Just passing along some information

[Browne]

Just wanted to post here, something I found regarding Microsoft Outlook
Express 6 and having messages imported by Windows Mail.

Due to the older PC dying, I had to remove the harddrive and plug it into
the new PC which fortunately came with a removable harddrive bay.

Now when I did the import, I followed all the steps shown by the wizard.
During the conversion/copying tasks that took place, I had several window
pop-ups saying that 'not all files in the folder could be copied (or was it
imported?) - anyhow; once I checked the Windows Mail screen, I saw the new
folder Imported Mail, with many of the sub-folders below.

Those pop-up messages weren't kidding, not only was not all messages could
be imported, very few were at all.

I believe I finally tracked down the cause of it.
Every message that could not be seen at all, or were not imported to begin
with, had been ones that I had allowed Outlook Express 6 to compact, in
order to save disk space on the old machine.

Only those messages that had previously escaped being compacted were able to
be imported and viewed with Windows Mail.

I looked back through some documentation on Outlook Express, but could not
see if there was a method to 'un-compact' those messages prior to or during
an import by Windows Mail.


Hopes this at least helps someone who may be trying to figure out what went
on with their import of OE mail to Windows Mail.

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Now when I did the import, I followed all the steps shown by the wizard.

That was your first mistake. See...

HOW TO Migrate from Outlook Express to Windows Mail
http://www.oehelp.com/backup.aspx#oe2wm or...
http://www.vista4beginners.com/Migrate-from-Outlook-Express-to-Windows-Mail

 

[Browne]

Yep... thanks for the links.
I did see them and have tried them.
Went to both sites and did the steps I could. (old PC no longer in the land
of the living so only the harddrive survived.
I will just assume the dbx files are toast and drop the subject.

I will stick to my conclusion that compressed email messages cannot be
imported properly from an old OE6 directory; whereas the non-compressed file
messages did make the transition.

 

[Rainald Taesler]

I will just assume the dbx files are toast and drop the subject.

I will stick to my conclusion that compressed email messages cannot be
imported properly from an old OE6 directory; whereas the
non-compressed file messages did make the transition.

Objection Your Honour!
Seriously wrong assumption.

Compressing files under OE does not mean anything else but "pressing the
air out".
The DBX-files are just re-written without all of the un-necessary stuff
(deleted messages).
Except the latter after running the compression the DBXs are just the
same as before.

Having compressed DBX-files therefore is not of any influence on the
possibility to import them in WinMail.

AFAICS there are two zones of problems:
a) A missing or corrupt "Folders.dbx". As this one holds all of the
information in the mail-store's structures, the existence is crucial;
b) the buggy import feature in WinMail. Normally it needs several tries
to get at the proper folder level of the files to be imported (but pleas
don't ask me on any details; been there, done that successfully and
swore: "Never again" <bg>).

Rainald

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

I believe your conclusion is incorrect, Browne, unless you had not been
adhering to all of the caveats below when you were running OE. IOW a given
DBX file may have been damaged/corrupted before you tried to migrate it to
Windows Mail (especially likely if you're referring to Inbox.dbx, Sent
Items.dbx, Deleted Items.dbx or any other default DBX file), in which case
you'd have seen the same failure if you attempted to import it into another
OE identity.

General OE Caveats:

- Don't use Inbox or Sent Items to archive messages. Move them to local
folders created for this purpose.

- Empty Deleted Items folder daily.

- Frequently perform a manual compact of all OE folders while "working
offline". More at http://www.insideoe.com/files/maintain.htm

- Do not cancel Automatic Compacting, should it occur, and do not attempt to
close OE via Task Manager or shutdown your machine if Automatic Compacting
is taking place.

- Disable email scanning by your anti-virus application. It can cause
corruption (i.e., loss of messages) and provides no additional protection:

Why you don't need your anti-virus to scan your email
http://thundercloud.net/infoave/tutorials/email-scanning/index.htm

 

[Browne]

I agree that compressing the files should not have any bearing (provided
that the compressing utility can compress it correctly for the
de-compressing to be used , or, at the very least, the next generation
program can read the compressed files.

If just the un-necessary stuff has been removed, notepad should be able to
be used to view the data.. but it is more than just removing 'stuff'.

As far as the other idea that the folders.dbx file (or just many of the
other *.dbx files being corrupted, pretty good chance I guess.) The drive
from the dead PC (running XP and OE) was installed in the bay and the same
files that were able to be viewed the day before in OE mail, are no longer
viewable.
[I really think there should be an industry standard, so no one program is
required to edit data when a email catastrophe happens.]

Have tried 6 times a week since first having email setup on Vista... not
working now, so it's a dead issue.

Thanks for your replies though!
Appreciate it.

 

[Browne]

Thanks for the replies, sorry it was as long to answer you as it did for me
to answer Rainald.
I like that list you have below, been following that routine for deletions
since I started using email.. actually as far back as a thing called COCOS.
I don't really set aside a compact time, I let the system remind that it can
compact and I don't interrupt it once started.

