"Walter Cohen" wrote in message
...
I am going to install a new, bigger hard drive in my system and completely
re-install Windows XP. I need to backup my 2 identities in OE.
I installed the OE Quick Backup (even though the screen shows as "Outlook
Express Freebie Backup") and when I launch it it states only 1 identity to
backup. I thought it would do multiple identities.

I have 2 identities on the system and am wondering if there is any way to
backup both identities from my Admin identity or will I need to just run
another backup when I log into that other identity?

Also, does this backup do everything for me (including email folders, news
folders, message rules, blocked senders, even your current view
settings.). Based on what I am trying to do I really am looking for more
than just a plain backup solution as I need to transfer all my OE stuff to
a new computer (hard drive).

Thanks!
Walter


You don't see a Complete Backup button on it?

If you have the Outlook Express Freebie Backup that has a lot more to it, I
would suggest you get the OEQB from http://www.oehelp.com. I no longer
support OEFB and don't have plans to do so anytime in the future. OEQB is
what is current "official" release. If you got it frm any other web site
other that OEHelp, you didn't get a official release. No other web sites are
allowed to have it available for download and will not be supported.

It backs up but it's not designed to be a reintaller for a new OS setup and
let me explain why.

When you set up XP, you create a user profile for it. Should you change that
profile on a new setup, the data used before won't be in the same place as
it was. No fault of OEQB, I didn't write Outlook Express or XP. XP sets up
things in Documents and Settings\Username and that part is what can be
changed by a new install and the old one won't know what the new one is so
it will store it where it was before and then the possibility exists that
you won't see it.

I would suggest you move the current message store to say something like
C:\Mail. That way when you do restore it, OE will know to look in C:\Mail
for the messages (news and mail) reguardless of what profile name is used.

Address Book will still have to be imported. Again the way XP is set up.

It backs up the complete Identities subkey meaning it gets all Identities.
It also get the Internet Account Manager subkey but not the passwords for
those account Thats stored in Protect Storage and there is no documentation
to that from Microsoft.

It gets all dbx files for all mail folders and news folders.

The Address Book subkey is backed up but for a new install of the OS, is not
practical to use because of the location of the WAB file.


A backup program is to use to backup the current data and restore it to the
same setup should a problem occur. That's all. Veritas and others do
similar, they can't anticipate that a user will set up a new OS and make
changes to it such as the user name. I don't know how many HP computers I've
worked on that the same profile name, Owner, is used. People reinstall
things and suddenly, Owner is no longer there and they can't figure out
what's happened.