Upgrade to Windows Vista from Windows XP loses Outlook Express data files

[Dave]

Has anyone one into situation where when you do an upgrade of Windows Vista
over Windows XP, an upgrade where you boot from the DVD for Vista and Vista
backups the old Windows directory into WINDOWS.OLD as well as moves the old
"Documents and Settings" folder along with the user specific directories
underneath it into WINDOWS.OLD, but while most user files are prserved, the
files that store your data for Outlook Express are not copied over.
Basically you've lost your old Outlook Express data files and can not
recover unless you have a backup of those files.

If you have experienced this, is there a way to recover short of restoring
from backup?
Thanks!
- dave

 

[Dave]

I found answer.

WIndows Vista similar to Windows XP when you first run it, hides certain folder types. Unfortunately the Explorer UI makes it more difficult than Windows XP to figure out how to re-enable the ability to view "hidden folders". Search for "hidden folders" in the Vista Help tool and you can find complete instructions.

The good thing is, the data is not lost.
The Outlook Express address book, the WAB file, is stored typically at (after the Vista upgrade from XP):
C:\Windows.old\Documents and Settings\%userid%\Application Data\Microsoft\Address Book

The Actual Outlook Express data files are stored at:
C:\Windows.old\Documents and Settings\%userid%\Local Settings\Application Data\Identities\%guid%\Microsoft\Outlook Express

Once you have these paths, then you can use Windows Mail IMPORT feature under the File menu to Import both the Address Book and the previous Outlook Express mail folders. Just copy and paste your correct path into the file browse dialog and click OK. If the Import feature sees useful data, it will display it and allow you to import.
Hope this helps someone else down the road.
Cheers!
- dave