911 HELP! How do I backup my E-Mail b4 re-format??

[R6Veteran]

I want to re-format my hardrive this weekend but I have a lot of e-mails and a very big address book that I do not want to loose. How do I back up all of my e-mail files and address book before I re-format? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Leo V]

You didn't specify your email client.

If you're using Outlook (Express), the safest method is selecting all messages in a "personal folder", and dragging them into a real folder in another window. This copies the messages as separate files; once you reinstall Outlook, just drag them back in. You'd have to do this for each folder. Same goes with Address entries.

I didn't like the Export feature alternative, because it exhibited crappy compatibility even between MS products.

 

[TSDible]

I've found that the export option for the address works well with Outlook (Express). But as leo says... you will need to physically back up your mail that you want to keep.

As another option, you can back up the user information in the "application data" folder in the windows directory.

Hope this helps.

 

[Spiff]

Outlook Express will store your mail in the following directory tree:

application data\identities\{xxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-}\microsoft\Outlook Express

Outlook will store your mail in the following directory tree:

application data\microsoft\Outlook


Copy all files to a safe location. When you have the new install, you can import your messages and your address book and your calendar (if you use it) back into the email client.

 

[R6Veteran]

Thank you so very much. that is exactly what I was looking for.