How do I import .dbx mail files

[Guest]

I had Outlook Express on old PC before it was sold and all my files were
saved as .dbx files onto CD-Rom now I have new laptop with Microsoft Office
Outlook 2003 but it only accepts .pst files! It won't accept my .dbx files
I've so much valuable info etc and I am soooooo mad that I can't access
them...

I've tried copying them into the e-mail files - importing them via the
wizard - but nothing works...

Can anyone help?

 

[ChrisB]

Don't panic - this is not a problem! You need to first import your files
into Outlook Express on your new PC (it comes with Internet Explorer).
Then, if you wish, you can export them into Outlook.

 

[Guest]

Thanks Chris!

I followed your advice and got some of the DBX files but not all... just the
inbox, draft and sent etc. But not the personal folders... Not sure if they
may be corrupt or?

 

[ChrisB]

Did you get them back into Outlook Express in total? Were you just having
problems importing them in total to Outlook?

 

[Guest]

Yes they are all in the outlook folder - I got the inbox and sent box
imported into Outlook Express no problem but nothing else...

 

[ChrisB]

So you are having problems getting back into Outlook Express (not Outlook)?

I am assuming you have missing sub-folders and address book?

Are you sure you backed them up correctly?

What methods are you using to import them back?

I'm not an Outlook Express expert (this is an Outlook Group) but have
successfully managed this a few times.

What errors are you getting?

Chris

 

[ChrisB]

This might be of help...? But let me know exactly what errors you are
getting and I will try and assist further. Definitely worth posting on OE
newsgroup too - they are very helpful there.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;270670

 

[Guest]

Ahem! I don't know what I did... I closed OE and reopened to try the Import
Wizard in OE again just to check what was being 'lifted' and ALL the
subfolders etc came up... and worked!

Just importing the lot into Office Outlook - am thrilled to have them all
back!!!

Many thanks Chris! Have a drink on me!

 

[ChrisB]

Brilliant! I'll have a G&T please!

Chris

Ahem! I don't know what I did... I closed OE and reopened to try the
Import
Wizard in OE again just to check what was being 'lifted' and ALL the
subfolders etc came up... and worked!

Just importing the lot into Office Outlook - am thrilled to have them all
back!!!

Many thanks Chris! Have a drink on me!

 

[Brian Tillman]

Ahem! I don't know what I did... I closed OE and reopened to try the
Import Wizard in OE again just to check what was being 'lifted' and
ALL the subfolders etc came up... and worked!

Just importing the lot into Office Outlook - am thrilled to have them
all back!!!

DON'T import messages from Outlook Express using Outlook. Rather, export
them to Outlook using Outlook Express. This will preserve the date stamps.

 

[ChrisB]

Yes, you're quite right - which is what I suggested originally but hadn't
spotted the error in his reply. However, suspect he has completed this
now - but hopefully has done it correctly!

 

[Guest]

This conversation sounds related to my issue, but I may be too ignorant to
know for sure... My issue is that I just got a new PC, with Outlook. I had
Outlook on the old PC (I don't think it was Outlook Express). Still have the
old PC. How do I get the mail I had saved or not yet deleted, address book,
etc. from the old PC to the new one? Simply copy some files? If so, which
ones, where might I find them and where should I save them on the new PC?
Any help would be much appreciated.

 

[Kathie M. Thomas]

You are most likely wanting the .pst file. Go to your Personal Folders in
Outlook, right click and look at the properties - you want the path that
tells you where it's located on your computer.

1. If you can connect the two computers you could then export from the old
one to the new one or import inside the new one from the old one.

2. Alternatively, burn the .pst file to CD and then copy it onto your new
computer in the same folder where the current version is - it will then pick
up all your Outlook information.

Note: if you have begun using the new one and already have emails there,
using the second way will overwrite that file for you. Using the first way
will add the information to your Outlook file.

Regards,

Kathie

 

[Guest]

Kathie,
Thanks. It turns out I had Outlook Express on the old PC. I have set up
Outlook on the new PC, and have email there already. Last night, after
posting my query, I opened up the old PC and copied a selection of files...
From within Outlook Express I did a File, Save As, for a few emails and
the Address Book (.WAB?), and saved them to a USB flash drive as .EML files.
I then was searching around for stuff to clean off the old PC and found some
..DBX files. Copied them to the flash drive too. Probably don't need those
DBX files.
Do you know if I can just copy these files to the right folder on the new
PC and use them? I don't have a way that I know of to connect the two PC's
together. Probably the only thing I really need is to keep a few old emails.
So, if I can't copy these files in without overwriting what I have already,
I'll just recreate the Address Book (it wasn't that big anyway).
Thanks a bunch for your help so far.

 

[Brian Tillman]

Thanks. It turns out I had Outlook Express on the old PC.

1) See www.insideoe.com for information on how to backup and restore OE.

 

[Guest]

I've got a new PC. I've got the old dbx files copied to a CD. I can't be
positive my identity is now the same as previously. I am unable to import the
files because the wizard can't see them. The dbx files are back on the hard
drive, no permissions problems. Any suggestions?

 

[Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]]

Open the .dbx files in Outlook Express and then export them from OE to
Outlook.

--
Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]

Post all replies to the group to keep the discussion intact. All
unsolicited mail sent to my personal account will be deleted without
reading.

After furious head scratching, noele asked:

| I've got a new PC. I've got the old dbx files copied to a CD. I can't
| be positive my identity is now the same as previously. I am unable to
| import the files because the wizard can't see them. The dbx files are
| back on the hard drive, no permissions problems. Any suggestions?
|
| "Jules" wrote:
|
|| I had Outlook Express on old PC before it was sold and all my files
|| were saved as .dbx files onto CD-Rom now I have new laptop with
|| Microsoft Office Outlook 2003 but it only accepts .pst files! It
|| won't accept my .dbx files I've so much valuable info etc and I
|| am soooooo mad that I can't access them...
||
|| I've tried copying them into the e-mail files - importing them via
|| the wizard - but nothing works...
||
|| Can anyone help?

 

[Guest]

Thanks Milly but I haven't got that far yet. I can't get OE to recognise them
and that's the crux of the matter.

 

[Gordon]

Thanks Milly but I haven't got that far yet. I can't get OE to
recognise them and that's the crux of the matter.

Do you get a message that says something like "this is not a store folder or
the files are in use"? Check whether the dbx files you have copied to your
HDD include one called "folders.dbx". if that file is NOT there then there
is a different procedure to get the files into OE. If that file IS there,
then make sure that you have removed the "Read-Only" attribute from all the
files.

HTH

 

[Brian Tillman]

I've got a new PC. I've got the old dbx files copied to a CD. I can't
be positive my identity is now the same as previously. I am unable to
import the files because the wizard can't see them. The dbx files are
back on the hard drive, no permissions problems. Any suggestions?

http://www.insideoe.com/