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Old December 28th 09, 06:43 PM posted to microsoft.public.windows.inetexplorer.ie6_outlookexpress,microsoft.public.windows.live.mail.desktop
N. Miller
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Posts: 908
Default OE to Windows Live

On Mon, 28 Dec 2009 06:03:01 -0800, Lostin7 wrote:

For those of us who aren't techno wizards, can someone walk through this step
by step? First, my old XP computer is now disconnected and the new WIN7
computer is installed and connected to my cable modem and all other
equipment. How do I even search for the saved email files on the old
computer now? Can I use the File Transfer function to connect the two
computers and "see" the old files through the new computer?

Assuming I can get this far, where are the saved email folders in Outlook
Express on the old computer? I have two accounts that I want to grab
messages from, me and my wife, so where will I find the saved messages that I
want to copy and transfer to the new computer?

Where am I moving them to on the new, Windows7 computer?

How do I then import them into Live Mail?

And one more question. Why did MS discontinue Outlook Express? Can you
download OE and still run it in Windows7 and just skip Live Mail?


Last question first: They were probably responding to legal pressures
regarding inclusion of what is essentially option applications as a
component of the basic operating system. With the introduction of IE7 and
Windows Vista, they tried to revamp MSOE as "Windows Mail". They apparently
also tried to address concerns regarding the delicacy of their .dbx database
method of email storage.

MSOE is not a separate application, but a component of MS Internet Explorer.
With the release of Internet Explorer 7 they discontinued inclusion of an
email client with the browser. You would have to download (possible) and
install (not possible under either Windows Vista, or Windows 7) MS Internet
Explorer 6. The last operating system which can run IE6 is Windows XP.

Step-by-step? Hmmm. If you can start the Windows XP computer, you have to
navigate to: C:\Documents and Settings\{%User_Name%}\Local
Settings\Application
Data\Identities\{%random_character_string%}\Micros oft\Outlook Express

Or use the Tools | Options | Maintenance menu path, and click on the "Store
folder" button.

As I recall, the "Local Settings" folder is hidden, as are the .dbx files,
so you will need to change your folder view to "show hidden files". See:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/...orruption.mspx

You will want to copy the entire "Outlook Express" folder to a removable
medium (CD, or USB memory stick, most likely). On the new computer, copy
that folder to your destkopt. Start Windows Live Mail (not "Windows Live",
as you have in your Subject: line), and run the message import Wizard. You
will have to manually browse to the OE folder on your desktop because the
Wizard won't find anything the default location it tries. When the import is
complete, there will be an "Import folder" in your "Storage folders" tree.
That folder will be collapsed, so you will need to expand it.

You will need to do it once for each account; differentiated by either the
User Name, if you used different Windows user accounts, or by the random ID
string if you used OE Identities, instead of Windows User accounts. I should
point out, here, that if you used MSOE Identities, WLMail does not have them
available. The only way to separate accounts in WLMail is to use separate
User Account logins in Windows.

Alternate to the copy would require setting up shares in the Windows XP
computer, and sharing the hidden OE folder so it can be accessed remotely
from the new Windows 7 computer. You may find it easier to just copy from
the old computer, and onto the new computer desktop.

You can also locate your .wab (Windows Address Book) file on the old files
system, and copy it, as well. Also to the desktop on your new computer.
Windows Live Mail can import from that .wab file; but you will do that from
within the WLMail Contacts list.

========================
Posting history follows:

"dama1" wrote:


Thanks for the heads up. I'll give it a try. Merry Christmas!!


"Bruce Hagen" wrote:


In OE: Tools | Options | Maintenance | Store Folder will reveal the
location of your Outlook Express files. Write the location down and
navigate to it in Windows Explorer or, copy and paste it into Start | Run.

In WinXP, Win2K & Win2K3, the OE user files (DBX and WAB) are by default
marked as hidden. To view these files in Windows Explorer, you must enable
Show Hidden Files and Folders under Start | Control Panel | Folder Options
Icon | View, or in Windows Explorer | Tools | Folder Options | View.


"dama1" wrote in message
...


I understand the process, but must reveal how much I don't know. Where
do I
find the "OE message store".


"Bruce Hagen" wrote:


X-Posted to WLMail Newsgroup.

"dama1" wrote in message
...
I should have thought of this beforehand! I just bought a new PC with
Windows
7, that uses Windows Live. I want to transfer e-mail folders with
saved
messages from Outlook Express on a PC running XP. I don't know where
to
start
looking for a resolution, or how to accomplish this. Any input would
be
appreciated.
Dave G.


Copy the ***ENTIRE*** OE message store to flash or CD. Do not copy
individual dbx files. Put the copy of the message store on the Win7
Desktop. Open WLMail and File | Import | Messages | Outlook Express and
point to where you saved them.

Windows Live Mail [Desktop] Newsgroup.

In your newsreader:
news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsof...e.mail.desktop

On the Web:
http://www.microsoft.com/communities...mail .desktop


End of history.

--
Norman
~Oh Lord, why have you come
~To Konnyu, with the Lion and the Drum
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