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Importing .dbx files

Discussion in 'Microsoft Mail (Outlook / OE / Windows Mail)' started by Speke, 2010/01/19.

  1. 2010/01/19
    Speke

    Speke Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    I'm trying to import .dbx files for a friend. Outlook Express.

    Through a search, I've found the folder where they are located. On Importing, and using the Browse menu, I get as far as C:/Doc and Settings/(name )/ after the friend's name, there is no Local Settings folder listed in the string., so can go no further.
    Is there another way of putting the "string" of locations into the Browse menu?

    Windows XP. SP3. OE6.

    Thanks in advance.:p
     
    Speke,
    #1
  2. 2010/01/19
    sp3851

    sp3851 Well-Known Member

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    You might want to check this web site:
    http://www.pcguide.com/vb/archive/index.php/t-5942.html

    As quoted on the site:
    "dbx files are Outlook Express mailboxes. You should be able to simply copy the .dbx file into the folder where OE is currently storing mail, then start OE. It will see the new file and build an index (a message list for display) for it. If the .dbx file has the same name as a current .dbx file, just rename it (e.g., Temp.dbx). "
     
    sp3851,
    #2


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  4. 2010/01/20
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff

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    Speke,
    the folder is there but hidden. You have to go to Tools > Folder Options > View > Show hidden ... > change the setting.
     
    Christer,
    #3
  5. 2010/01/21
    Speke

    Speke Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    Thanks for the 3 replies.

    When I visit my friend again, I shall have another go at it.

    However, a thought came to me. Those emails in the Inbox.dbx which I'm having trouble importing back into Outlook Express - would they be the emails that are showing already in Outlook Express? I'm hoping they are the missing ones.

    The whole situation arose when the friend said she'd lost a lot of emails. There is in fact a huge gap in her Inbox from July 2008 to Dec 2009.

    Anyway, thanks for the input.:eek:
     
    Speke,
    #4
  6. 2010/01/22
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff

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    I'm going away over the weekend but hopefully you'll get answers from someone else. I don't understand what you are trying to do and a clarification might help:

    Are you trying to import separate emails from one account to another or the lot?

    I have never experienced it personally but the word is that large *.dbx files get corrupted. The "limit" is ~1GB. The quote above indicates that it IS a large file. (My Inbox.dbx is ~100 MB and it was "cleared out" in september 2009.)
     
    Christer,
    #5
  7. 2010/01/25
    Speke

    Speke Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    Thanks Christer. The "Show hidden files" did reveal the missing folder.

    Have located the files again, but still having trouble importing them.
    I'm not too clued up on the instructions given by sp3851: the .dbx files are in the folder where OE is storing them. If I copy them, where would I copy them to??

    Also, following the instructions to import them into O.E. I get the string into the Browse line , and then click Next. I get a message about the files are being used by another application.. close the application. However, if you close O.E. you can't go through the File-Import sequence. Any clues? Thanks again everyone.

    Please ignore my post of 3 days ago. I've worked that one out.
     
    Speke,
    #6
  8. 2010/01/26
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff

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    You never answered my question in post #5, what are you trying to do?

    Import from one account to another account on the same computer?

    Import from an account on computer #1 to an account on computer #2?

    I have never used the Import/Export functions within Outlook Express. I always copy/move the *.dbx files.

    When copying/moving, Outlook Express must be closed.
     
    Christer,
    #7
  9. 2010/01/26
    Speke

    Speke Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    Thanks for reply Christer.

    Right: I'm trying to import emails that are missing from OUtlook Express. I've located them in the folder with the.dbx files. I can't get them to import into Outlook Express, on the same computer.

    How do I go about copying them and moving them? And will they come out the proper emails and not the strange characters ? I've copied it and moved it to the desktop already.

    Hope I'm making it clearer this time.
     
    Speke,
    #8
  10. 2010/01/27
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff

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    Do I understand it correctly that you have saved separate Emails as *.eml files?

    If so, I don't think you can import Emails in *.eml format, only whole data bases from other Email clients.

    Create a folder in "My Documents ", e.g. "Saved Emails" and move them there. After that, you have to open them as any other document. They will open in Outlook Express and you can reply, forward and anything you need to do.

    You can also forward them to the account into which you are trying to import them.
     
    Christer,
    #9
  11. 2010/01/27
    Speke

    Speke Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    Thanks for reply Christer.

    The missing emails were located in the folder Deleted Items, called Deleted items .dbx - using the string which shows where all the Outlook Express folders are.

    The problem is getting them back into Outlook Express.

    I haven't saved them as .eml files. Just copied the deleted items.dbx onto the Desktop.

    How do I get them back into Outlook Express.

    If I click on them I get a message about which programme to use to open them, I clicked on Notepad, and they all come up in the strange characters - the other option was to search the Web for a programme, but this led to options for downloading programmes to import .dbx files. Surely there's a way to get them back into Outlook Express?

    You must be getting cheesed off with me by now!! Hope not.
     
    Speke,
    #10
  12. 2010/01/28
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff

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    "cheesed off" ... :confused: ... I don't know what that means ... ;) ... !

    You can't move or copy that file to "where all the Outlook Express folders are" because there already is one with that name. (Well, you actually can replace it but it's safer to do it as suggested below.)

    First off, my computer speaks Swedish and I probably don't get everything properly translated but ... :D ... that's your problem.

    Close OE.

    First step is a precautionary backing up of the OE files in "where all the Outlook Express folders are" by copying to another location. Don't copy them to the desktop but create a folder, e.g. "C:\OE-backup" and copy all the files in "where all the Outlook Express folders are" to that location. Now, if the following steps are unsuccessful, things can be copied back.

    Open OE.

    Create a new folder: File > Folders > New > "Inbox" will be highlighted and the new folder will be a sub-folder to "Inbox ". Name the folder "Saved mail ".

    Close OE and restart to check that the new folder appears, close again. In "where all the Outlook Express folders are" a new file has been created, "Saved mail.dbx ".

    Make a copy of "Deleted items.dbx" and name it "Saved mail.dbx ". Move "Saved mail.dbx" to "where all the Outlook Express folders are ". You will be asked if the current file is to be replaced. The answer is yes.

    Open OE and hope for the best. If it was successful, delete "C:\OE-backup" and "Deleted items.dbx" on the desktop.
     
    Christer,
    #11
  13. 2010/01/30
    Speke

    Speke Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    Thanks for reply Christer. Sorry for delay in my reply: too much tennis to watch (Australian Open. Go Federer)

    I'll carry out your instructions next time I'm at my friend's place. It sounds like it will work this time. Thanks again.
     
    Speke,
    #12
  14. 2010/01/30
    wildfire

    wildfire Getting Old

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    Off Topic I know...

    But seriously I can't ignore that...

    C'Mon Andy

    Speke, before I get into too much trouble I suggest any more comments on this should be by PM :)
     
    wildfire,
    #13
  15. 2010/01/30
    Speke

    Speke Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    What's PM, Wildfire?
    As much as I'd like Andy to win, I think the Fed will triumph. Sorry about that.
     
    Speke,
    #14

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