Gonna reformat soon. Best way to backup Outlook Express mail>

[Gundam]

I need to keep all of the current mail in my inbox because they contain information that I really need. How would I go about backing up the mail? What folder should I look at? I'm going to reformat soon and I was hoping to just drag and drop the mail file for my inbox and replace the default one after I reformat. Will that work? Or is it more complex then that?

 

[Sorcerer]

I use Outlook, not express, but I think that it's close to the same.

Go to File, Archive & tell it to archive the folders (& contents) you want, & save the file it creates on another HD (that wont get formatted)

Once you have your OS & OE back on the system, tell OE to import messages from the archive file you created before.

 

[AnMig]

"I was hoping to just drag and drop the mail file for my inbox and replace the default one after I reformat. Will that work? Or is it more complex then that? "

Yes it is that simple, its a matter of finding the outlook folder. I believe its in the user--microsoft--(bunch of numbers) -outlook.Make sure you find right folder sometimes if you have several users there may be different folders.

I have done this several times and has worked perfectly each time. Just past over the new folder after reformatting.
Dont forget favorites and address book.
good luck

 

[PG]

If I remember correctly, the inbox, outbox, etc., have a .dbx extension. Do a search for *.dbx and you will find those.
The address book should also be saved, and it has a .wab extension.

 

[joelmold]

I've never been able to get the export or archive thing to work in Outlook Express. However you can just copy the database files that contain your messages, it's just a matter of finding the folder. On my work machine this is the folder:

C:\WINNT\Profiles\joelm\Local Settings\Application Data\Identities\{3D845ACD-120B-4D89-BAE1-9EB533D113B8}\Microsoft\Outlook Express\

For most Win2k machines however, I think the default profile location begins with C:\Documents & Settings\.

Copy everything in the Outlook Express directory above to another disk or CD and after you format just put it all back in the same location. Note that this will not save your settings or message rules, just the folders and messages...

Hope this helps,

joel

 

[audiophan]

Which I knew about this before I formatted to install XP

 

[corkyg]

Your OE mail folder can be anywhere you want it to be. You find it by going to Tools, Options, Maintenance and hit the Store Folder tab.

What I do is to keep all my mail in a removable external drive. Then the reformat problem becomes irrelevant. All I need to do is redirect OE to look where I have it.

But that file is easily copied using any file manager . . . even the clumsy Windows Explorer.

It contains a .DBX file for each box along with indexes and logs.

 

[lowlevel]

Nice tip, corky!

This will save me time next re-install!!!

Thanks!

 

[Gundam]

Thanks alot you guys!

 

[MoleX]

Good tips

makes owning that 256 USB keychain more than just the ext coolest thing

 

[bluesky]

One question?
I saved some mails in a created folder, named 'mail save", and found it's archived as 'mail save.dbx'.
I can read the mails from Outlook Express after installing XP.
How can I access these mails from Outlook?