Folder set "Read-Only" automatically SO Can't Import Msgs To Outlook Express

[Don Wash]

Hi All!

I have been experiencing this extremely frustrating problem today, on my
computer using the Windows XP Home operating system. What happens is that
all of a sudden, for no apparent reason, the folder setting gets set to
"Read-Only". When you right click on the folder, and click on properties,
you can see that "Read-Only" property is selected. Well, I don't want the
folder to be read only, so I uncheck the box, click on apply and then on
okay. Immediately after than, when I right click on the folder again, lo and
behold, the Read-Only box is checked again!!!

I researched on Google and many people are having same problems as me and
other people are suggesting that "Read-Only" on Folder means nothing to
Windows XP.

They are referring to MSKB Article:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;326549

But if that's true, why can't I import DBX files into Outlook Express (v6) ?
When I use Import Wizard in Outlook Express 6 to import DBX files that I
exported from another computer, it says << No messages can be found in this
folder or another application is running that has the required files open.
Please select another folder or try closing applications that may have files
open. >>

By looking at this MSKB Article: http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=252603,
it says <<This behavior can occur if the files that you try to import have
the read-only attribute set. The read-only attribute can be set if you copy
the .dbx files to a CD-ROM by using a CD-R or CD-RW device.>>

It is true that the folder that the DBX files located is set to "grayed"
checked. I can't removed no matter what. But many folks on the net have been
said that "it means nothing" to Windows.

So why can't I import DBX files to Outlook Express using Imports Wizard???

Please help me get out of frustration!!!

Many many thanks!!!

Don

 

[Phil]

It is true. The read-only mark on folders is meaningless.
Folders are not read-only. XP just marks all folders indeterminate by
default. It is a tri-state check box. Colored in is indeterminate, checked
is read-only, unchecked is normal. The folders are not read-only and should
work as normal. Just ignore the read-only box on folders.

Here is some info on it:

XP does this by design. In XP the read only attribute
is only used by explorer to see if the folder is a special or a system
folder. Read up on it:
For XP:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;326549

File permissions info:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;q308418



Sounds like you need to uncheck the .dbx files read-only mark, not the
folders read-only box that the .dbx file is in. When you copy a file off a
cdrom the file is always marked as read -only. Just right click the file
itself, properties, then uncheck the box. If that doesn't work, then it
sounds like the file is corrupt.

 

[David Candy]

As OL can't export messages (the command of that name sends them to Outlook) what exactly are you trying to import.

 

[Kath Adams]

Hi All!

I have been experiencing this extremely frustrating problem today, on
my computer using the Windows XP Home operating system. What happens
is that all of a sudden, for no apparent reason, the folder setting
gets set to "Read-Only". When you right click on the folder, and
click on properties, you can see that "Read-Only" property is
selected. Well, I don't want the folder to be read only, so I uncheck
the box, click on apply and then on okay. Immediately after than,
when I right click on the folder again, lo and behold, the Read-Only
box is checked again!!!

I researched on Google and many people are having same problems as me
and other people are suggesting that "Read-Only" on Folder means
nothing to Windows XP.

They are referring to MSKB Article:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;326549

But if that's true, why can't I import DBX files into Outlook Express
(v6) ? When I use Import Wizard in Outlook Express 6 to import DBX
files that I exported from another computer, it says << No messages
can be found in this folder or another application is running that
has the required files open. Please select another folder or try
closing applications that may have files open. >>

By looking at this MSKB Article:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=252603, it says <<This behavior
can occur if the files that you try to import have the read-only
attribute set. The read-only attribute can be set if you copy the
.dbx files to a CD-ROM by using a CD-R or CD-RW device.>>

It is true that the folder that the DBX files located is set to
"grayed" checked. I can't removed no matter what. But many folks on
the net have been said that "it means nothing" to Windows.

So why can't I import DBX files to Outlook Express using Imports
Wizard???

Please help me get out of frustration!!!

Many many thanks!!!

Don

Exporting is only for exporting to Outlook or Exchange, either of which
have to be installed for the export to work.
For all matters relating to backing up and importing your mail folders
in OE, use the following link.
http://insideoe.tomsterdam.com/backup/index.htm

 

[Don Wash]

Hi Phil!

Thanks for the reply. No, all DBX files are not checked "Read-Only". Only
the Folder it contained is.

And I didn't copy the DBX files from CD-ROM. I just copy from another
computer Outlook Express store.

Any ideas why this is happening?

Cheers,
Don

 

[Don Wash]

Hi David,

When I say "exported", I mean I manually copied the DBX files from another
computer's Outlook Express Message store folder. Then, I'm trying to import
these DBX files into Outlook Express using Import Messasges command.

Cheers,
Don

As OL can't export messages (the command of that name sends them to Outlook)
what exactly are you trying to import.

 

[Don Wash]

Hi David,

When I say "exported", I mean I manually copied the DBX files from another
computer's Outlook Express Message store folder. Then, I'm trying to import
these DBX files into Outlook Express using Import Messages command.

Also the link you've provided, I've already been there and read before.
Thank you for pointing out.

Anymore ideas why this is happening?

Cheers,
Don

 

[R. McCarty]

You don't have to import the messages. Just copy the .DBX files to
any permanent location you want, Like Mailbox/Username. Then
open your Outlook Express profile. Click Tools, Options,
Maintenance, Store Folder,Click Change and browse to the newly
created folder that has your old .dbx modules. Close Outlook Exp
and restart. It should automatically open and use those pre-existing
folders.

 

[Don Wash]

Hi McCarty,

Many thanks for your suggestion. The only problem is that the computer I'm
moving the data files to has got Outlook Express used for about 1 year and
it contains the Outlook Express data of its own. I need to merge the
exported DBX files with the existing data.

Will your method work in this case? Because I tried manually copying the DBX
files to the existing Outlook Express Data Folder (obtained from the
'Maintenance' tab in Options dialog) but when I restart Outlook Express,
Outlook Express does not recognize the newly copied DBX files.

Any more suggestions?

Cheers,
Don

 

[R. McCarty]

You can try this:

From the destination Outlook Express profile.
Right Click on Local Folders, Click New folder
For the name call it Old-Inbox, then make one
for Old-Sent. Make one for each of your original
folder (.dbx) you need to add.

Exit Outlook Express.
Make a copy of the original .dbx files to work with.
Rename each to Old-xxx.dbx

Find the Store folder, and remove the Old----.dbx
files.

Copy the renamed originals into your store folder.

Re-open Outlook Express and move the content from
the Old-xxx folders into your 1-year old ones.

 

[Jim Pickering]

Most likely because you did not include the old folders.dbx file from the
other computer that contains the enumeration of folders and other
information needed to complete an import. But all is not lost since there
are alternate methods of getting the files into Outlook Express. See this
link for a way: http://insideoe.tomsterdam.com/faqs/how.htm#importdbx
--
Jim Pickering, MVP-Outlook Express
Please reply only to newsgroup.

Hi David,

When I say "exported", I mean I manually copied the DBX files from another
computer's Outlook Express Message store folder. Then, I'm trying to
import
these DBX files into Outlook Express using Import Messages command.

Also the link you've provided, I've already been there and read before.
Thank you for pointing out.

Anymore ideas why this is happening?

Cheers,
Don

 

[Alex Nichol]

Thanks for the reply. No, all DBX files are not checked "Read-Only". Only
the Folder it contained is.

And I didn't copy the DBX files from CD-ROM. I just copy from another
computer Outlook Express store.

Your problem lies, as others say, in the method you are using to copy.
The use of the read only bit on folders BTW is to indicate to Explorer
that the folder has been 'customised'