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General discussion

Back Up E-Mail

Feb 6, 2005 6:13AM PST

My OS is 98SE and I use Outlook Express.
I want to back-up all of my e-mail folders to a CD.
I know how to back up other files/folders using drag and "copy here". I can't seem to find the appropriate e-mail files/folders.
It seems this should be easy, but for the life of me I can't find the "missing piece". Maybe the missing piece is missing from between my ears.

Dana

Discussion is locked

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Here is Microsoft's way Dana
Feb 6, 2005 6:20AM PST
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Thanks Roddy, Next Question
Feb 6, 2005 6:59AM PST

That was pretty straight forward. I followed the directions and now have a folder with the e-mail in it.
Before I ask my next question a little background may be in order.
I am having a new computer built. I will have all of my folders worth saving on CD's.
So, when I get the new computer I assume I will go to the same instructions and follow "Import Messages from the Backup Folder". Is my assumption correct?
I noticed trying to open the files in my new "Backup Folder" is of no use as they are unintelligible.

Dana aka DC

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I would imagine
Feb 6, 2005 7:14AM PST

that is how it works Dana but I've have actually had to do it though so I don't really know for sure. There are a number of threads in this forum about moving things from one computer to another. I would check Grif's "Tips for Newbies" thread.

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Sorry, another typo
Feb 6, 2005 7:20AM PST

I've got to reread my replies better LOL I meant to say that I have NOT had to do it myself. My last 2 computers that I bought, I had the old hard drive put into the new computer and extracted everything that way.

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I Checked Grif's Tips but.....
Feb 6, 2005 7:50AM PST

I didn't find anything relating to saving e-mail. However, I did "re-discover"some other important topics and this time I printed them for future reference.
Maybe Grif will get in on this thread. The definitive and final solution may be a subject for his "Tips".

DC

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I understand what you
Feb 6, 2005 8:22AM PST

are saying Dana. The e-mails are stored as .dbx which you can't read. I'm sure that Grif knows the answer, or Toni. I have certain e-mails that I back up once a month myself but I do it a different way. When an e-mail comes in that I would like to save, I click "file/save as" and I save a copy of it in a special folder that I have created in "My Documents". When you do it that way, it saves as an .eml extension instead of a .dbx so I can go to that folder and double click on any of them and they open as a regular e-mail. Once a month, I send a copy of the whole "My Documents" folder, which also contains my pictures, etc. to a CD and then I label the date so if the computer ever crashes or if I wanted to transfer them to another computer, I have the CD. It's probably a little more work that way but I have gotten used to it and I do it once a month. I even send a copy of my favorites to the "my Documents" folder the same day that I do the backup.

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Here's how I do mine
Feb 6, 2005 10:55PM PST

I first create a couple of folders on the desktop....OLDMAIL, OLDADDY, OLDFAVS and add today's date at the end of the new name for the folder so I know when I did this 'backup' last.

Then I go to Windows Explorer and click Tools at the top, then Folder Options, then View....and I take the check mark out of "hide extensions" and change it to "show all files"..and put a check mark in "show hidden and system files" (dire warning, say OK). Click Apply, and then click the button at the top that says "like current folder" and click Yes at the next window. Click OK to close the window.

Then I go to Search......and in the Advanced for Files and Folder, put a checkmark in 'search all subfolders, system and hidden folders'. Now, in the Search Look In area, make sure it is looking at the C: drive and not "my documents"....and type in the file name of *.DBX

When all of the .dbx files show up on the right hand side, click Edit at the top, Select All, and when they are all highlighted, right drag the whole bunch at once to the OLDMAIL folder on the desktop and choose COPY HERE when you let them go.

Go back to the Search and now type in *.WAB and copy these files to the OLDADDY folder.

Go back to Search and type FAVORITES.......and you will probably get a couple of folders here so look for the one that has the star on it. That's the current Favorites folder and has all your shortcuts in it. Open that folder so that everything shows up, click Edit, Select All, and right drag COPY HERE these files to the OLDFAVS folder.

Now when you open your burner program, make sure you are choosing to make a DATA cd, and browse to the desktop, and highlight all three of these new folders and add them to the burn project. Then burn away.

If you format the drive, you can use the import command in OE and in Favorites, but they won't come off the cd...so you will have to open the cd ahead of time and right drag a copy of each of these folders to your desktop again. When you do the import to get them all back where they belong later, including the folder layout you used in OE or Favs before, browse to the desktop and select the appropriate folder. Instant import.......You can then delete the folders on the desktop because they are on your cd still and safe.

NOTE: Since you will still have plenty of room on the cd as you burn these three folders to it, you can also hunt down any downloaded .zip or .exe files you want to keep and not have to look for again later. Plus any documents or graphics you've created (burn your whole My Documents folder because it normally has the subfolders already there for MY WEBS, MY MUSIC, MY PICTURES. If those subfolders are not located in the My Documents folder or you use others instead to hold your personal stuff, get those folders, too.

