Email transfer

[eniacap]

I have a new PC running Windows XP and am trying to access my previous emails from external hard drive backup. I have loaded a file INBOX.dbx (11Mb) but can't open it. When Windows asks which program to open with I choose Outlook Express but it won't open. I have tried Import but that only searches for individual messages on a different email program. Any ideas please?

[RandyL]

http://email.about.com/cs/oetipstricks/qt/et110402.htm

 

http://www.mindspring.com/~oe_oh/importing_the_old_messages.htm

 

http://insideoe.tomsterdam.com/sitemap.htm#backup

[eniacap]

Thanks for the URLs Randy.

The third one seemed to be the most detailed and the only one to deal with files Not in a folder.

My back-up file is just an Icon containing 11MB of files and is named Inbox.dbx, but nothing is in folders and it won't open so I can see the files.

After loading the file from the external drive to my computer drive, I have tried creating a new Store Folder and Identity as suggested following step by step, several times but to no avail.

 

P

[RandyL]

Hi eniacap;

 

I'm really not sure about this one. I think you might be out of luck if all you have is the inbox.dbx file.

 

Do you have the original hard drive or computer?

 

If you still have the old computer then there is hope.

Or a simple work around.

 

If all you have is a dead hard drive with an inbox.dbx file backup then you're probably out of luck.

 

If you are trying to transfer OE mails from one computer to another then you have hope.

 

But I think the dbx files are only OE folder files.

Not email files per say.

 

Can you supply more info please?

 

RandyL

[eniacap]

Thanks again for your interest Randy.

I'm not sure what you mean by "dead" hard drive. The external 80Gb drive works just fine via USB attached to any computer. Yes I still have my old PC running Win98 in perfect working order, so maybe there is hope if I can directly connect the 2 PCs or even send myself an email.

What sort of work around did you have in mind?

P

[RandyL]

Hi again eniacap;

 

Sorry about my misreading of your previous post. I wrongly assumed that the only thing you had was the dbx file on an external drive.

 

If I understand correctly you still have a working 98 system with emails intact that you can save to media (external drive).

 

Was your 98 system using IE6/OE6?

 

If so then you can transfer your emails and probably folders too. I've been experimenting a little but I'm not done yet.

 

From what I gather you need to copy your entire Identities folder to your external drive.

 

Then open OE on your new computer and use the File>Import Wizard.

Navigate to your external drive and import from the Identities folder.

 

I did the same but only from My Documents. Not from removable media. It worked fine from there.

 

If you use a CD you will probably need to copy to your new hard drive then open properties and uncheck "read only" first.

 

I'll try to supply more detailed info on the exact import steps but it may take a day or two. I'm working on a few other issues and my factory job has me worn down.

 

I'll get back to you tomorrow and let you know;

RandyL

[eniacap]

Hi Randyl,

 

I finally got my old outfit up and running. I think it is OE6. I transferred the Identities folder to a SD card (from my camera) and then to My documents on the new computer. When I then try Import I get the same message "File can't be accessed or is in use by other....."

 

Obviouisly I haven't got the knacvk yet.

 

eniacap

[RandyL]

Hi eniacap;

 

Looks like I'm in over my head here. I'm now having trouble recreating my steps. I can't even get OE to create new dbx files after creating new folders in OE.

But if I run OEBackup it picks up the new folder dbx file. Hidden files are shown.

 

Some of my steps work sometimes but not other times. And I have been meticulous.

 

Also it appears that identity files and registry keys also need to be exported and imported. Unfortunately I gave away all my old PC's and can't test this.

 

Outlook Express Quick Backup (OEQB) is no longer offered although I still have it saved. But even then I think the steps are long and require registry changes.

 

Long story short.

OE6 is buggy.

I'm now confused.

Try the link http://www.oehelp.com/Default.aspx and look around. #6 maybe.

 

Still trying;

RandyL