I have gone to the thundercloud site and read the information about email
scanning and probable corruption.
Although that may have been what happened, it must have occurred within 24
hrs after checking message on OE and the next day when I had to replace the
PC (wouldn't power up). Did not experience a problem reading messages from
many of the folders I use to store mssgs in; until after I tried looking at
them from windows mail. Also, I can't 100% agree about the ineffectivity of
having an email scanner as it did catch several emessages as they came in.
Messages received after those that were trapped were able to be read. But,
each to his own.

I do appreciate the feedback, Thanks!

 

[vista transitional problems]

You are right, I came across a post re: Outlook express import to windows
mail on vista, and it noted if files compressed would not import.
unfortunately, i did not save the link.

But i agree with the ostensible attitude re: microsoft failing once again to
make a seamless transition with upgraded platform. you would think they
would have configured software to allow for importation from either outlook
or OE. Instead they only allowed for the later (outlook not compatible with
many versions of vista), and OE importation is a nightmare. i am just
flummoxed, by microsoft's seeming inability to get the most basic of user
friendly software.

I agree that compressing the files should not have any bearing (provided
that the compressing utility can compress it correctly for the
de-compressing to be used , or, at the very least, the next generation
program can read the compressed files.

If just the un-necessary stuff has been removed, notepad should be able to
be used to view the data.. but it is more than just removing 'stuff'.

As far as the other idea that the folders.dbx file (or just many of the
other *.dbx files being corrupted, pretty good chance I guess.) The drive
from the dead PC (running XP and OE) was installed in the bay and the same
files that were able to be viewed the day before in OE mail, are no longer
viewable.
[I really think there should be an industry standard, so no one program is
required to edit data when a email catastrophe happens.]

Have tried 6 times a week since first having email setup on Vista... not
working now, so it's a dead issue.

Thanks for your replies though!
Appreciate it.

Objection Your Honour!
Seriously wrong assumption.

Compressing files under OE does not mean anything else but "pressing the
air out".
The DBX-files are just re-written without all of the un-necessary stuff
(deleted messages).
Except the latter after running the compression the DBXs are just the
same as before.

Having compressed DBX-files therefore is not of any influence on the
possibility to import them in WinMail.

AFAICS there are two zones of problems:
a) A missing or corrupt "Folders.dbx". As this one holds all of the
information in the mail-store's structures, the existence is crucial;
b) the buggy import feature in WinMail. Normally it needs several tries
to get at the proper folder level of the files to be imported (but pleas
don't ask me on any details; been there, done that successfully and
swore: "Never again" <bg>).

Rainald

 

[Gary VanderMolen]

Outlook is not in the same class as OE/Windows Mail.
Those who had a need for Outlook are not likely to be satisfied
with the fewer features available in Windows Mail, so Microsoft did
not provide a direct upgrade path to go from Outlook to Windows Mail.
Outlook 2003 and later are fully compatible with Vista.

--
Gary VanderMolen, MS-MVP (Mail)

You are right, I came across a post re: Outlook express import to windows
mail on vista, and it noted if files compressed would not import.
unfortunately, i did not save the link.

But i agree with the ostensible attitude re: microsoft failing once again to
make a seamless transition with upgraded platform. you would think they
would have configured software to allow for importation from either outlook
or OE. Instead they only allowed for the later (outlook not compatible with
many versions of vista), and OE importation is a nightmare. i am just
flummoxed, by microsoft's seeming inability to get the most basic of user
friendly software.

I agree that compressing the files should not have any bearing (provided
that the compressing utility can compress it correctly for the
de-compressing to be used , or, at the very least, the next generation
program can read the compressed files.

If just the un-necessary stuff has been removed, notepad should be able to
be used to view the data.. but it is more than just removing 'stuff'.

As far as the other idea that the folders.dbx file (or just many of the
other *.dbx files being corrupted, pretty good chance I guess.) The drive
from the dead PC (running XP and OE) was installed in the bay and the same
files that were able to be viewed the day before in OE mail, are no longer
viewable.
[I really think there should be an industry standard, so no one program is
required to edit data when a email catastrophe happens.]

Have tried 6 times a week since first having email setup on Vista... not
working now, so it's a dead issue.

Thanks for your replies though!
Appreciate it.

Browne wrote:

I will just assume the dbx files are toast and drop the subject.

I will stick to my conclusion that compressed email messages cannot be
imported properly from an old OE6 directory; whereas the
non-compressed file messages did make the transition.

Objection Your Honour!
Seriously wrong assumption.

Compressing files under OE does not mean anything else but "pressing the
air out".
The DBX-files are just re-written without all of the un-necessary stuff
(deleted messages).
Except the latter after running the compression the DBXs are just the
same as before.

Having compressed DBX-files therefore is not of any influence on the
possibility to import them in WinMail.

AFAICS there are two zones of problems:
a) A missing or corrupt "Folders.dbx". As this one holds all of the
information in the mail-store's structures, the existence is crucial;
b) the buggy import feature in WinMail. Normally it needs several tries
to get at the proper folder level of the files to be imported (but pleas
don't ask me on any details; been there, done that successfully and
swore: "Never again" <bg>).

Rainald