how to migrate OE to Win 7 world

[ps56k]

I have XP/SP3 and run Outlook Express 6.0 for all my email.

I have lots of history, with several years worth of email, attachments,
etc...
All the years worth of emails are in folders,
with additional folders for various emails activities.

Before I move from XP to Win 7,
I want to make sure I have a clearly defined path to "something"
that will be able to import my OE message store files (with their embedded
attachments)
and be able to re-populate my message folders and existing structure...

Pointers ??

 

[Bruce Hagen]

I have XP/SP3 and run Outlook Express 6.0 for all my email.

I have lots of history, with several years worth of email, attachments,
etc...
All the years worth of emails are in folders,
with additional folders for various emails activities.

Before I move from XP to Win 7,
I want to make sure I have a clearly defined path to "something"
that will be able to import my OE message store files (with their embedded
attachments)
and be able to re-populate my message folders and existing structure...

Pointers ??

In Outlook Express, compact you folders first.


Click on Outlook Express at the top of the folder tree so no folders are
open. Then: File | Work Offline (or double click Working Online in the
Status Bar). File | Folder | Compact all folders. Don't touch anything until
the compacting is completed.


Compact Your OE Folders:
http://www.insideoe.com/files/maintain.htm#compact



Transferring data from Outlook Express to Windows Live Mail:


For Messages:


Copy the *ENTIRE* OE message store folder to a flash drive. (Folders.dbx
must be included). Place this on the Desktop or other location on the
machine using WLMail.


V-2009: Open WLMail and: File | Import | Messages | Microsoft Outlook
Express 6 and point to where you saved it.


V-2011/2012: Menu Button | Import Messages | Microsoft Outlook Express 6 and
point to where you saved it.


OE Message Store Location:


In OE: Tools | Options | Maintenance | Store Folder will reveal the location
of your Outlook Express files. Write the location down and navigate to it in
Windows Explorer or, copy and paste it into Start | Run.


In WinXP the OE user files (DBX and WAB) are by default marked as hidden. To
view these files in Windows Explorer, you must enable Show Hidden Files and
Folders under Start | Control Panel | Folder Options Icon | View, or in
Windows Explorer | Tools | Folder Options | View.


Note: If any DBX file is over 300MB, go back into OE and move some of the
messages from the related folder to a new user created folder and compact
again to get the file size down.


For Addresses:


Open the Address Book in OE and File | Export | Address Book (wab) and save
it to the Desktop. Copy to a flash drive. Place this on the Desktop or other
location on the machine using WLMail.


For WLMail 2009: Open the Contacts list in WLMail, (Go | Contacts on the
Menu Bar), and File | Import | Windows Address Book (wab) and point to where
you saved it.


For WLMail 2011/2012: Switch to the contacts window (click the address book
icon at the foot of the folder pane, or press Ctrl-3). Click the Import
button, select Windows Address Book (wab) and point to where you saved it.


Note: If you use a CD or DVD instead of a flash drive, after placing on the
new machine you must remove the Read Only attribute in Properties before you
import.

 

[Bruce Hagen]

In Outlook Express, compact you folders first.


Click on Outlook Express at the top of the folder tree so no folders are
open. Then: File | Work Offline (or double click Working Online in the
Status Bar). File | Folder | Compact all folders. Don't touch anything
until the compacting is completed.


Compact Your OE Folders:
http://www.insideoe.com/files/maintain.htm#compact



Transferring data from Outlook Express to Windows Live Mail:


For Messages:


Copy the *ENTIRE* OE message store folder to a flash drive. (Folders.dbx
must be included). Place this on the Desktop or other location on the
machine using WLMail.


V-2009: Open WLMail and: File | Import | Messages | Microsoft Outlook
Express 6 and point to where you saved it.


V-2011/2012: Menu Button | Import Messages | Microsoft Outlook Express 6
and point to where you saved it.


