How do I Backup Windows Mail?

[Guest]

How do I backup my mail messages from Windows Mail? My email messages are
vital and I want to make sure they are backed up periodically. The system
used for XP doesn't seem to work in Vista.

 

[Dustin Harper]

You can go to File | Export | Messages | Microsoft Windows Mail, select a
location, and let it go. Save that to a flash disk, and you're good. You can
import them if you have any issues.

 

[Guest]

I followed these directions but received a message saying the export failed.
I tried creating a desktop folder and tried other locations and only received
failure messages. What location would work to save the exported file?

 

[Guest]

I also tried to export to a blank CD. The error message said the export
directory must be an empty directory. I cannot back up me email messages
using export as directed. Please advise.
--
Lorraine

I followed these directions but received a message saying the export failed.
I tried creating a desktop folder and tried other locations and only received
failure messages. What location would work to save the exported file?

 

[Dave]

I just tried to another hard drive, and it wouldn't save to the root, so I
typed "mail" in the search box, and it created a directory named Mail and
exported the messages just fine.
Perhaps the CD wasn't formatted, or you need to create a directory on it.

 

[Guest]

Where should I save the exported file? I continue to receive error messages
that say that the file can only be saved to an empty directory. I have
created empty file folders but cannot save. Where would I find an empty
directory? I tried typing "mail" in the search box but only came up with
all my mail files on the C drive.

 

[Dave]

File - Export - Messages - Microsoft Windows Mail - Next
Location-Browse
in the browse window, select another drive, like D, E, F, etc.
right-click, select New - Folder
and it will create a new empty folder (you can rename it)
select that folder and click on Next
select either All Folders, or Selected Folders (hold ctrl key down &
select) - Next

Where should I save the exported file? I continue to receive error
messages
that say that the file can only be saved to an empty directory. I have
created empty file folders but cannot save. Where would I find an empty
directory? I tried typing "mail" in the search box but only came up with
all my mail files on the C drive.

 

[Guest]

Thank you. That was very clear but I received an error message that export
failed. Any other ideas?

 

[Dave]

at what point did you get the error?
were you able to create a directory? you may have a permission problem.
are you still trying to export to CD? you may have a space problem.

Thank you. That was very clear but I received an error message that export
failed. Any other ideas?

 

[DanR]

Does the error message have a "Next" button? If so... ignore the error,
click "Next"... browse to your empty folder and etc.
The export command remembers the last folder you attempted to export to and
if it doesn't exist you get an error message.
Once you select the destination folder you'll see message this folder is
empty. Click "Select Folder" and follow along.
As a test I created a folder on my desktop and exported my inbox to it.
Worked fine.

Thank you. That was very clear but I received an error message that export
failed. Any other ideas?

 

[Guest]

I was able to creat a file folder on the CD and received the error message
after clicking on next to transfer the data. The CD is blank. I deleted the
file folder after several failures.

 

[Guest]

There was no next button on the error message.

I have had two error messages...one telling me that the directory is not
empty on an empty file folder. I received this error message when I tried to
export the messages to an empty folder on my desktop and when I tried to
export the messages to a blank CD. The other message was simply a failure to
transfer.

I appreciate your attempts to help. I don't understand why you are able
make this work when I cannot.

 

[DanR]

Just did another test and created a new folder on the desktop. I dragged a
photo into that folder. I then successfully exported my inbox into that
folder. So the folder does not need to be empty. Tell us exactly what error
messages you are receiving. To the word. And what buttons are available to
click on when you receive the error message. Tell us your exact procedure to
the letter.
Try exporting only a single mail folder like your inbox.

 

[Guest]

Here is what I did, step by step, trying twice and getting two different
error messages:
1. Created new folder on desktop, named it Mail.
2. In Windows Mail: File-Export-Messages-Microsoft Windows Mail-Next
(there is no option to select inbox only)
3. Browse
4. Selected Mail folder on desktop--C:\Users\Lorraine\Desktop\Mail
5. Next
6. Error message: "Export Messages: The message export has failed."
7. Click OK and browse again, this time going to Computer
8. Selected New Folder on empty CD in DVD RW Drive (F
9. F:\ is in browse box
10. Next
11. Error message: "Export Messages: The export directory must be in an
empty directory. Please Select an empty directory and try again."

Thanks again for your help.

 

[DanR]

Here is what I did, step by step, trying twice and getting two different
error messages:
1. Created new folder on desktop, named it Mail.
2. In Windows Mail: File-Export-Messages-Microsoft Windows Mail-Next
(there is no option to select inbox only)
3. Browse
4. Selected Mail folder on desktop--C:\Users\Lorraine\Desktop\Mail

At this point I do not get a Next button. I get a message that says "This
folder is empty".
I then click on button "Select Folder". (even though in theory that's what
I've already done)
Then I see a window headed "Location of Messages" with my path displayed to
empty folder.
I then click "Next".
This is where I select which mail folders to export and click "Next".
Finish.

 

[Guest]

I followed all of Dan's steps, going through the repeat select folder step
and getting the path displayed to the empty folder. But after I click "Next"
I get the error message "The error export has failed." Why would Dan get a
different result than I?

 

[Dave]

I thought it may be a permissions problem, but if you can create a Mail
folder on the desktop, you should be able to save to it...

I think it must have something to do with selecting the folder.
Step 6 should ask you which folders to export.

In step 4, does the path in the box show "C:\Users\Lorraine\Desktop\Mail" ?
or "C:\Users\Lorraine\Desktop\Desktop"?

in step 9, the path should be "F:\New Folder", if that is what you selected.

 

[Guest]

Yes, I tried it again and made sure I saved it to "F:\New Folder", but
still received error message that the export failed.

 

[Dave]

Well, I'm running out of ideas here... sorry.

Are you having any other problems with Windows Mail?
There seem to lots of problems with messages getting stuck in the Inbox or
Outbox, mostly thought to be due to antivirus email scanning.
I guess you could disable email scanning, if you have it working.

If you have any other trouble, you might want to post over in the Mail
newsgroup,
microsoft.public.windows.vista.mail

Also, there is a replacement for Windows Mail currently out (in beta) called
Windows Live Mail.
It seems to be working better.
http://get.live.com/betas/maildesktop_betas

it's newsgroup is,
microsoft.public.windows.vista.live.mail.desktop

 

[Guest]

Thanks for giving it a good try. My windows mail program works generally
well. The only problem I see (other than the problem exporting) is that it
doesn't send and receive when opening even though that option is checked. It
is annoying but not a major problem.

Backing up my mail is critical since I am very dependent on some old
messages and I hope to find a way to do this eventually.