Thunderbird or Outlook Express

[microAmp]

Has anyone been successful in sharing the folder, where emails are stored, over a network?

For example, in OE you can change where your *.dbx files are store by going Tools--> Options--> Maintenance tab--> Store Folder... button. and change it from Application Data area to say C:\Program Files\Outlook\Mail.

What I wanted to do was change that folder (currently on laptop) to my desktop (via DLink DI-624 wireless router).

I can leave the desktop computer running OE and have it download the email to it's HDD while I use my laptop to access the files within it by changing the Store Folder to desktop.

With OE I can see the shared folder "Mail" on the desktop but OE doesn't even let me click 'Ok' to make it the stored folder.

On Thunderbird same thing as above, but I can click it as 'Ok' on the shared folder on the desktop but when opening up Thunderbird on laptop, nothing is there on the laptop.

Or is my only choice is to use some mail server software? But would that lead to the desktop getting mail but laptop does; if OE on desktop is left running and grabs all mail, the laptop connects to mail server software and sees nothing. Or leads to duplicate mail if I tell OE not to delete mail after downloading?

 

[CaptainKahuna]

Outlook Express won't let you choose the option in the program, but I figured a work around

Now, I don't claim that this is a good idea (database corruption fears, dropped packets, opening 2 copies of OE with same database at same time, etc) but it will work

1.) Share the store folder on your desktop (use a static IP)
2.) Open Regedit
3.) Go to this key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Identities\{RANDOM GUID HERE}\Software\Microsoft\Outlook Express\5.0
4.) Change the key "Store Root" to the path to your network share (ie. \\192.168.1.5\OutlookExpress\)
5.) That's it!


EDIT: Don't leave the desktop running OE while you run it on the laptop. This will almost definitely lead to database corruption. Just use one at a time.

 

[microAmp]

Much thanks CaptainKahuna, I'll give it a whirl and make sure 2 OE's are opened at the same time.

 

[CaptainKahuna]

Make sure the 2 OE's ARE NOT opened at the same time. You'll have two programs reading a writing one database - not good for your data integrity.

 

[microAmp]

Originally posted by: CaptainKahuna
Make sure the 2 OE's ARE NOT opened at the same time. You'll have two programs reading a writing one database - not good for your data integrity.

Opps, I meant to say in my 2nd post, not to have two OE's open them open


Edit: Ok got it to work, I was being stupid and doing \\ IP ADDY\Program Files\OE\Mail; where I should read what you typed and did \\IP ADDY\Mail.

Thanks a bunch again
:beer: