Topic: Transferring OE messages to new computer

[Clive]

This is ridiculous!  I've transferred my address book and IE favorites without any problem, but messages are a nightmare.  I only need to transfer the drafts but I followed an article I found here:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A11127-2004Oct30.html and ended up with all the e-mails that I've ever DELETED back in my draft folder!!  How scary is that?  

If someone knows how to transfer my (now hugly expanded) drafts folder AND my user dictionary...  

[Sandra]

Ok Clive open OE, go to File/Folder/Compact all folders.
This makes a .dbx file of each folder and stores them in :

C:\Documents and Settings\YOURNAME\Local Settings\Application Data\Identities\{FE5D8FD0-BCFF-4AFE-8CC2-7ACAF854989E}\Microsoft\Outlook Express

Open that folder and copy the Drafts.dbx file to floppy or wherever.
On new PC simply overwrite the Drafts.dbx folder in the same location  

[Clive]

I'm on the case!  I'll let you know how I get on.  Thanks for that!  

[chorleydave]

For anyone who uses Outlook Express and wants to keep all their messages, folders etc. intact, this is how I do it (and I have never lost a single message).

Create a new folder (I call mine "Email") preferably on your secondary hard drive, i.e. d:\Email

Open Outlook Express and go to:

Tools > Options > Maintenance

Click on the Store Folder button and change the default store folder to the folder you have just created.  (In my case d:\email)

Now when I format my C: drive, and after reinstalling Windows, all I have to do is go back to my cleanly installed Outlook Express and change the Store Folder to d:\email and Hey Presto, my folders complete with all their messages reappear in Outlook Express and I can get on with using my email as if nothing had happened.

In any event, even if you only have one hard drive, it is worth while moving your email store to somewhere easier to find than c:\windows\applicationdata\blahblahblah - which is where Windows 98SE hides them (how about c:\my documents\email?) because it makes it much easier to make a backup.

[Clive]

I failed with Sandra's idea because I can't find the folder!  But that looks like an easier solution Dave.  I'll give it a go tomorrow.  

[Sandra]

That will be because you havent set your pc to show hidden files and folders Clive.
Go into Tools/Folder Options?View and tick show hidden files and folders  

[Simon]

Probably nothing that Sandra hasn't already said, but here are two useful guides:-

Back up Outlook Express
Back Up Outlook

[Clive]

Even doing a search of hidden files and folders refused to find the file Sandra mentioned.  That shows just how deep Micro$oft has buried it.  But when I tried Dave's solution, that's the file which mysteriously appeared in the box!!  So it shows that it was there all the time!  I will try Simon's method on the 2nd computer.   8)

[daveeb]

Its always annoyed me how tricky it is to locate the outlook files.  tried chorleydaves tip....its a good 'un