OE Message Store Location:


In OE: Tools | Options | Maintenance | Store Folder will reveal the
location of your Outlook Express files. Write the location down and
navigate to it in Windows Explorer or, copy and paste it into Start | Run.


In WinXP the OE user files (DBX and WAB) are by default marked as hidden.
To view these files in Windows Explorer, you must enable Show Hidden Files
and Folders under Start | Control Panel | Folder Options Icon | View, or
in Windows Explorer | Tools | Folder Options | View.


Note: If any DBX file is over 300MB, go back into OE and move some of the
messages from the related folder to a new user created folder and compact
again to get the file size down.


For Addresses:


Open the Address Book in OE and File | Export | Address Book (wab) and
save it to the Desktop. Copy to a flash drive. Place this on the Desktop
or other location on the machine using WLMail.


For WLMail 2009: Open the Contacts list in WLMail, (Go | Contacts on the
Menu Bar), and File | Import | Windows Address Book (wab) and point to
where you saved it.


For WLMail 2011/2012: Switch to the contacts window (click the address
book icon at the foot of the folder pane, or press Ctrl-3). Click the
Import button, select Windows Address Book (wab) and point to where you
saved it.


Note: If you use a CD or DVD instead of a flash drive, after placing on
the new machine you must remove the Read Only attribute in Properties
before you import.
--

BTW: That's assuming you choose WLMail. Win7 does not come with an e-mail
client as a part of the OS.

 

[ps56k]

tnx for the pointers...

I'm pretty familiar with OE,
and actually moved the Store files to be under My Docs.

Just not sure how the WL email software handles the Import... since I don't
have it.
Does it recognize the Folders info and re-create all the same structures ?
Also - what about all the embedded attachements, message style formatting,
etc

I seem to recall another email migration where only the text came across,
and it was only in pure text mode - no attachments, no formatting, nothing..
That's what has me scared...

Lastly - the message Store also has all the .DBX files for the "newsreader"
feature..
Do I need to delete all those prior to the Import, or are they just not
recognized and left alone ?

 

[ps56k]

tnx for the pointers...

I'm pretty familiar with OE,
and actually moved the Store files to be under My Docs.

Just not sure how the WL email software handles the Import... since I
don't have it.
Does it recognize the Folders info and re-create all the same structures ?
Also - what about all the embedded attachements, message style formatting,
etc

I seem to recall another email migration where only the text came across,
and it was only in pure text mode - no attachments, no formatting,
nothing..
That's what has me scared...

Lastly - the message Store also has all the .DBX files for the
"newsreader" feature..
Do I need to delete all those prior to the Import, or are they just not
recognized and left alone ?

one more thing popped into my head -

After Importing - how are the email message headers ?
Is all the original email header info retained, or somehow changed during
the Import ?
ie - at least - To, From, CC, Date, Subject, etc -

 

[Bruce Hagen]

one more thing popped into my head -

After Importing - how are the email message headers ?
Is all the original email header info retained, or somehow changed during
the Import ?
ie - at least - To, From, CC, Date, Subject, etc -

Keeping in mind I don't use WLMail, but have tried it, the messages *should*
all import fine in their respective folders. They would be found in Imported
Folders under Storage Folders.

The attachnents and formatting should be fine as long as the settings are
the same in WLMail. Headers should be OK as well.

AFAIK, Newsgroups will not import.

There is a WLMail newsgroup where you will find people with more knowledge
than I have.

microsoft.public.windows.live.mail.desktop

 

[John Williamson]

I have XP/SP3 and run Outlook Express 6.0 for all my email.

I have lots of history, with several years worth of email, attachments,
etc...
All the years worth of emails are in folders,
with additional folders for various emails activities.

Before I move from XP to Win 7,
I want to make sure I have a clearly defined path to "something"
that will be able to import my OE message store files (with their embedded
attachments)
and be able to re-populate my message folders and existing structure...

Pointers ??

Thunderbird. It will import all your e-mails from OE6 and keep the
folder structure.

