Where does Windows keep my Mail folders?

[Guest]

When I first started using Windows Mail on a new PC running Vista Home
Premium, I quickly ran into the problem in which certain message files could
not be deleted ("An unknown error has occurred"). I tried forcing a rebuild
of the database and tried to build new mail folders. Okay, so the bad
(undeletable) files are still there, and I now understand that this is a bug
in Windows Mail and I guess I can live with that, but I need to do backups.

I use a replication program to replicate directories across my network. I
just realized that the INBOX and other mail folders that I have been backing
up (that are located in c:\users\owner\AppData\local\Microsoft\Windows
Mail\Inbox [and below]) don't reflect the directory structure that shows up
in the Windows Mail program's directory tree. This means that I haven't been
backing up my mail files. What is screwy is that I cannot find any directory
structure corresponding to the pattern of directories I see in Windows Mail.
Where are the folders I need to back up? Are they hidden? Am I nuts?

 

[tlc054]

Ok Ken this is my problem as I use to have down below the email like
inbox, outbox, etc. below all of these kinds, would be call folders
and I would have well many like Misc. , Addresses, pictures, games,
I must have had 20 folders but I can't figure out how to do this on
Vista.... do you or anyone on here no how to do this?

Thanks
Linda

 

[stan]

When I first started using Windows Mail on a new PC running Vista Home
Premium, I quickly ran into the problem in which certain message files
could
not be deleted ("An unknown error has occurred"). I tried forcing a
rebuild
of the database and tried to build new mail folders. Okay, so the bad
(undeletable) files are still there, and I now understand that this is
a bug
in Windows Mail and I guess I can live with that, but I need to do
backups.

I use a replication program to replicate directories across my network.
I
just realized that the INBOX and other mail folders that I have been
backing
up (that are located in c:\users\owner\AppData\local\Microsoft\Windows
Mail\Inbox [and below]) don't reflect the directory structure that
shows up
in the Windows Mail program's directory tree. This means that I haven't
been
backing up my mail files. What is screwy is that I cannot find any
directory
structure corresponding to the pattern of directories I see in Windows
Mail.
Where are the folders I need to back up? Are they hidden? Am I nuts?

Hi Ken,

I'm sure you know, but it's
*C:\Users\Owner\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Mail\Local Folders\
*then your Inbox, etc. Have you tried using the Export option under
*File > Export > Messages > Microsofts Windows Mail *in Windows Mail?

If this fails you, try going to this link and follow the tip for the
folder that you have the undeletable messages in. The reset Windows
mail tip has a detailed way to back up to.

Back up info: 'http://www.oehelp.com/OETips.aspx#6'
(http://www.oehelp.com/OETips.aspx#6)
Tip site:
'_http://www.vistax64.com/tricks-n-tips/62560-solving-windows-mail-problems.html_'
(http://tinyurl.com/29wfnb)

Hope this helps,
Shawn


--
brink

"Practice makes perfect, then you reinstall"
'_http://vistax64.com_' (http://vistax64.com)
Please post feedback to help others.

 

[Frank Saunders, MS-MVP OE/WM]

When I first started using Windows Mail on a new PC running Vista Home
Premium, I quickly ran into the problem in which certain message files
could
not be deleted ("An unknown error has occurred"). I tried forcing a
rebuild
of the database and tried to build new mail folders. Okay, so the bad
(undeletable) files are still there, and I now understand that this is a
bug
in Windows Mail and I guess I can live with that, but I need to do
backups.

I use a replication program to replicate directories across my network. I
just realized that the INBOX and other mail folders that I have been
backing
up (that are located in c:\users\owner\AppData\local\Microsoft\Windows
Mail\Inbox [and below]) don't reflect the directory structure that shows
up
in the Windows Mail program's directory tree. This means that I haven't
been
backing up my mail files. What is screwy is that I cannot find any
directory
structure corresponding to the pattern of directories I see in Windows
Mail.
Where are the folders I need to back up? Are they hidden? Am I nuts?

The directory structure that you see in OE is artificial and is maintained
by the WinMail data base, Windows Mail.MSMessageStore, of which there are
two copies. Deleting one without deleting the other accomplishes nothing
because Windows Mail just copies the one that's left when it is opened.

If the non-dilitable messages are not in the Outbox, mark them as read and
ignore them. If they are in the Outbox se
http://www.oehelp.com/WMUtil/

 

[Steve Cochran]

The directory structure matches the folder hierarchy in WinMail for the most
part unless it has problems. To backup, just backup everything under the
root message store directory. See www.oehelp.com/backup.aspx#wm

steve

 

[Steve Cochran]

Just back them all up. See www.oehelp.com/backup.aspx#wm

steve

Ok Ken this is my problem as I use to have down below the email
like inbox, outbox, etc. below all of these kinds, would be call
folders and I would have well many like Misc. , Addresses, pictures,
games, I must have had 20 folders but I can't figure out how to do this
on Vista.... do you or anyone on here no how to do this?

Thanks
Linda

When I first started using Windows Mail on a new PC running Vista Home
Premium, I quickly ran into the problem in which certain message files
could
not be deleted ("An unknown error has occurred"). I tried forcing a
rebuild
of the database and tried to build new mail folders. Okay, so the bad
(undeletable) files are still there, and I now understand that this is a
bug
in Windows Mail and I guess I can live with that, but I need to do
backups.

I use a replication program to replicate directories across my network.
I
just realized that the INBOX and other mail folders that I have been
backing
up (that are located in c:\users\owner\AppData\local\Microsoft\Windows
Mail\Inbox [and below]) don't reflect the directory structure that shows
up
in the Windows Mail program's directory tree. This means that I haven't
been
backing up my mail files. What is screwy is that I cannot find any
directory
structure corresponding to the pattern of directories I see in Windows
Mail.
Where are the folders I need to back up? Are they hidden? Am I nuts?