can't import messages from outlook express 6.00.2800.1807 to winmail

[Frank]

I am trying to import my existing OE6 messages into winmail. I tried two
methods and both failed.

1. on vista: File -> Import -> Messages -> Microsoft Outlook Express 6
the choice, Import mail from OE6 Identity is grayed out so my only choice
is Import mail from an OE6 store directory.
So I get on my OE6 and click Tools -> Options -> Maintenance -> Store Folder
to find the OE6 file location.
Back on winmail I click Browse and work my way to that Outlook Express
folder
but it says No items match your search. I click Select Folder then Next and
get an error popup saying no messages could be found in this folder.
I can see the Store Folder and all the *.dbx files from Windows Explorer on
my vista system but the import tool cannot seem to.

2. On OE6: File -> Export -> Messages and created a huge Outlook.pst file.
I then copied that file to my vista system. Then
on vista: File -> Import -> Messages -> Microsoft Outlook Express 6
I click Browse and work my way to that Outlook.pst folder but the file is
not displayed. I get the same error message.
Again, using Windows Explorer I can see the file that I copied.

Thanks

 

[Frank Saunders, MS-MVP OE/WM]

I am trying to import my existing OE6 messages into winmail. I tried two
methods and both failed.

1. on vista: File -> Import -> Messages -> Microsoft Outlook Express 6
the choice, Import mail from OE6 Identity is grayed out so my only choice
is Import mail from an OE6 store directory.
So I get on my OE6 and click Tools -> Options -> Maintenance -> Store
Folder to find the OE6 file location.
Back on winmail I click Browse and work my way to that Outlook Express
folder
but it says No items match your search. I click Select Folder then Next
and get an error popup saying no messages could be found in this folder.
I can see the Store Folder and all the *.dbx files from Windows Explorer
on my vista system but the import tool cannot seem to.

2. On OE6: File -> Export -> Messages and created a huge Outlook.pst file.
I then copied that file to my vista system. Then
on vista: File -> Import -> Messages -> Microsoft Outlook Express 6
I click Browse and work my way to that Outlook.pst folder but the file is
not displayed. I get the same error message.
Again, using Windows Explorer I can see the file that I copied.

Thanks

you can't import from a PST file unless Outlook is installed and using that
PST file as its default.

Create a new folder in your Documents folder and copy all the DBX files to
that folder. Make sure you include Folders.dbx. Make sure the files are
not Read Only. Now try the import.

 

[Guest]

Help
I am so frustrated and upset and would really value help. I am reading all
of these messages and feel they assume much more knowledge than a basic user.
I have no idea what dbx means or how to do it. I am in tears. I archived my
outlook express just before my computer died and even that was very hard for
me to figure out how to do. What's the point if you're now saying I can't use
it. It's a pst file. I have no idea if that means there is no way to import
all of my folders and messages now. That just CAN'T be right. I'm so upset.
The Dell rep told me I would definitely be able to import anything from
outlook express. Can you please in layman's terms explain what you even mean
by saving something dbx. And how can I do it if the pst file only exists on
my external hard drive. Is it worth taking my old computer somewhere to see
if they can get anything off of it?

 

[Gary VanderMolen]

Outlook Express can not create a .PST file. Only Outlook can
do that. They are two completely separate programs. You need
to figure out which one it was before we can help you.

Gary VanderMolen

 

[Frank Saunders, MS-MVP OE/WM]

If you used Outlook Express on the old computer, see
http://www.oehelp.com/backup.aspx#oe2wm

 

[Guest]

I ran into the same thing. This is what I found. When you select import from
windows mail by default you click your way all the way to location where your
files are, nothing shows (the .dbx file mentioned in the other posts) go back
one level to the Outlook Express directory then hit the ok button. When I did
this mail started importing all my OE6 information.

 

[Guest]

I ran into the same thing. This is what I found. When you select import from
windows mail by default you click your way all the way to location where your
files are, nothing shows (the .dbx file mentioned in the other posts) go back
one level to the Outlook Express directory then hit the ok button. When I did
this mail started importing all my OE6 information.

 

[Frank]

I tried the advice in http://www.oehelp.com/backup.aspx#oe2wm yet Winmail
import still can't seem to recognize my .dbx files.
btw folders.dbx was the readonly file after a copy from my old computer but
unchecking that property didn't change import.

What else could be making these .dbx files unrecognizable to winmail?

 

[Frank Saunders, MS-MVP OE/WM]

I tried the advice in http://www.oehelp.com/backup.aspx#oe2wm yet Winmail
import still can't seem to recognize my .dbx files.
btw folders.dbx was the readonly file after a copy from my old computer
but
unchecking that property didn't change import.

What else could be making these .dbx files unrecognizable to winmail?

Did you make doubly sure it is not screwing up the path to the DBX files?
Are the DBX files Read Only?
Is Folders.DBX there?
How big are the files? If they are not bigger than 137 KB they may be
empty.

 

[Frank Saunders, MS-MVP OE/WM]

Thanks for your response.

Did you make doubly sure it is not screwing up the path to the DBX files?

The path to the copied .dbx files looks ok.

C:\temp\oe>dir folders.dbx
Volume in drive C has no label.
Volume Serial Number is 66BA-4FD5

Directory of C:\temp\oe

09/09/2007 02:45 PM 74,720 Folders.dbx
1 File(s) 74,720 bytes
However, import can't see them

Are the DBX files Read Only?
I checked all 39 .dbx files and none have Read-only checked.

Is Folders.DBX there?

yes

How big are the files? If they are not bigger than 137 KB they may be
empty.

The files range in size from 10 KB to 70 MB.



Frank

Did you make doubly sure it is not screwing up the path to the DBX files?
Are the DBX files Read Only?
Is Folders.DBX there?
How big are the files? If they are not bigger than 137 KB they may be
empty.

Move the DBX files to a new folder in your Documents folder and try again.
Make sure WinMail doesn't screw up the path. Sometimes it doubles one of
the folder names.