 

[Bob Henson]

tnx for the pointers...

I'm pretty familiar with OE,
and actually moved the Store files to be under My Docs.

Just not sure how the WL email software handles the Import... since I don't
have it.
Does it recognize the Folders info and re-create all the same structures ?
Also - what about all the embedded attachements, message style formatting,
etc

I seem to recall another email migration where only the text came across,
and it was only in pure text mode - no attachments, no formatting, nothing..
That's what has me scared...

Lastly - the message Store also has all the .DBX files for the "newsreader"
feature..
Do I need to delete all those prior to the Import, or are they just not
recognized and left alone ?

Whatever you do, don't use Windows Live Mail. It is the worst heap of
rubbish on the computing planet, apart from Windows 8. Thunderbird is a
good mail and newsgroup client, and will import the mail automatically
from OE. There is loads of information onlineas to how to copy across
the profile and data if you are doing a clean install.

 

[philo]

Thunderbird. It will import all your e-mails from OE6 and keep the
folder structure.

Yep, that's exactly what I would have suggested.


To the OP...do NOT delete your .dbx files!

 

[Ian Jackson]

Yep, that's exactly what I would have suggested.

Thunderbird is an excellent mail/news client (especially if you add a
few addons and extensions).

I've done the transfer from OE (and from Demon's 'Turnpike') to
Thunderbird on both XP and W7 laptops. From memory, OE has a build-in
export tool. It's then easy to import the exported data into Thunderbird
on a different PC (say, via a memory stick).

I forget whether later versions of Thunderbird 'as is' can import the OE
data, or whether you first have to install the extension
'ImportExportTools':
https://nic-nac-project.org/~kaosmos/mboximport-en.html

To the OP...do NOT delete your .dbx files!

Unfortunately, no one seems to have come up with a way of transferring
newsgroup postings.

 

[Rob]

Yep, that's exactly what I would have suggested.


To the OP...do NOT delete your .dbx files!

And the OP can install Thunderbird to his current XP system and test
whether the import works as expected (and if he likes the way TB
works in general), before committing.

 

[John Williamson]

And the OP can install Thunderbird to his current XP system and test
whether the import works as expected (and if he likes the way TB
works in general), before committing.

Now, where's the fun in doing that? No sense of adventure, some
people.

 

[Ian Jackson]

Now, where's the fun in doing that? No sense of adventure, some
people.

I've had Thunderbird running in parallel with Turnpike for around 18
months, and I'm still not sure if it works 'as expected'. I'm still
discovering what it can - and can't - do. If I ever do get bored, there
seem to be an almost infinite number of Thunderbird addons to play with.

 

[John Williamson]

I've had Thunderbird running in parallel with Turnpike for around 18
months, and I'm still not sure if it works 'as expected'. I'm still
discovering what it can - and can't - do. If I ever do get bored, there
seem to be an almost infinite number of Thunderbird addons to play with.

Yes, you can make work exactly the way you wish. It can probably look
and act just like OE6 if you wish....

 

[Wolf K]

I have XP/SP3 and run Outlook Express 6.0 for all my email.

I have lots of history, with several years worth of email, attachments,
etc...
All the years worth of emails are in folders,
with additional folders for various emails activities.

Before I move from XP to Win 7,
I want to make sure I have a clearly defined path to "something"
that will be able to import my OE message store files (with their embedded
attachments)
and be able to re-populate my message folders and existing structure...

Pointers ??

I assume you are installing W7 on the same machine as your present XP.
The W7 install gives you the option of keeping existing programs and
data, but glitches do occasionally happen.
My advice: create a data partition, or buy an external HDD, and back up
all data, including the OE stuff.

See this for OE specific back-up:
http://www.backup4all.com/kb/how-to-backup-outlook-express-emails-and-settings-122.html

Whatever OE-specific advice you follow, back up the OE folder to DVD
first. Search on "Outlook Express back up" for software and tips.

..