TONI

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Sorry To Get Here Late But I Don't Save 'Mail as Mail'
Feb 7, 2005 3:10AM PST

Generally, when giving instructions for users to back up their mail, I provide the Microsoft link originally provided by Roddy, but THAT'S NOT HOW I DO IT..Unfortunately, I've seen too many situations where e-mail folders were corrupted or e-mail programs died entirely...I don't mess with the .dbx files or any other files within the mail program itself. When I save my own personal mail, I do it differently. It may not be for everyone, but it works for me.

Here's how:

First, at the office, we use an "Exchange Server" which utilizes a server where all our mail is stored. There's really no need to back it up because our IT department takes care of that. Still, there are occasional bits of text or attachments that need to be saved and backed up. When I do find a specific mail message that I want saved in my personal documents, I simply copy and paste the text to a text file and save the text file in "My Documents" with an appropriate name. I then delete the message from my e-mail. Saving the file as a "message file" in Outlook Express or Outlook creates a "large" file while a text file of the same information is small.

On my home computers, the Outlook and Outlook Express folders are usually kept empty. Likewise, on my webmail folders. As before, if there is a special mail message that I want to save, I copy and paste the information to a text file, then save it to "My Documents". If there are any attachments, such as pictures or documents, I simply save the pictures/documents to the "My Documents/My Pictures" folder, then delete the message. I also create a small .csv file(comma separated value) as a backup to my "Contacts". The .csv file saves all my contact addresses in case the e-mail program dies. Instead of saving the .wab file which is a large file, the .csv if small and can be "exported/imported" easily in either Outlook Express or Outlook. Many other webmail types are able to use .csv files as well. To create a .csv file in Outlook Express, click on "File", choose "Export", choose "Address Book", then choose "Text File (comma separated values)", give the file a name you'll remember and follow the links to save the file to your "My Documents" folder. Microsoft Outlook 2002 is done in a similar manner by clicking on "File", choose "Import and Export", choose "Export to a File", choose "Comma Separated Value-Windows", then follow the prompts to save the small .csv file to your "My Document's folder.

There's an important advantage to all of this....When I burn backups/copies to a CD for storage, I only need to burn one folder. EVERYTHING of a personal nature is in the "My Documents" folder. Yes, I categorize various items in folders.."My Music", "My Videos", "My Mail", etc...but they're all in the "My Documents" folder and there's no hunting around the computer to find all the extra "stuff". It's all in one place.

Hope this helps.

Grif

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Thanks Folks
Feb 7, 2005 11:29AM PST

I have printed all of your suggestions and it will take me a while to digest them and put them into practice.
I have already decided it is best to save (backup) e-mail at the time of receipt. If a message is important back it up and if not delete it.

DC

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If you save the .DBX files as I do
Feb 7, 2005 9:16PM PST

The SENT and DELETED ITEMS files will probably be pretty huge.....so if you don't need to save every single email you sent and saved a copy of and if you don't need to save every single email you thought you deleted, skip those two files.

In OE Tools/Options you can save harddrive space by unchecking the box to Save a Copy of Sent files, and in the Advanced area (or Maintenance) put a check mark in 'empty deleted on exit). If you have emails you send that you want a copy of, just put your own email address into the BCC line and you will get a copy of what you sent back to yourself in the email program....then drag it to the DRAFTS folder for safekeeping.

TONI

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Back up email store
Feb 10, 2005 8:42PM PST

It is a while since I used Win 98 but I am sure this works as it works in XP.

Set up a new folder in your My Documents folder, call it 'stored emails' or something you can remember. You do not want to delete this folder or you will lose all your emails.

Go to Outlook Express, click on Tools, click on options and then click on the Maintenance tab.

Click on the Store Folder button and click the change button. Navigate to the new folder you created, click OK. It will ask you if you want to use this folder say yes and when you reopen the Outlook Express program it will use this location as default.

Every time you make a back up copy of your My Documents Folder it will store all your emails.

These are easily restored after a clean install or whatever by pointing the program to the new folder again.

I have been using this method for a very long time now and it has never let me down, even transferring from one machine to another.

Hope it helps you.

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email backup
Feb 10, 2005 9:59PM PST

Dana

In OE tools - options - maintenance - store folder will show you where the mails are kept. You can change this to something simpler if you wish. I just use d:\outlook for simplicity.

I use a backup manager from www.genie-soft.com that is or was free).

Roger

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(98SE)
Feb 11, 2005 9:50PM PST

That how was had Outlook but I dont have 98SE the tech do have it but I would like order 98SE on software.. How much cost software? but other thing Internet Explorer do not have software and I would like order software , too.. so I would like need know how much cost both software? but I wish free download but it blocked under my daughters head so we will plan order buy new other computer so will hear from u .. thanks

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Lady51, Why Post In This Thread?
Feb 12, 2005 2:52AM PST

Your question is not about "backing up e-mail". In the future, if you have a question you would like to ask, simply post a new topic on the main "Newbies" page.

