transferring folders and messages?

[Alsenor]

I recently needed to reinstall the OS on our second machine (running XP),
and saved the .wab file on a flash stick.
I also copied the whole Outlook Express folder, and the identity file in the
hope of recovering folders and messages onto the new installation.
It was unreadable when called upon for import!

I have repeatedly failed to salvage stored messages for import into a new
OS, and would love to learn a sound method to do it.
Planning a clean install of W7 on my own computer, I need to make sure to
keep access to all old messages of Windows Mail, which does not exist in W7.
Who knows and can share this?

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

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

 

[Gary VanderMolen \(MVP\)]

The newsgroup to which you posted is dedicated to supporting the
Windows Mail program.
First you talk about Outlook Express, and then you say Windows Mail.
So which is it? If you have trouble reinstalling on your XP machine
you need to consult the OE newsgroup.

 

[Alsenor]

I cited examples of previous import problems with OE, then asked for help to
safely salvage my Windows Mail history for import into a planned W7
installation.

The newsgroup to which you posted is dedicated to supporting the
Windows Mail program.
First you talk about Outlook Express, and then you say Windows Mail.
So which is it? If you have trouble reinstalling on your XP machine
you need to consult the OE newsgroup.

 

[Gary VanderMolen \(MVP\)]

OK, but too much (unrelated) history can confuse us responders.

The best way to handle this is to upgrade from Windows Mail to
Windows Live Mail while still running on Vista. Windows Live Mail
will automatically import all your Windows Mail data. Then use this
free third party utility to back up all your Windows Live Mail data :

http://www.staticbackup.com/windows-live-mail-backup/
http://www.staticbackup.com/products.htm#swmbf

The same utility will restore all the WLM data to the new Win7 PC.
It does not transfer contacts, but you can easily copy and paste
the folder C:\Users\username\Contacts from your Vista machine to
your Windows 7 machine, then use WLM's contacts import function.
Another way to do this more automatically is to configure Windows
Live Mail on your Vista computer to sign-in with a Live ID (that's
the default), which will keep your contacts synced to the web server.
Then when WLM is started up on your Windows 7 computer, it re-
syncs the contacts automatically.

 

[Alsenor]

Ok, I guess I was a bit "chatty".
Thanks, Gary, will try that.

OK, but too much (unrelated) history can confuse us responders.

The best way to handle this is to upgrade from Windows Mail to
Windows Live Mail while still running on Vista. Windows Live Mail
will automatically import all your Windows Mail data. Then use this
free third party utility to back up all your Windows Live Mail data :

http://www.staticbackup.com/windows-live-mail-backup/
http://www.staticbackup.com/products.htm#swmbf

The same utility will restore all the WLM data to the new Win7 PC.
It does not transfer contacts, but you can easily copy and paste
the folder C:\Users\username\Contacts from your Vista machine to
your Windows 7 machine, then use WLM's contacts import function.
Another way to do this more automatically is to configure Windows
Live Mail on your Vista computer to sign-in with a Live ID (that's
the default), which will keep your contacts synced to the web server.
Then when WLM is started up on your Windows 7 computer, it re-
syncs the contacts automatically.

 

[Alsenor]

It actually worked exceptionally well - surprised me, based on past import
experiences!
Thanks again!

 

[Gary VanderMolen \(MVP\)]

You're very welcome. Thanks for reporting back.
The key is to get advice from the right people.