Transferring Messages from Outlook 2003 to Windows Mail

[Chris Butler]

I recently purchased a new computer that uses Vista. My old computer uses
XP, and I'm trashing it once I remove all my files and such.

Can someone PLEASE give me some detailed instructions for exporting my
existing mail from Outlook 2003 on my old computer and importing it to
Windows Mail on my new computer?

Or, at the very least, how can I archive my messages before I trash my old
computer so that I can refer back to them if I need to on my new computer?

The export instructions for Outlook, and the import instructions for WM
don't seem to jive.

Export/Import instructions for Contacts would be welcome, too.

Thanks.

 

[Dave]

Install Outlook 2003 on the Vista computer, copy the .pst file over, and
open it.

Then, if you want to use Windows Mail, just import.
Or, keep using Outlook, as it's a better mail client.

 

[Hal Hostetler [MVP P/I]]

Two choices:

1. Install Outlook on your new Vista PC. With Outlook closed on the old PC,
make a COPY of your Personal Folders (.PST) file. Take this copy to your
Vista machine and place it in a folder. DO NOT OVERWRITE the .PST file
created with the Outlook install. Make sure the copy is NOT set Read Only.
Open Outlook, go to 'File|Open|Outlook Data File' and navigate to the .PST
copy. Open the file. You'll now have access to all your old email,
contacts, calendars, tasks, etc. You can continue to use Outlook if you
choose, Outlook 2003 runs fine on Vista, or you can transfer everything to
Windows Mail.

2. Export everything in Outlook on your old PC to Outlook Express on your
old PC. Make copies of all your Outlook Express .DBX files (including
Folders.dbx) and your .WAB file and place them in a folder on your Vista PC.
Use these instructions to import your email from OE to WM:

http://www.oehelp.com/backup.aspx#oe2wm

To import contacts from the .WAB file, double click it and follow the import
wizard prompts.

Hal
--
Hal Hostetler, CPBE -- (e-mail address removed)
Senior Engineer/MIS -- MS MVP-Print/Imaging -- WA7BGX
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