Hi Linda,

If you want to know where Outlook Express stores it's folder data, on the
new brand new OE, go to it's Options, select the Maintenance tab, choose
Folder Store, examine the displayed path, notice there is a file named
"Identities".

When you backed up your hard drive and if this folder was included in the
backup all your previous Outlook Express folders are available for restore.

Examine your backup, did it include the Identities Folder, the path will be
near identical as you displayed above.

The address book is stored in a different location, however it is probably
in the same Application Data Folder of the same displayed path above, most
likely in one of the other folders you will see when opening the Application
Data Folder.

Ken

"Linda" wrote in message
...

| Before reformatting my laptop hard drive I backed up the hard drive onto
and
| external hard drive. After reformatting the laptop and reinstalling the
| backup I can't find or retrieve the OE folders or address book. OE came
up
| brand new as if it had never been set up. I've tried to find the address
| book and folders on the backup but they don't seem to be there. I even
| tried looking for hidden files and folders but had no luck. Is there
anyway
| to get them back or are they gone forever?
| Any help would be appreciated.
|
| Thanks, Linda
|
|