In this case, if you want to purchase Windows 98 SE, you'll need to search websites like "eBay" or something similar. Microsoft no longer fully supports Win98 but you can still purchase if you do the searching. There are no free legal downloads of this software.

You also mentioned a need for Internet Explorer. The newest Internet Explorer 6 SP1 CAN be downloaded for free from the link below:

Internet Explorer 6 Service Pack 1 Download Site

HOpe this helps.

Grif

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Back Up E-Mail
Feb 12, 2005 8:00PM PST

All e-mails are contained in a special folder.The location of it dipends on if your windows is configured for one or severqal users.Every user has its own mailbox.Go to "C:\windows".Look for a folder called "Profiles".In it you should find a folder with your loggin-name...open it..in this folder uoy should see a folder called "Application data"..open it..there is one called "Identities" in it should be a folder named with a strange "numberstring"...open it..ther is a folder called "Microsoft" in it is the folder called
"Outlook express" copy that folder to whereever you whant to store it.When you later whant to gwet them back just open outlook express..go to files..then import...meddelanden..Messangess...mark outlook express 6...then the path to your copied "Outlook express-folder"..klick ok.Done
Below are the full paths for your outlook express emailfolder.
c:\windows\profiles\"Username"\Application data\Identities\"Numberstring"\Microsoft\Outlook express
If you are not gonfigured with profilesettings this is the lokation of the same folder.
c:\windows\Application data\Identities\"Strange numberstring"\Microsoft\Outlook express...
That's it.Well ask Bill Gates Why he hides it so deep in the system.Hope this will do what you whant?
nordstar@minpost.nu

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How I backup my e-mails in OE
Feb 14, 2005 10:15AM PST

I use Windows 98SE too and use Outlook Express. The folders of e-mails of OE are located in the folder named "identities". This folder is located at C:\windows\application data. I copy this folder to a CD using Nero and update it regularly with Nero.

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AFTER BACkING UP EMAIL?
Feb 15, 2005 12:03AM PST

I hope you do not think this is a stupid question, or questions, but! I am using the same system-- Windows 98SE with Outlook Express--I have a new computer with Windows XP waiting to be used but do not want to give up emails from my old computer. I understand and am familiar with Nero as that is what I use for my CD burning, but other than thinking that I would be using Nero to "copy data?" what do I do next? Then--after I have done this, can I just insert the CD in my new computer and have my emails appear? This is where I am stuck. If someone could help me by explaining how to do this using Nero as well as what I need to do once I have used Nero, to get the email to my new computer,I would really appreciate it. What I know about computers I have learned over the years,through trial and error along with the help of my son. I live in Canada and he recently moved to the U.K. so my "help" is no longer that accessible! Thank you for any help you can offer........J

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Sambos, You'll Need To 'Import' The Backups..
Feb 15, 2005 12:42AM PST

Once the files are burned to a CD, you'll probably want to "Import" the files to your new Outlook Express. The instructions for "Importing" stored message files are well documented in the Microsoft link posted by Roddy above. You'll insert the CD in the drive, then "Import" the backed up files from there. Here's that link again:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb%3BEN-US%3Bq270670

Hope this helps.

Grif

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outlook express backup
Feb 16, 2005 12:50PM PST

Hi

I understand if you have backed up the Application Data folder as your email backup, it may have DBX or MBX files which are not readable from the cd. Microsoft says that these are created by prior versions of Outlook Express version 4, and if you don't have version 4 they are not readable. So if you are using outlook express 6, how do you read the cd from the Application Data folder on the cd?
Thank you in advance

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Afterbase, My Outlook Express 6 Allows...
Feb 16, 2005 1:35PM PST

...the user to import message files from Outlook Express 4 or 6. If you happen to be importing from OE 5, you should be able to select the OE4 option and "browse" to the location of the backed up files. As Toni mentioned earlier, you will probably need to copy the backed up files from the CD to your desktop for the import to work well.

The small problem of importing dbx files is the very reason that I mentioned that I don't save "mail as mail". It's easier for me to save important messages as text files when necessary. Still, I find it unnecessary to save a lot of messages. Most e-mail just isn't that important and if it is, I save it in a permanent file type..

Hope this helps.

Grif

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EMAIL IMPORT INFO. THANKS!
Feb 17, 2005 3:26AM PST

Thanks very much, Grif. This is exactly what I would like to do with the files, I just did not know where and how to begin! Now I can start to experiment with all the info. I have been able to gather from this forum. Thanks again, much appreciated..........J

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My "New" Backup Procedure
Feb 16, 2005 9:54PM PST

Like Grif, I get very few e-mails of note. So,I have decided on a "Clean House" method. Those I want to save I immediately print or move to a backup file in "My Documents". I then delete and I keep my delete file empty.
Now all I have left to do is convince my wife she should do the same. But, inasmuch as she has her own identity, it will not effect me. (I got her started cleaning out her files at 550 messages. She is now down to 350. That's progress).

DC

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(NT) (NT) DC, Thanks For Posting Back
Feb 17, 2005 3:21AM PST
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backup all
Feb 10, 2007 11:05PM PST