 

[s|b]

Thunderbird. It will import all your e-mails from OE6 and keep the
folder structure.

+1

Not only can you use TB's profile folder to migrate to Windows, it will
also work under Linux and MacOS. (And, under Windows, it's very easy to
create a portable TB with that same profile folder.)

 

[Ken Springer]

Whatever you do, don't use Windows Live Mail. It is the worst heap of
rubbish on the computing planet, apart from Windows 8. Thunderbird is a
good mail and newsgroup client, and will import the mail automatically
from OE. There is loads of information onlineas to how to copy across
the profile and data if you are doing a clean install.

+1 regarding Windows Live Mail.

--
Ken

Mac OS X 10.8.3
Firefox 20.0
Thunderbird 17.0.5
LibreOffice 4.0.1.2

 

[...winston]

one more thing popped into my head -

After Importing - how are the email message headers ?
Is all the original email header info retained, or somehow changed during
the Import ?
ie - at least - To, From, CC, Date, Subject, etc -

Folders
- WLM, unlike OE, provides a complete and unique set of folders for
each email account (Inbox, Sent items, Deleted items, Draft, Junk email).
- All email accounts use one common Outbox

If you are looking for the same type of folder structure in OE where all
accounts use the same Inbox, Sent, Deleted, Draft etc...the WLM is
probably not the best choice.

On the other hand if you have a Hotmail type account (Hotmail, Live,
Msn, Outlook.com) and prefer syncable folders and messages with exact
mirroring of the same folders present in the Hotmail/Outlook.com web UI
then WLM would be one of the few email clients that meet that intent
(the only other client to do so is Outlook 07/10 with the Hotmail
Connector or Outlook 2013).

Imo, as a WLM user I have never been a fan or recommend importing a
large volume of previously downloaded nntp messages stored in OE's DBX
files into WLM....the exception would importing your OE nntp Sent Items
into WLM for archival purposes.

WLM retains the email header info when importing from OE's dbx message
store.

It will be necessary, if you do choose WLM to create the email accounts
in WLM. In lieu of creating them anew, export the OE email accounts to a
*.iaf file and use that file to import the account into WLM (all
settings will be retained though it will be necessary to enter your
password data and instruct WLM to save it).

Make your decision wisely....if you wish exact OE-like UI (folders,
threading, sorting) then WLM is probably not your best choice. If you
use and prefer syncable Hotmail message and folders with the account in
the web UI, syncable Contacts and Calendar, and the ability to upload
Photos to a Hotmail type account provided 7GB SkyDrive (shareable to
others or private to yourself) then WLM is good choice.

 

[ps56k]

Keeping in mind I don't use WLMail, but have tried it, the messages
*should* all import fine in their respective folders. They would be found
in Imported Folders under Storage Folders.

The attachnents and formatting should be fine as long as the settings are
the same in WLMail. Headers should be OK as well.

AFAIK, Newsgroups will not import.

There is a WLMail newsgroup where you will find people with more knowledge
than I have.

microsoft.public.windows.live.mail.desktop

tnx for the info - I'll look around at the various discussions and comments.

 

[Zanqeutil]

ps56k schreef:

tnx for the info - I'll look around at the various discussions and comments.

I would recommend to use Thunderbird Portable to import everything from OE.

You can first install Thunderbird Portable on the XP computer.
It will install Thunderbird the program and the profile in one folder.
http://portableapps.com/apps/internet/thunderbird_portable

Use Thunderbird's import wizzard to import everything from your Outlook
Express profile.Account settings,E-mail and adressbook.

When done you can copy Thunderbird Portable to an USB stick.
After that you can copy Thunderbird Portable to the new Windows 7 PC.

Tutorial:
How to Import Mail from Outlook Express in Mozilla Thunderbird.
5 pictures (Step by Step Screenshot Walkthrough)

http://email.about.com/od/mozillath...om_Outlook_Express_in_Mozilla_Thunderbird.htm

Zanqeutil