Email 'reader' - seemingly none?

I've been wondering why it seems to be that if one has a CD (for example) loaded with email files - Netscape, Thunderbird, Outlook, Eudora, etc. - that there is not a generic email 'reader' that allows you to access those files (read them) - or is there?

Instead it seems one has to go thru all kinds of 'profile' gymnastics etc etc

Is it a security or copyright problem - or both - or what?

 

Rob,

If you want to read the messages copied to CD, as an example, in the Inbox, then do this:

Rename the file on the CD to Inbox2, and copy to your Thunderbird Account.
Open TB, and you will see Inbox2 listed in the Account.
(This is assuming that you've used a CD-RW, however if not, then you can rename the active Inbox.)

OR

You can follow this process, and be able to access your Mail on CD, as well as write messages directly from the CD: Archive and Access Mail on CD

This works on Mozilla, Netscape, and Thunderbird. Follow the instructions in detail, otherwise it won't work...

 

robfwoods,

To read DIFFERENT formats - outlook - Gecko based etc.

I believe that you would need a third party Program..
Something like:
Aid4Mail
or
Mailbag Assistant

NOT FREEBIES

Probably many others......

Though MOST programs use a basic mbox format, each has its own idiosyncrasies and M$ Outlook is the biggest offender (IMO)

regards:captjlddavis

 

Thanks for the replies.

Re Ramona's answer - yes - thanks - had been seeing your instructions re setting up that way - hadn't done it - but was actually asking if that kind of riggamarole was really necessary

Capt telling of the Fowkes stuff was actually what I was getting at (prices reasonable if it works)

When all these problems came at me a couple of months ago - I was asking around - and the universal answer was that it was NOT possible to have email readers because then people's email in offices, etc. would be more susceptible to being read by outsiders who would have access to the person's computer (Word files would be consiidered to be 'open' to others if one was sick, away, etc. - but not email). The setting up of profiles behind email passwords etc. would be significant protection.

There's also the question of copyright - I'm not familiar with the laws and interpretations of reading proprietary codes - like TB mail or Eudora mail. Reading of course is one thing - modifying and saving is another - perhaps. WP was able to read Word without a license from MS - so I guess it is OK.

 

After doing some work with a new Flash Drive, I took Ramona's suggestion and applied it to robfwoods question. I copied the inbox to the Flash Drive from the Mail folder and renamed it to Inbox2. Then pasted the renamed inbox back into the Mail Folder. Just as Ramona said, upon opening Thunderbird, Inbox2 was there.

All this presumes that you can get to the original material in the inbox. Copying from a CD, Read Only, may not work. I see an advantage to this approach, not only is the Flash Drive reuseable and economical, but it is also a very convenient process. I purchased a 125MB unit for less than ten dollars.