You need OE to read the messages. You can copy them to a folder on the
desktop for instance, or create a new identity just for archiving purposes.
To save an entire folder to your HDD quickly is this. You can store them any
place you want, but I'll use the Desktop as an example.
Right click on the Desktop | New | Folder. Create as many as needed, and for
now, put them on the left side of the Desktop.
Open OE and drag the window to the right enough to see the folder you
created on the Desktop. Open the folder in OE and click on one message.
Ctrl+A will highlight them all. Left click on the messages and drag them to
the folder on the Desktop.
You can also be selective by holding the Ctrl key and just highlight certain
messages and then drag them to the folder on the Desktop.
Once you confirm they are in these folders, you can delete them from OE if
you wish, and follow up with a Compact All Folders.
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.
~~~
If you want to use a new identity, just create it and then import the
messages.
~~~
General precautions for Outlook Express:
Do not archive mail in default OE folders. They will eventually become
corrupt. Create your own user defined folders for storing mail and move your
mail to them. Empty Deleted Items folder regularly. Keep user created
folders under 100MB, and Default folders as empty as is feasible.
After you are done, follow up by compacting your folders manually while
working *offline* and do it often.
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.
Turn off e-mail scanning in your anti-virus program. It is a redundant layer
of protection that eats up CPUs and causes a multitude of problems such as
time-outs and account setting changes. Your up-to-date A/V program will
continue to protect you sufficiently. For more, see:
http://www.oehelp.com/OETips.aspx#3
In Tools | Options | Maintenance: Uncheck Compact messages in background and
leave it unchecked. {N/A if running XP/SP2}.
And backup often.
Backup & Restore:
http://www.insideoe.com/backup/
This is a great two click program:
Outlook Express Quick Backup (OEQB)
http://www.oehelp.com/OEBackup/Default.aspx