Importing mail from Outlook Express into Outlook

[Guest]

I am a self-employed professional working from home. I use Windows XP and
Office XP which are installed in both a desktop and a laptop machine. I use
the desktop as my main storage base, and take the desktop with me when I
travel on my business. I use a network connection to move files between the
two machines. I use Outlook Express for email and I have several very large
email folders which are important data bases for my work. Moving email
beweeen the machines is the most difficult bit. I decided recently to
switch to Outlook instead, thinking it would make this easier. I started the
switch with the desktop but when I imported my mail from Outlook Express (on
the same machine) it was seriously messed up--hundreds of messages showed my
name as the sender, and they were all stamped with the same date--last
Sunday, when I carried out the import. Should I stick with Outlook Express
or can this problem with Outlook be fixed?

 

[Gordon]

I am a self-employed professional working from home. I use Windows XP and
Office XP which are installed in both a desktop and a laptop machine. I use
the desktop as my main storage base, and take the desktop with me when I
travel on my business. I use a network connection to move files between the
two machines. I use Outlook Express for email and I have several very large
email folders which are important data bases for my work. Moving email
beweeen the machines is the most difficult bit. I decided recently to
switch to Outlook instead, thinking it would make this easier. I started the
switch with the desktop but when I imported my mail from Outlook Express (on
the same machine) it was seriously messed up--hundreds of messages showed my
name as the sender, and they were all stamped with the same date--last
Sunday, when I carried out the import. Should I stick with Outlook Express
or can this problem with Outlook be fixed?

yes it can be fixed - delete the pst file in Outlook and make a new
empty one. Then, do NOT "import" in outlook, but *export* in Outlook
express.

 

[Guest]

Gordon, thanks very much. But where can I find the pst file? I searched the
C drive with no result.

Peter Kelly

 

[Gordon]

Gordon, thanks very much. But where can I find the pst file? I searched the
C drive with no result.

Peter Kelly

:

You have to enable Hidden files. Either go to Advanced Preferences in
"Search" or in Windows Explorer go to Tools-Folder Options-View

HTH

 

[Guest]

eThank you for all your help. I'v managed to import everything successfully
now. Could I ask your opinion on the switch from OE to Outlook? Do you
think it makes sense given my requirements? Will it be easier for me to pass
mail beween the two machines?

 

[Gordon]

eThank you for all your help. I'v managed to import everything successfully
now. Could I ask your opinion on the switch from OE to Outlook? Do you
think it makes sense given my requirements? Will it be easier for me to pass
mail beween the two machines?

:

yes it will - just copy the pst file from one to the other. Do NOT
however, overwrite the original pst file on either machine. Put the copy
somewhere else and in Outlook just go to File-Open-Outlook Data File.
There are other methods such as using Off-line Files on the laptop but
that gets slightly complicated as pst files have to be deliberately
included by a special method.

 

[Guest]

Gordon, thanks again. This site seems to have been down for several days, so
I'm only now getting back to you.

Another question: each time I go on or return from a trip, do I have to copy
the entire pst file from one machine to another? That sounds as if I will be
using up more an more of the storage on the two computers with pst files
which are very similar to each other. Is it not possible to open up the pst
file in My Documents into my individual project folders?--then I would only
have to copy one or two folders across each time?

I am embarrassed by all the time you are giving me on this--many thanks.

Peter Kelly