lost Outlook files after upgrade

[Susan]

I recently upgraded to Windows XP. Now, when I open my
Outlook Express, all of my email folders are gone and
only the prelimiary, initial folders are there. My
address book is intact. Can I retrieve all of my old
files (saved messages, etc)? Or are they all lost?
Susan

 

[t.cruise]

First see if the old Outlook Express folders containing the pre-upgrade email are still on
your drive. Search for *.dbx files (.dbx is the extension for the Outlook Express email
folders, e.g. Inbox.dbx, Sent Items.dbx). Make sure by the date and size of the .dbx
files that they are not new Outlook Express files, and that they are the ones you're
looking for. Once you've found them, take note of the path. Then open Outlook Express.

In Outlook Express click File menu/Import/Messages. When the wizard opens,
select Microsoft Outlook Express 6, click the Next button, select the option
to Import mail from an OE6 Store Directory, click the OK button, then use
the Browse button to give the path to the folder that has
the Outlook Express *.dbx files for the identity that you want to import
messages from.
--

T.C.
t__cruise@[NoSpam]hotmail.com
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[Stephen Harris]

I recently upgraded to Windows XP. Now, when I open my
Outlook Express, all of my email folders are gone and
only the prelimiary, initial folders are there. My
address book is intact. Can I retrieve all of my old
files (saved messages, etc)? Or are they all lost?
Susan

I think that you may have to turn on
show hidden files
in order to search and find the .dbx (email) files.

From Windows XP Help:

To display hidden files and folders

Open Folder Options in Control Panel.

On the View tab, under Hidden files and folders, click Show hidden
files and folders.

Notes

Hidden files and folders will appear dimmed to indicate they are
not typical items. Usually, hidden files are program or system
files that should not be deleted or changed. To display other
hidden files, clear the Hide protected operating system files
(Recommended) check box.

If you know the name of a hidden file or folder, you can search for it.

If you want to see all file name extensions, clear the Hide file
extensions for known file types check box.