Resolved Outlook Express Backup

The default location of the OE message store is shown under Tools > Options > Maintenance tab - Message Store. These are hidden *.dbx files so enable Show hidden files and folders in Windows Explorer (Tools > Folder Options > View tab)

This article summarizes detail on backing up OE .....

How to back up and to restore Outlook Express data

 

If you navigate to the location of the Message Store and open it you will see Inbox.dbx, Outbox.dbx, ..... (Remember to enable view hidden files and solders).

The simpler route is to search for *.dbx - including hidden files and folders.

You may find it more convenient to do as I did in my Outlook Express days prior to moving to Windows 7 and Outlook, that is to create a folder, say Outlook Express, in My Documents or another convenient location, copy the *.dbx files into it (with OE closed) and then in OE - Tools > Options > Maintenance tab - Message Store and point OE to the new location. I now follow the same practise with Outlook.

 

I use Replicator to backup data from the "drive in use" to a backup drive. In Replicator, you can create jobs whereby you specify a source folder and a destination folder. After the jobs (in your case regarding OE, one job for each identity) have been created, they are executed either manually or scheduled. (I've always done it manually and don't know how well scheduling works.)

 

If I understand you correctly you have created 2 backup folders on your desktop - I would prefer to place them directly on the hard drive. That is fine up to a point, the point being that you need to update them prior to backing up to an external drive.

If you were to use the method I suggested and relocated the Message Store in another more accessible folder the contents of that folder are always up to date as it is the Store folder used by OE. Whenever you backed up that folder it would be current - saves backing up your files to the desktop folders and then backing them up to the external drive.

I would keep a backup of your email accounts - these are the .iaf files you refer to. As for QQQ files - I am not familiar with them and do not recall seeing such files in OE. Rather than delete rename and see if any issues arise.

 

I am not saying that the Message Store should be in My Documents - I am saying that it is easier and more convenient to ensure a current backup if it is .....

Create a Directory in My Documents - or elsewhere on your hard drive if you wish and name it Outlook Express or what any other name you want to identify it by.

With OE closed using Windows Explorer Search search All Files and Folders for *.dbx files - include Hidden files & folders and copy them into the new folder you created (alternatively copy them from your backup folder on the desktop ensuring that the backup is current).

Open OE and go to Tools > Options > Maintenance tab and click on Store Folder

The current/default location of the Store Folder is shown in the Store Location dialogue box - click on Change

In the Browse for Folder window locate the folder you created in My Documents (or elsewhere) - highlight it and click on OK

The new location for the Message Store is shown in the Store Location dialogue box - click on OK

OE will flag up 'There appears to be an Outlook Express message store in the folder that you have chosen. Do you want to switch to using that store? If not it will be deleted and replaced with your current store.' - click on Yes

'Your store location will not be changed until you shutdown and restart Outlook Express' - OK

Close and reopen OE - check via Tools > Options > Maintenance tab - Store Folder that the new location is displayed.

OE will now use the folder you created in My Documents as the Store Folder. Backing up that folder to your external hard drive is straightforward - no need to go searching for the original Store Folder and the contents of the folder will always be current so your backup will be current - at the point in time that you back it up.

 

You can save the address book to the same folder without issue and also your .iaf account files.

If you feel adventurous you cam move the Address Book to that folder too and OE will reference it there ....

Move the Windows Address Book

However if you are not comfortable in editing the Registry let sleeping dogs lie

 

Those were my thoughts too, but Identities are an area I am not familiar with as a single user of OE prior to moving to Outlook.

I've been otherwise occupied today and not had the opportunity to research. So a question for you - with 2 identities do you have 2 sets of *.dbx files?

 

In that case your suggestion should work just fine.

 

You are most welcome