Retrieving old Outlook Express messages without using Export function?

ArcticFox · July 14th, 2005, 01:59 AM

Here is my dillema:

I reformatted my mother's computer and upgraded from 98se to XP Pro. In the process (and I've done this before), I forgot to export her emails before the wipe.

I'm not so stupid as to reformat a computer that isn't mine without imaging the old stuff first, so I mounted the image file in Explorer and I want to be able to get her Outlook Express messages without having to backup the current image, reload the old one, get the messages, and put the new image back on again.

Any way I can do this?

John Prophet · July 14th, 2005, 02:10 AM

what program did u use?

when you say "mounted in explorer" does that mean you can see the files?

search for *.eml for individual messages

or *.dbx for the folders

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why not just throw the image onto a spare machine...boot in safe mode (so the different hardware doesnt crash it etc) and retrieve the files?

ArcticFox · July 14th, 2005, 02:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Prophet

why not just throw the image onto a spare machine...boot in safe mode (so the different hardware doesnt crash it etc) and retrieve the files?

That's my problem - I have no spare HD's, looking to pick up one or two.

I'll try and do a search for what you mentioned.

I'm using Acronis for imaging, it lets me pull it up as a drive in My Computer.

John Prophet · July 14th, 2005, 02:28 AM

oh..then it should be no problem

just find the folder in the new install...the .dbx will be the folders

then you can just find the old .dbx folder and copy the stuff from in them....OR...just drag and drop the old folder to the new machine to have all the old folders etc...including the inbox

ArcticFox · July 14th, 2005, 02:47 AM

Nope, Microsoft doesn't built import/export features into Outlook Express, which is why I hate it so much (I switched to Oulook).

I tried moving the files, tried importing them various ways, all it does is get the inbox folder...there are a few hundred messages sitting in other folders/ .dbx files that I can't get to because it won't give me the flexibility.

ArcticFox · July 14th, 2005, 02:49 AM

Oh..didn't see your post JP.

The problem is that the old system ran 98se, and the new one is XP Pro. OE stores it in different places, and I did a search and just copied the files but maybe I got the wrong locations, in that case I can't figure out where XP puts them. I tried Application Data but still no luck.

John Prophet · July 14th, 2005, 02:59 AM

you searched for .dbx files in the XP install?

John Prophet · July 14th, 2005, 03:03 AM

http://www.updatexp.com/tip21.html

I am looking for a simple explanation of where the files are in xp....I am on a 98se machine, lol

or...just find all of the .dbx and/or .eml files from the image and drag them to a new folder on the new machine...then when you find the location you can drag and drop etc

John Prophet · July 14th, 2005, 03:06 AM

http://www.insideoutlookexpress.com/files/store.htm

Bovon · July 16th, 2005, 01:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArcticFox

Nope, Microsoft doesn't built import/export features into Outlook Express, which is why I hate it so much (I switched to Oulook).

I have never had the dubious pleasure to see into Windows XP, but I can assure you Outlook Express (6.0) does have import/export in Win98se and Win2k.

I use that feature regularly...every time I go to wipe a drive, I copy the whole Outlook Express folder to some safe place (a zip disk is good for that), or a USB external drive etc, then after the reinstall, I import everything and am right back to where I was with my emails.