Thanks Jim!
Just to clarify, should I first get the .IAF into OE upon a restore, then
upon completion of that import then do the 'import' of the .DBX files?

1) That is, should I first install .IAF files via 'import function' under
'mail account settings' in OE??, --- thus before importing .dbx files?
2) If so, is there a way to select all .IAF files at once so it 'imports'
all 'mail accounts' settings (i.e. MSN, Hotmail, Yahoo, Gmail) in one
'import'?
3) To successfully import .DBX files, should I first creat those folder
names in OE before importing the .DBX files or does importing all .DBX files
at once automatically create those folders (i.e. I have a folder called 'Real
Estate' under the 'Indox'--a subfolder of 'Inbox---and as another example I
have another folder called "Gmail' at same branch level as 'Inbox')

Happy to hear I can avoid registry to restore .dbx files (mail and mail
folders), iaf files.

Thanks!

"Jim Pickering" wrote:

Copying the IAF files to a folder on your hard drive, and resetting the
Read-Only attribute would be the best way to go and you should not have to
add the password as the IAF file contains the account info and the password.
--
Jim Pickering, MVP/Windows Mail applications
Please reply ONLY to newsgroup.


"Sportsluvr" wrote in message
news
Thanks Steve, Jim & 'PA Bear'!

If I also copy the .IAF files to a DVD (one for each POP3 account) and
want
to restore them to OE in case I need to re-install OE due to hardware
failure
or XP failure, would I first copy the .IAF files back to a temporary
folder
in hardrive, remove 'read-only' by right-clicking properties for each
.IAF,
then do an 'import' in OE all BEFORE I imported the .dbx files?

I know that restoring mail accounts via copying/importing .IAF files still
might require to add back in the passwords in 'server tab' under
properties
for 'internet accounts' for each mail account.

Thanks for your help!
(note, I do not feel comfortable going into the registry--avoid doing so).

recover from a hard

"Steve Cochran" wrote:

See also www.oehelp.com/OETips.aspx#4

As Jim indicates, copy all the dbx files to a subdirectory on the hard
drive. Then clear their read only attribute and then use File | Import |
Messages and point to that directory.

steve

"Sportsluvr" wrote in message
...
I read the 'simple back-up' instructions on
http://www.insideoe.com/backup/simple.htm

When I copied the .dbx files (from the 'store folder') first to another
folder (I created a new folder on desktop called 'outlook express
backup')
and then copied all 'dbx files from that new folder to my DVD, when I
went
to
'right click' properties on those files, it said 'read-only'.

What happens if I need to 'Import' any of those .dbx files via the
'import
function' in OE? Would I first need to copy them (.dbx) back to the
desktop, then run an 'import' in OE for each .dbx individually as that
would
change them from being 'read-only'?

Am I better off just copying each .dbx file directly from the 'store
folder'
to my DVD and not first copy them to another folder on my 'desktop'?

[Note my OE properties for each .dbx (which I right click a folder in
OE)
still properly references the correct 'store folder' under the
'application
data/identities' subfolder.]

Thanks for your help!