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Question

How to Move Outlook Express emails to New Computer?

Feb 11, 2012 11:48PM PST

Hi,
I have emails stored in Outlook Express on an old desktop computer. I want to get rid of the computer but before doing so I need to retrieve documents, photos and emails. I can just about figure out how to move the docs and photos to a memory stick but the thought of moving the outlook express emails fills me with dread. I never could figure out how to backup Outlook Express emails and once lost all my emails when the computer crashed.
The system on my new laptop doesn't support Outlook Express. I'm hoping some kind person(s) here can give me a dummy's guide to moving my emails.
I'm a techno idiot whose understanding of abbreviated terms starts and ends with "OS = Operating System" and "LOL = Laughs out Loud" so simple language using whole words would be very much appreciated.

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Answer
Move Outlook Express emails to new computer.
Feb 12, 2012 12:09AM PST

1. Find the Windows folder (in My Computer or Windows Explorer) where your mail folders are stored. That are Windows files with the extension .dbx, for example Inbox.dbx. It helps to set the folder options in Explorer to NOT hide extensions of known filetypes, so you see that .dbx.
2. Then copy the WHOLE folder to your memory stick.
3. If you prefer (but it isn't necessary) copy that WHOLE folder from your memory stick to the hard disk of your computer. Then they are there. Problem solved.

The next step might be to import those mails in your new email program. But you didn't tell which one you downloaded and installed, so I can't give detailed instructions for that. Common choices are (1) Windows Live Mail (part of the Windows Live Essentials suite of programs (of which I happen to use none myself, except the browser add-on Silverlight, which is a separare download also), or (2) Mozilla's Thunderbird. Then there's incredimail (liked by some people, but mostly known in these forums for the problems and issues it has) and a few other older mail programs.

See, no abbrevation at all!

And, by the way, for Windows 8 there's only a developers preview available for a rather limited number of people. The 'consumer preview' will be available within one month. If I were you I shouldn't download it.

Kees

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Importing Old Mail to New Computer
Feb 12, 2012 7:38PM PST

Thanks you, Kees, for your very clear instructions. Foolishly, I hadn't thought this out and it was only when you mentioned importing the mails that I realised the full implications of Windows not supporting Outlook Express.