Help with MS Outlook 6 email messages dissapeared

[Archman]

Hi peeps,

Just want to know what happened to the email messages that I had originally. I did not Reformat, but rather installed Windows XP Pro on top of itself.

Now, where would it store the messages from Outlook express... I can't seem to find them... I have however found programs that were there from before installing windows on top of itself.

Help is much appreciated, and this is urgent.

Thank you for your time and feedback

 

[Fardringle]

Outlook Express stores email messages in the following folder by default:

C:\Documents and Settings\user name\Application Data\Identities\long number

You will probably just need to import your messages from the old identity that Windows used before you re-installed it. Each individual 'identity' will have a unique folder name in place of long number in the path above. Locate the correct folder and then in Outlook Express, click on File>Import and choose to import from an Outlook Store directory. Browse to the old identity folder and choose to import all folders.

 

[Archman]

okay, when I click on the folder that I look for it gives me this error message saying not accessible, and access is denied... what shall I do?

 

[Slikkster]

How to take ownership (so you can access files) of folders in XP:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;308421&sd=tech

 

[Archman]

that isn't giving me a security tab... a little lost here

 

[Archman]

I followed the instructions slikkster[\b] but it won't permit me access, nor can I drag it over into the shared documents folder.

Originally I had two accounts on there, Bob and Gretta, and have again created the accounts, but this time I had to create Gretta G and Bob B... so now I am trying to get access into the emails... I'd like to know what else I can do.

Thank you

 

[Slikkster]

Did you disable "Simple File Sharing" as mentioned in the article? It doesn't go into how to do it in the article I linked to, but has it's own link to the instructions on how to do it.

Read how to disable Simple File Sharing here:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307874/

Then, go back and follow the instructions from the original MS article.

Once you disable Simple File Sharing, you'll get the security tab you were missing before.

 

[Archman]

slikkster thank you for your help, I've been able to get into the folders

 

[Archman]

Now, when I try to import the messages, it says that the folder does not contain any information... on a whim I tried to see what the folder with the new user account had in it, and it also has nothing... I've set the folders to show me all the hidden files and folders as well, but nothing shows up.

Any ideas?

thanks

 

[Archman]

okay, I found the missing info it was in this path:

C:\Documents and Settings\Gwen\Local Settings\Application Data\Identities\{2F3134EC-4CF3-4094-B13B-0C05AB4BC37D}\Microsoft\Outlook Express

now, I've tried to import the file, even gone so far as to move it to:

C:\Documents and Settings\Gwen\Local Settings\Application Data\Identities\{2F3134EC-4CF3-4094-B13B-0C05AB4BC37D}

when I go to import the messages, I go to OE6 (which was used last time) and choose "Import Mail from an OE6 Store Directory" and then point it to:

C:\Documents and Settings\Gwen\Local Settings\Application Data\Identities\{2F3134EC-4CF3-4094-B13B-0C05AB4BC37D}

and when I hit enter, I get an error message stating "No messages can be found in this folder or another application is running that has the required files open. Please select another folder or try closing the applications that may have the files open"

any ideas?

 

[Archman]

WooHoo!!! I got it, I just replaced the newer Inbox.dbx file with the older one it's all good now