Outlook Express --- transferring files

[Yankee fan]

Not sure if this is the right forum, but here goes...

I currently use Outlook Express for my email, and we have just purchased a new system. What do I need to do to transfer all my saved email and files from the OUTLOOK EXPRESS on my old system to the OUTLOOK EXPRESS on the new system? What are the files and folders that I should copy and wher are they stored? Hopefully this is something that I can do and not lose all those items.

As always, thanks for the help!

[sdkfz]

do a back up and create a pst file some where easy to get to like he desktop. COpy this onto what ever media it will fit on and the new machne has the capability to read - ie no floppy n th enew PC don't use a floppy.

I beleive in express the location of the function is the same - File - Import and Export - then follow the wizrd to selct what you want to take with you, at the oter side you reverse the process.

[Force Flow]

x:\Documents and Settings\[username]\Local Settings\Application Data\Identities\[string of numbers & letters]\Microsoft

Copy everything in that folder and put it in the same location on the new system (the string of numbers & letters will be different)

[Yankee fan]

My old system runs Windows 98SE, the new one will run XP Pro. In the "Identities" folder, I now have 30 objects with the "sting of numbers". Do I copy all of them and put them in the "Identities folder" of the new system? I'm not real technical, so bear with me...

[Force Flow]

Try looking each one for a "Microsoft" folder, and inside of that Microsoft folder should be a folder called "Outlook Express"

In 98SE, I believe the directory is: x:\windows\Application data\Identities\[string of numbers & letters]\Microsoft\Outlook express

[Statica]

Probably the best method of transferring the files is as follows:
1) Create the accounts and identities that you wish to use on the new computer's Outlook express (lets call it new OE)
2) In new OE: using the identity that you wish to use - go to - Tools > options > Maintenance tab .. click the Store Folder button .. note the location that your mail is stored in. (if you need copy it to the notepad). close new outlook express
3) In the old OE for the same identity: go to the same Store folder location and note down where the store folder is.
4) In the old computer, navigate to the folder you see, on Windows Explorer
5) Copy all the files from that folder to the location in the New computer that you noted down.
6) You may need to repeat the procedure for all your identities (if you have multiple identities).

This procedure should work for the same versions of OE across the 2 systems. It may not work reliably if you use, OE5.0 in the old computer and OE6.0 in the new one. If your version #s are different, you will need to export your emails and then reimport them.

[Yankee fan]

Just wanted to check in on this --- The first method I tried was the one above from STATICA and it worked like a charm. New OUTLOOK EXPRESS in Windows XP Pro now has all the files transferred from old OUTLOOK EXPRESS in Windows 98 SE...

As always, thanks for the great help....

[Yankee fan]

Wow --- a month later and another question on this...

All worked fine per the instructions fron STATICA. I did not move "all" the folders that were listed in the OUTLOOK EXPRESS folder for the identity, because some were old and not needed.
A month later, one of those folders is needed. I still have the old system, so I went into the folder and copied the "DMX" (I think that is right) file that was titled the name of the OUTLOOK EXPRESS LOCAL FOLDER that I wanted to move to the new system. I placed it in the folder with all the DMX files that are named the other LOCAL FOLDERS in Outlook Express, but when I open OTLOKK EXPRESS, that folder does not show up on the Local Folders list. This is the same way I did all the other items, but I did them all at once, and it worked fine???

Both systems were using OUTLOOK EXPRESS 6, but the old system was Windows 98 SE, and the new is XP Pro.

I'm sure I'm missing something simple on this...

Thanks

[Statica]

First create a folder in Outlook express of the same name. Then close down your OE, then move the .DBX file. The presence of the .dbx file does not automatically let OE assume that you have a new local folder.

[Yankee fan]

OK --- thanks -- Just a note...I had the DBX file in there, and then I added the folder, and the folder showed up empty, even after a reboot...

But you are saying to add the folder and THEN move the DBX file into the folder.

Another note...The name of the DBX file is "FPC NC Committee (1)". I assumed that the "(1)" was indicating that there was an "unread" message in there, so I didn't include that in the name of the folder I added to Outlook Express. I added "FPC NC Committee". Do I need to add the "(1)" in the name of my folder for it to match up???

Thanks so much for the quick response...

[Statica]

The old DBX file should not have been there.
The "FPC NC Committee (1)" appeared because you had the old DBX file sitting there. It is not representative of the unread message count. Or it could be because the folder by the same name is probably sitting in your trash (Outlook express trash)

Do this:
1) Keep the FPC NC Committee (1).dbx files in there
2) Am assuming u have an empty local folder that says FPC NC Committee as well.
3) Close OE
4) Copy the original DBX file from your old computer; am assuming its going to be FPC NC Committee.dbx to the new store location.
5) Delete the file FPC NC Committee (1).dbx
6) Rename FPC NC Committee.dbx to FPC NC Committee (1).dbx

HTH

[Yankee fan]

I'm sorry --- I think I confused you..

Yesterday, there was no "FPC NC Committee (1)" DBX file on my NEW system and no "FPC NC Committee" local folder in OE on my NEW system.

I copied the "FPC NC Committee (1)" DBX file from the old to the new system yesterday afternoon, but it did not make a new local folder appear in OE. So I then created the new local folder "FPC NC Committee" in OE, but the items did not appear (23 MB worth).

So, yestarday I added "FPC NC Committee (1)" DBX file and "FPC NC Committee" local folder --- they were not there befor on the new system. That is why I was thinking --- either rename the DBX file OR the LOCAL folder so they match exactly????
added
The name of the DBX file sitting on my OLD system is "FPC NC Committee (1)"

[Statica]

The name of the .DBX file need not match the exact name of the Folder as you see on OE; nor does it indicate the number of unread messages. To simplify .. create a folder on your new OE with the name that you need. Close OE. Delete the corresponding .DBX file that was created (remember the name). Then copy the .dbx file from your old computer, whatever the name it is on the old computer .. now rename it to the same name as the file you deleted.
For example, create a folder on OE called 'Yankee'. Close OE. You should see a folder on your store folder list (in Explorer) called yankee.dbx .. delete it off. Copy the DBX you need to transfer from your old computer. In this case FPC NC Committee (1).dbx
On the new computer, select the file 'FPC NC Committee (1).dbx' and press F2 to rename. Now rename it to yankee.dbx
Open up OE; you should see your Yankee folder populated with the old mails.

[Yankee fan]

OK --- I'm with you now. I will try that as soon as I get home from work and let you know...

Sorry I'm a little slow...

[Yankee fan]

It worked like a charm! Totally logical. Thanks for all the help again!

[Colb]

Similar question:

I want to move e-mails and addresses from Outlook Express on an XP PRO computer to Outlook 2003 on a new XP PRO computer......both computers are located on the same network.
I don't have the passwords with me atm, so I can't test to see if the above methods work from OE to Outlook '03.

Is this possible?

[glc]

Move them to OE on the new computer *first* - then the first time you open Outlook, it will offer to import everything.

[Colb]

How can I delete everything I did to Outlook '03, so that the start wizard pops up when I start it to ask me if I want to set up a e-mail account?