OE Identitiy got duplicated, how to fix???

[Adela]

WinXP SP2; OE 6.0; IE 6.0.

Hello, I never created a duplicate identity. The original identity, call it ID1, had a list of 21 folders. I opened its duplicate, ID2, and it had a list of 15 folders. It would be easy to delete the shorter duplicate ...but it gets complicated:

1. ID1 has several folders that ID2 doesn't have, and viceversa.

2. The KB amounts of each folder in both duplicates are the same, but sometimes different. When different, they can be enormously different!

3. Even the same folders in ID1 and ID2 have different KB amounts.

I searched Google, got many items...but not close enough. Would anyone know how to import the folders from the duplicated identity into the original identity please? The duplicated identity is NOT in an open email as the original is...

It is in a backed up "ID Folder" in my desktop, and by clicking on it and on the subsequent folders, I finally got to the identity folder with the long names/letters, and then to the contents of the duplicated identity which are: inbox, sent, drafts, etc. with .dbx endings, plus the folders I created too. It's from here that I must import or somehow transfer them into my original identity. Is it possible? Once I have all inbox, sent, draft, etc. folders into the original identity, I could tell whether to blend or delete...

It's difficult for me to explain it and I hope it's clear to you? I'd appreciate SO much someone's help! Adela

[snowmonkey]

Open OE, click, File->Import-> Messages-> MS OE6 / Next-> Select Import Mail from an OE6 store directory (this is very important, if you select OE6 Identity, it will not import from your backup file) -> Browse to your backup directory and then import (you must select "Allow Duplicate copy" so you don't loose any email with same subject line.....I think that does the trick.


Cheers

[Adela]

Thanks so much snowmonkey (I love animals!) You have interpreted accurately my problem. All went well until the system refused "Desktop" where the backed up folder is (don't know if I have a "Backup Directory?"). So I copied and pasted the folder into My Documents and clicked on all + signs. Found a folder called "Identities" showing 4 original identities and 4 duplicates) each with its long numbers/letters, and this is what it showed:

C:\Documents and settings\Adelamain\Application data\Identities

Hope I didnt skip one, but I stopped for fear that ALL identities will get imported at the same time. How can I import the files from one identity only, at a time, into its original? I mentioned in my post only one identity for clarity purposes, as once I learn how to do one, I'll do the other 3.

What do you think? Meantime, I can't thank you enough for putting me so much closer to maybe fix this weird thing after all. Adela

[Adela]

Hello again, after trying and trying I realize the system refuses each time because I don't seem to have the Folder Directory while in the import browsing page. What I had done was click on the items under My Documents where I had copied that backup folder to...

Do you happen to know why the Folder Directory doesn't show up when I browse in the import page?

Thanks so much for any ideas... Adela

[snowmonkey]

Reason for not finding the folder is because MS operating system treats it as hidden folder .....(just make sure you are looking for messages not email account or address book).

Here is what I would do.....create a folder in the root directory called C:\Mail and then create two more folder in there and called them ID1 and ID2......so you will have:

C:\Mail\ID1
C:\Mail\ID2

then you copy all the files from your identity directory to ID1 and everything from backup to ID2. Finally, open OE, go -> Tools-> Options ->Maintenance -> Store Folder and change the path of your email directory to C:\Mail\ID1 or C:\Mail\ID2.....that will allow you to look at your two sets of email database with out mixing them..........now, when you change the mail path to ID2....Create a folder in your "Inbox" called "transfer"....then move the emails that you want to transfer to ID1 to the folder (transfer)...when you are done sorting the ID2.....highlight the folder (transfer folder) and then select Export.......Export the emails to ID1....(now you will have a new folder in ID1 call "Transfer").....at this point, you can change the "Store Folder" path to ID1 and have all your email in the same location...finally you can delete the ID2 from C:\mail\.


Hope this helps.

Cheers

[Adela]

Oh thanks so much again, you've gone through so much work to show me very clearly how to do it!

I had previously followed the steps of another site but not hearing from them for over a week, I requested help here. They reappeared with new answers to my questions and I'm in the process of trying...and struggling. It's so confusing to me! But I should know by tomorrow whether I was able to fix it or not. (I find computers both a blessing and a curse!) LOL!

Is it possible to come back to you if the present suggestions don't work? I like your clear directions and, regardless, I'll definitely keep them in case I bump into this problem again.

Thanks a lot for being so kind and so helpful! Adela

[snowmonkey]

I will do my best to be around and help out but I can't guarantee that I'll be here everyday ...my work load changes all the time and that will eat away from my hobbies (this is one of them).......if you have specific question for me then you can PM me.


Cheers

[Adela]

Thanks very much for all your help indeed! But you needn't go out of your way, whenever you have a free minute to answer to a problem is okay for me. Since you give me permission to PM you, if I get a specific question for you I'll avail myself of your very kind offer.

It's good that you like the computer world so much as to make it a hobby. Enjoy!!! Adela