Importing .dbx files into Windows Mail

My old XP machine died, but luckily I had just backed up everything. I had
backed up my messages from Outlook Express, but cannot remember what version
I had. They are all in .dbx format. When I try to import them into Windows
Mail using the only Outlook Express option (for version 6), it doesn't work.
I get an error message something to the effect that no messages can be found
or another program is running that has the required files open.

Will the import process only work for version 6 of OE? Anyone have any
ideas how to save these backed-up messages?

Thank you.

where did you put the .dbx files?
If they are on CD, you may have to copy them to your hard drive, and remove
the read-only attribute.
Make sure that you have all the files, including the folder.dbx.
When you try to import, pay close attention to the directory path... WM
sometimes puts an extra folder in the path.


"MonicaB" <MonicaB@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news6235D94-AFA3-40D8-9C80-855F4D5ECB6E@microsoft.com...
> My old XP machine died, but luckily I had just backed up everything. I had
> backed up my messages from Outlook Express, but cannot remember what
> version
> I had. They are all in .dbx format. When I try to import them into
> Windows
> Mail using the only Outlook Express option (for version 6), it doesn't
> work.
> I get an error message something to the effect that no messages can be
> found
> or another program is running that has the required files open.
>
> Will the import process only work for version 6 of OE? Anyone have any
> ideas how to save these backed-up messages?
>
> Thank you.

I have the same problem and I've the plethora articles here by the plethora
of people that have had the same problem.

I started out with Outlook .pst files and found that I can't import them
into Windows Mail unless I have Outlook installed on my machine.

So I imported the .pst into Outlook Express on teh old machine which created
a bunch of .dbx files.
I copied the .dbx files to a flash drive and made sure they were not
read-only.
I run the import wizard, selected 'Outlook Express 6', navigated to the
directory on the flash drive that contains the .dbx files but I get a
message 'No items match your search'.
Someone suggested that its a permissions problem that can be avoided by
copying the files to the desktop. I tried that - no luck.
Someone suggested that the Windows Mail navigator may be duplicating folder
names in the path. I don't see that happening.
Someone suggested a website, www.help.com, that didn't help at all.
I tried things like removing spaces in the path name of the store
directory - didn't help.
I made sure that the Folders.dbx existed in the store directory.
And I still have not imported any of the old mail.

But this stuff seems to work for some people. What's the deal. Does
anybody know what is really going on?


"Dave" <dave@roadrunner.com> wrote in message
news:e4Jaus5qHHA.4108@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> where did you put the .dbx files?
> If they are on CD, you may have to copy them to your hard drive, and
> remove the read-only attribute.
> Make sure that you have all the files, including the folder.dbx.
> When you try to import, pay close attention to the directory path... WM
> sometimes puts an extra folder in the path.
>
>
> "MonicaB" <MonicaB@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news6235D94-AFA3-40D8-9C80-855F4D5ECB6E@microsoft.com...
>> My old XP machine died, but luckily I had just backed up everything. I
>> had
>> backed up my messages from Outlook Express, but cannot remember what
>> version
>> I had. They are all in .dbx format. When I try to import them into
>> Windows
>> Mail using the only Outlook Express option (for version 6), it doesn't
>> work.
>> I get an error message something to the effect that no messages can be
>> found
>> or another program is running that has the required files open.
>>
>> Will the import process only work for version 6 of OE? Anyone have any
>> ideas how to save these backed-up messages?
>>
>> Thank you.
>

"MonicaB" <MonicaB@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news6235D94-AFA3-40D8-9C80-855F4D5ECB6E@microsoft.com...
> My old XP machine died, but luckily I had just backed up everything. I had
> backed up my messages from Outlook Express, but cannot remember what
> version
> I had. They are all in .dbx format. When I try to import them into
> Windows
> Mail using the only Outlook Express option (for version 6), it doesn't
> work.
> I get an error message something to the effect that no messages can be
> found
> or another program is running that has the required files open.
>
> Will the import process only work for version 6 of OE? Anyone have any
> ideas how to save these backed-up messages?
>
> Thank you.

See http://www.oehelp.com/backup.aspx#oe2wm
If the link takes you to the top of the page scroll down.

--
Frank Saunders, MS-MVP OE/WM
Do not send mail.