It really doesn't matter. Open Outlook Express and click Tools/Accounts -
Mail/Import to get the info from the IAF files into OE. The mail message
import can take place before or after, it makes no real difference. And,
no, you cannot import all IAF files in one swoop,(or at least I've never
done it) but after the first one, just click on the import button again and
it will go to the same folder it searched for the first account, and you can
then select from each one that follows. It's very quick and simple.
--
Jim Pickering, MVP/Windows Mail applications
Please reply ONLY to newsgroup.


"Sportsluvr" wrote in message
...
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!