. 2005/11/23
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    The default message store for OE is shown under Tools > Options > Maintenance > Store Folder.

    They are all *.dbx files, e.g. Inbox.dbx, Drafts.dbx, etc.
     
    PeteC,
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  4. 2005/11/23
    chickbull

    chickbull Inactive Thread Starter

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    Thank you so much. I found it but since I'm rather inexperienced I need a little help. Should I just drag the file drafts.dbx to my CW-RW drive or copy paste it. And then put the CD in my other computer and find the same file and copy-paste it there? Since I have 2 identities, I wasn't sure how to know which identity is which etc. I guess thats where I get confused. I tried to open drafts.dbx but it wouldn't let me. Or should I be using the export-import feature? I tried but then got a message when I clicked on export that said "this will export from outlook express to microsoft outlook or microsoft exchange. "That's where I'm lost again.
     
    chickbull,
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  5. 2005/11/24
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    Burn the draft.dbx file to CD using your normal method - as I do not use the native XP burning software - I use Nero I cannot advise on the drag/drop or copy/paste methods as I have not used either.

    Paste the draft.dbx file into the same folder on the new computer.

    As a single user I am not familiar with identities - do you have two sets of .dbx files? If so you will need to judge from the known contents which you would expect to be the larger and paste into the appropriate locations. If you paste in the wrong file simply replace it by pasting in the correct one. As they have the same name the existing file will be replaced by the new file - if you agree to that happening.

    It is not possible to open .dbx files and read their contents outside of Outlook Express without the use of third party software such as DBXtract freeware.
     
    PeteC,
    #4
  6. 2005/11/26
    chickbull

    chickbull Inactive Thread Starter

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    everything seemed to be OK until I imported from the CD and it could not find files. The files are all read only but they weren't before I burned them to the CD.Now I cannot remove the Read only. The message says an error occured applying the attributes to the file and access is denied. How can I get these files to not be read only?
     
    chickbull,
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  7. 2005/11/26
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    All files burnt to a CD have the Read Only attribute as they cannot be changed on the CD without the use of burning software. Copy the files to your hard drive > right click on each > Properties > and uncheck Read Only > OK.
     
    PeteC,
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  8. 2005/11/26
    chickbull

    chickbull Inactive Thread Starter

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    I have them on my hard drive and they are all unchecked. Now what do I do to get them on a CD so they are not read only? I want to transfer these files to another computer.
     
    chickbull,
    #7
  9. 2005/11/27
    Zander

    Zander Geek Member Alumni

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    The only way you can write to cd and not end up with all of the files being read only is to use a UDF writer like Nero's InCD or Roxio's DirectCD (or whatever they call it now). The drag and drop method. If you don't have software like this, you have no choice but to do it the way mentioned here. Just use the cd you already made. Copy the files on the cd to the hard drive on the computer you want to transfer them to and then remove the read only attribute from there. Then, import them right from the hard drive rather than the cd.
     
    Zander,
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  10. 2005/11/27
    Zander

    Zander Geek Member Alumni

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    One more thought. If you happen to have a USB pen drive or maybe a digital camera that uses flash memory you could copy the files to one of them instead of using a cd. If you did this, the files would retain the attributes they had when copied. Just a thought.
     
    Zander,
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  11. 2005/11/29
    chickbull

    chickbull Inactive Thread Starter

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    Thank you all for all you help and patience. I've got it done. This board is a godsend and I learn more here than anywhere else.

    Thanks again.
     
    chickbull,
    #10
  12. 2005/11/29
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    So glad to hear that we managed to help sort out your problem - drop in anytime - 24/7 :)
     
    PeteC,
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