how to backup Outlook Express ?

[Alice19]

Hello,

I want to reinstall Windows Xp soon, as I got a virus and after cleaning the computer doesn't work as smooth as before. I gives some strange erros and sometimes it justs hangs up... I want to backup Outlook Express emails and settings before reinstall, and restore afterwards. Any help?

[Biggles77]

Manually, the files can be found here. (Path may vary depending on your setup)
C:\Documents and Settings\username\Local Settings\Application Data\Identities\{142E0720-27C9-4047-AF4B-1E94481BF569}\Microsoft\Outlook Express
Save all the files in that folder.
Also save this one. C:\Program Files\Outlook Express From memory the WAB is saved into here. Someone please correct me if I am wrong (don't use Outlook Express, sorry).

Ah, better info. http://www.outlook-express-backup.com/ - Has a 30 day trial version (top left of page or right down the bottom). This looks the better option as it backs up everything in one hit. However keep in mind that the trial version may have some limitations. It may be worth purcasing if you want to keep a regular backup of your email. It is also a bit cheaper if you are a student. And no, I don't work as a salesman for them.

If you are into reading...... http://www.google.com.au/search?hl=e...e+Search&meta=

[smth]

BACKUP


* The following proceedures were tested on Microsoft® Outlook Express® 6.0. The author makes no guarantees that this proceedure will work on other versions. However, the key element to backing up your data is locating the correct folder and files. Once this is accomplished, you simply copy the folder to your backup location.
o You can find out which version of Outlook Express you are running by starting the program and then clicking on Help > About Microsoft Outlook Express.
* Microsoft Outlook Express stores your email, newsletter and contact information is a single folder. Within this folder there are individual database files (*.dbx) for each folder contained in Outlook Express. For example, there will exist an Inbox.dbx, an Outbox.dbx, a Contacts.dbx and a variety of others including any new folders that you have created using Outlook Express (if you created a "Friends" folder there will be a corresponding Friends.dbx file). By backing up these database files you will be backing up all your Outlook information . The hard part is locating the files...
* You can locate the folder containing these files by:
1. Opening Outlook Express and clicking on Tools > Options.
2. Click on the Maintenance Tab and then on the "Store Folder" button.
3. You will be presented with a "Store Location" window displaying the path to the folder containing the database files.
4. Using your mouse cursor, select the entire path, then copy (CTRL + C) and paste (CTRL + V) the path into Windows Explorer (Explorer can be found here: Start > Programs > Accessories > Windows Explorer). Erase the "Outlook Express" from the end of the path and press the "Enter" key on your keyboard. Explorer will automatically open the folder containing your Outlook Express folder that you need to back up. .
5. Copy and paste this folder to a Zip disk or other backup source. It will probably be too large to copy to a floppy disk.

RESTORE


* If you have followed the steps above to backup your Outlook Express data, restoring is simple. All you do is copy the backup Outlook Express folder into the folder that you located when you initially backed up your work.
* Keep in mind that if you overwrite your existing Outlook Express folder with your backup folder, any new data since the time of the backup will be deleted. If you have recent data that is not on the backup copy and you don't want to loose the recent data, then you can use the "Import" command to add data instead of overwriting data.
1. Click on File > Import and select the type of database you will be importing. For example, if you desire to import your email messages, click "Messages..."
2. Select the program your backup files were created from. In our example, we are simply restoring backup files from the same program and would choose "Microsoft Outlook Express 6".
3. Select the "Import mail from an OE6 store directory" option.
4. Click "Browse" when asked for a location.
5. Browse to the location of your backup folder.
6. Select "All folders" and click "Next >".
7. When the Import Wizard completes importing your messages, click "Finish".
8. For more information directly from Microsoft, click here.


here you can read the full tutorial how to backup outlook express.

[GOODT]

would luv to know how to save regular outlook files to disk or where to find the files on the h/d

[Miz]

To find Outlook Express .dbx files...which is the format it saves all the messages folders...open OE and go to Tools>Options>Maintenance tab. Click the Store Folder button. The path there is the path to the folder where OE's messages are stores.

The address book is in a different location. To find it, use Windows' Search and tell it to look for "*.wab" (without the quotes, with the asterisk and dot). The wab file it finds is your address book. The .wab file with the tilde (~) is just a backup OE makes whenever the address book is accessed.

[Miz]

The Store Folder can be easily changed.

Find the store folder OE is currently using and copy it, the whole thing, to My Documents. Then change the Store Folder path in OE>Tools>Options>Maintenance tab>Store Folder button to the new folder. Close OE and reopen it. If everything looks as it should (all messages and folders present and working), you can delete the old store folder. I usually forget to delete it and it won't hurt anything to leave it there forever.

You can also move the address book into the same subfolder of My Documents. It takes a registry edit, though.

I do it to make backups easier...everything relating to OE is backed up when I back up the My Documents folder.

Now I need to figure out if I can do the same thing with Vista's "Windows Mail" program which replaces OE.

[Miz]

Here's the process to move the location of the address book (.wab) file so OE can find and use it:
1. Set up the folder where you want the address book to be kept (I use the same folder as the .dbx files).
2. Go to Start>Run, type in "regedit" (without the quotes) and navigate to this key:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\WAB\WAB4\Wab File Name
3. Click Registry>Export Registry File and save the selected branch to your desktop as "WAB.reg". You can then restore the current location simply by double-clicking the saved WAB.reg file.
4. In the right-hand pane, right-click on (Default) and click Modify, then carefully enter the full path and file name of your relocated *.wab.
5. Close Regedit and open Outlook Express.