Import/Export Mail Folders

Oh man. I'm totally lost here! I just had to reformat my computer and I saved all of my .dbx, .mbx files and my .wab. I can't seem to get them back into my OE. The version is 4. I still need to upgrade it to 6. (All this is from a recurring problem with my printer driver. I'll give an update in the appropriate post in a bit)

What I did was a 'send to' of these files to my super disk. Then I did a copy/paste into the correct directory from the disk and I can't figure out why they aren't showing up. Does it have to do with the fact I don't have version 6? My other version was 5.5 when I was doing it. I also can't get my favorite list to show in my favorite folder. I was lucky to be able to find my board link so I could come in here and cry!

What do I do? I've done this before, but for the life of me, can't figure it out. The export/import feature doesn't work. I really need to get my mail moving, as I have important bills that come in there! Someone...PLEASE HELP ME!!!

OH! I checked my mail once I set up the new link and new mail came in. When I click on the mail it says I can't open it! What the heck happened?????????

Thanks.

 

Yes, part of the problem is the version. If the old files were from v. 5.5 and you're trying to use them with 4.0, there will probably be trouble. While newer versions are usually backwards compatible, there's no way they can build an older version to be compatible with a version they haven't written yet.

So first upgrade v. 4 to at least 5.5.

Then check the attributes of the files you copied over. They might have copied as "read only." If so, change the attributes to "archive," open OE and try again.

 

Thanks for all your replies.

The dbx was saved from version 5.5. After the format, OE was version 4, the original one the factory installed WAY BACK WHEN! I then copy/pasted the mbx and dbx into this path: WINDOWS/DATA APP/MICROSOFT/OUTLOOK EXPRESS/MAIL. I realized my mistake this morning and put them all in OUTLOOK EXPRESS where they are supposed to be sitting. (A little experimenting helped me figure this out.) I did a reboot, but the created folders are not showing up in my mail. Oh. BTW....I was up until 3am downloading version 6. It's now that version. Also, did I forget to mention the fact that the folders that won't go where they are supposed to are ones that I created? Does that make a difference? They sit under the LOCAL FOLDERS heading in OE. Could this be my problem? I did check them and they are all ARCHIVES, not read-onlys.

I did manage to get my address book imported correctly and I finally got my favorites to go to the right place, so they are fine.

I read somewhere on how to import and export the rules that you create in OE, but opted not to do that. It wanted me to play in the registry! Had too many things on my mind to mess with that. I'll just create new ones.

So. Now what? I can open those old folders in WORDPAD and it shows me tons of goobledeegop and then an occassional real word, so I was able to access my billing info, but there were some other info type mail that I saved and really would like to be able to access them.

Sighhhhhhh. Isn't formatting such fun?????????????

Thanks again for all your input.

 

Hi Panda: For hints and tips on OE try this site here

If you want to see the contents of the *.dbx folders without running OE you can use DBXtract utility to open them. It is freeware and can be found here

It's a little tricky to use, but easy to learn.

Good luck

John.

 

Panda--There is a manual way of restoring those exported/saved .dbx files:
1) In the left panel of Outlook Express create a new Folder. (Click on Inbox or whatever is in the far left of the OE toolbar, right click on Local Folder, click on New Folder, and follow instructions. Call the New folder New.
2) Go to whereever your old OE .dbx folders were normally stored. Mine are in C:\WINDOWS\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook Express (get those slashes in the correct direction!). If you have not already done so, put the saved .dbx files in there. You should also see your New.dbx folder (the one you just created in Step 1). Delete the New.dbx folder!! Change the name of one of your real (saved) .dbx folders (like Inbox.dbx) to New.dbx. Open the left pane of OE up again. Change the name of the New folder (which should still be in the Local Folders list ) to Inbox (in this case). You should have just imported your saved Inbox.dbx.
3) Repeat the above steps for the other .dbx folders (Outbox. Deleted Items, etc.)

 

YIPPPPEEEEEEEE!!!!!!

OMG!!! WELSHJIM !!!!! You are the life savers of ALL life savers!!!! IT WORKED !!!!!!! It took me a few minutes to figure out what the heck I was doing, but once I got the first one done, the rest went easy. I did have a little trouble with the Inbox, but eventually got it to work. I had to copy/paste it into the folder and told it to, yes, overwrite what was there. The only trouble I had with the mail that was previously in there, was, I couldn't reply to them. I had saved the mail from the tech people and wanted to let them all know how the fix went, but when I tried to send a reply I got this weird message: "The message could not be sent. No sender was specified. Please check your News Account configuration " . It didn't make sense. I even typed the adddress in the send box and still got that message. I ended up just creating a new letter and copy/pasted all the info into it. Anyway....THANKS AGAIN SOOOO MUCH for your help. I will definately have to write this trick down. I'm sure I'll mess up again in the future and hopefully this will do the trick. Now all of my databases and lists and contacts are where they are supposed to be.

JohnB....Thanks for the link, but I already have that one. I think I need to peruse the help links more often. I won't be needing that utility, but, thanks any way.

Thank you, EVERYONE, for all your help in this matter.

 

Panda--Thanks for posting back. Always good to hear that a suggestion was helpful!!

P.S. "The only trouble I had with the mail that was previously in there, was, I couldn't reply to them." I had not realized you already had some new, recent mail in an Inbox folder. I thought you were starting with empty mail boxes in OE after the reformat. The recent mail was overwritten when you changed the name of New to Inbox and substituted the saved Inbox.

 

All the mail in all the folders I exported had the same problem. I couldn't reply or forward any of them. It's no big deal, though. At least I have the info in them and just did a copy/paste into a new letter. I'm just happy that I could access them. What a deal! There has to be an easier way to do this! LOL. This is why I keep a paper trail of all my contacts and addresses and #s. You just never know when you might not be able to get to them via the computer.

 

Panda--Ah, now I understand!!
Do the recreated folders allow you to receive, reply and forward new mail? (In other words are the problems confined to only the old , exported mail?)

 

You are finally understanding the problem. I could have sworn that I explained it right. No matter. The folders that I had saved were 8 of them. Personal ones. I have rules set up for mail to go into certain ones. I had left important mail in 4 of them, including the default, Inbox. All the mail that exported with the created folders won't let me reply or forward. I'm really not worried about it now. I'm thinking they may have worked if I had waited until I upgraded to version 6 before trying to export from the 5.5 version I had saved. I'll just have to remember that little trick or just not bother with saving mail in them and just re-create the folders when I upgrade. Live and learn.

Thanks for caring so much.

 

Now that the dust has settled and the problem solved, I would like to mention prevention. I found e-Backup 1.42 (now) at www.inachis.com to be an easy to use OE and Favorites back up utility. The files are zipped so you can always at least read them if all else fails. My great hope is that someday someone writes an OE back up utility that will restore by ADDING the saved mail to what is already there such as in the case you reported as having mail that arrived before you were able to get your saved mail back in place. There is always room for improvement.

Ali

 

AMEN!

Thanks for the tip. I think that may be good advice and I will make a note of it for future reference. I really hate downloading all these cute little utilities, but sometimes if they are the right ones, it's a good idea.

Thanks.