Backing up email

[pjphilli]

Hi
Is there a simple method of backing up email from Microsoft Outlook Express to a USB memory stick and subsequently restoring it to Outlook Express?
Cheers Peter

[wasyoungonce]

These are words you probably don't want to hear. Use Mozilla Thunderbird (http://www.mozillamessaging.com/en-US/thunderbird/)email client and Mozbackup (http://mozbackup.jasnapaka.com/)to backup this and Firefox (all free).

Simple as. Works a treat saved my bacon more than once.

But if you must stay with Outlook express, then, use this (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/270670)guide. There are commercial one click backup programs for OE but why pay.

If you want a one click free backup solution then Thunderbird and Mozbackup are the go.

[multiweb]

Look for your *.PST file then copy it out of the boot drive, then reference it back from outlook. This way you can move it or back it up externally as you know where all your mail and tasks, contacts, etc... are. To load that file in any other mail client is a straight import.

[astro744]

Make sure "show hidden files and folders" and "show extensions to known file types" is ticked in folder options. Then copy the Outlook Express folder to external media:

C:\Documents and Settings\<your user name>\Local Settings\Application Data\Identities\<{hieroglyphics}>\Microsoft\Outlook Express

You will need all the files within this folder. Make sure Outlook Express is not running before you copy this folder.

When you are ready to copy back you need to import and not copy back to the same folder. Set up your Outlok Express account and then go to File, Import, Messages. (You can also import account but I usually have a new one setup before this stage).

By the way if you have Word 2007 you will have to upgrade from Outlook Express to Windows Live Mail otherwise the spell check no longer works. Windows Live Mail is good and is easier to use with multiple e-mail accounts.

[astro744]

I don't think Outlook Express has a PST file only Outlook, otherwise copying the PST file is the way to go.

[taxman]

Unlike Outlook that uses a .pst file, Outlook Express uses a .dbx file to store emails.

A straight swap should work - it did for me when I still used ISP mail.

[pjphilli]

Thanks All - my email information is now backed up. Cheers Peter

[Octane]

As mentioned, I'd just plonk the *.DBX file to a safe location, and, once the machine had been rebuilt, just drop the *.DBX back into the location it needed to be in. Worked well.

H

[RAJAH235]

Hi Steve,
See the KB article on it...
> http://kb.mozillazine.org/Import_from_Outlook_Express