Hi DOH,

As you've discovered, the export (messages) function (mentioned) only works
with Outlook or Exchange installed on the same PC. The basic backup process
involves copying the files in the OE message store folder to another (new)
Windows folder, then later importing the files from this backup folder.

OLEXP: How to Back Up and Recover Outlook Express Data

http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;270670



More information and options

Get OETool (www.oehelp.com/OETool/) and OEQB (www.oehelp.com/OEBackup/) and
put them in the same directory. Then there is a button in OETool that will
run OEQB and backup to 3 levels of redundancy just with a click of the
button.

Both are free.

Credit: Steve Cochran


--
Tim K.
aka Kuay Tim
MS-MVP - Outlook Express
Lynnwood, WA
*
"DOH" wrote in message
...
I use 98SE and OE6, and I'm planning on doing a full install of XP Pro. I
need to back up my messages in OE, and I have several different email
accounts. When I try to use the export function it fails because it can't
initialize MAPI. I don't use Outlook or Exchange. Is there a way to export
messages so I can add them back after I finish the OS install? Thanks in
advance for any help offered.