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Solved: Outlook Express 6

6K views 38 replies 2 participants last post by  EAFiedler 
#1 ·
Recently I had to recover my mail & folders in OE 6. I was very sucessful,

but now the problem I have is as follows: If I click on a existing or make a

new folder, a copy will be placed on the desktop. I attempted to delete

them one by one, but this deletes the folder in OS 6. I made a second

attempt to place all copies into a new file in an attempt to isolate, but this

too, deletes them from the OE 6.

I really need some help, I have all these files on the desktop.

Appreciate your help

Billjh@centu
 
#2 ·
Hi billjh@centu

Somehow Outlook Express is using your Desktop for its message store. :confused:
Did you change the message store using the Store Folder button on the Maintenance tab?

What directory shows for Outlook Express here:
Tools > Options > Maintenace tab > Store Folder ?
Don't change anything here, just verify the path.
Cancel out of it to close.

How many .dbx files are on the Desktop?
Do they include the Inbox.dbx file as well as the Deleted Items.dbx, Sent Items.dbx, Drafts.dbx, Outbox.dbx and Folders.dbx files?
 
#4 ·
With Outlook Express closed, move all those .dbx files on the desktop to a folder on the Desktop called Mail

Then start Outlook Express, and create a new Identity.
File > Identities > Add New Identity
Name the new Identity and switch over to the new Identity.

Then check the location of its message store:
Tools > Options > Maintenace tab > Store Folder
Let us know what the directory path is for the new Identity.
 
#6 ·
That path looks better.

In the new Identity in Outlook Express,
File > Import > Messages > Microsoft Outlook Express 6 > Next
Select: Import Mail from an OE6 store directory
Click: OK
Browse to the Mail folder on the Desktop to complete the Import of your messages into the new Identity.

Once you have verified all your messages have been Imported correctly, you can Remove the old Identity and delete the .dbx files on the Desktop.
File > Identities > Manage Identities

Let us know if that works for you or not.
 
#8 ·
You are welcome :)

Was a .wab file also on your Desktop?

If so, open the Address Book in the new Identity in Outlook Express,
File > Import > Address Book (WAB)
Browse to the .wab file on the Desktop (or in the folder) and Import those Addresses into the new Identity's Address Book.

You can then copy that .wab file onto a CD or place it in My Documents as a backup.
 
#13 ·
Yes there is a shared contacts icon, no priors show in the book. I did remove the

original identity. What I did find, was to go to the address book, click find, type

in the name which reveals the address, then I click new contact, type in the info.

So all is not lost. I could not pull up wab/all, in run.............
 
#16 ·
Open the Address Book in Outlook Express,
Help > About Address Book
What path does it show?

Your Search for .wab should have found your current Address Book.
Let's double check these settings:
Windows XP:
  • Open My Computer,
    Tools > Folder Options > View tab,
    under Hidden Files and Folders, verify Show Hidden Files and Folders is selected.
    Remove the check mark for Hide Extensions for known file types.

Search:
  • Start > Search > For Files or Folders > All files and folders,
    In the field for: all or part of the file name
    Key in:
    .wab
    Below that, click on More advanced options
    in the field: Type of File, select (All Files and Folders)
    place a checkmark in:
  • Search system folders
  • Search hidden files and folders
  • Search subfolders
    click Search
 
#17 ·
The path shows: C:Documents and Settings\Bill\Application Data\Microsoft\Address
Book\Bill.wab........ This also shows up when I followed your instructions................. And I did check ... "show hidden files".......and unchecked
"hide exts. for known file types"...............
 
#18 ·
Other than using a File Recovery program to see if you can find the old .wab file, I don't know what else to tell you. :(
Sorry, my bad, I should have thought of the Addresses before telling you to Remove the old Identity.
Hopefully, you can reconstruct the Address Book using the messages in the Sent Items folder.

Once you get the Address Book filled in, you can make a backup copy and store it on a CD for a rainy day.

Open the Address Book,
File > Export > Other Address Book > Text File (Comma Separated Values) > Export
Name the file.
Browse to the location you want to create the file.

Save the resulting .cvs file as your backup.

If you feel this thread has been solved, you can mark your thread solved using the Thread Tools drop down menu at the top of the page.
 
#22 ·
Outlook Express - Backing up messages, Address Book and account settings for reinstall

  • First enable Hidden Files and Folders:
    Open My Computer,
    Tools > Folder Options > View tab,
    under Hidden Files and Folders, verify Show Hidden Files and Folders is selected.
    Remove the checkmark for Hide Extensions for known file types.
    Apply, OK, to save and close.
_____________________________________________________________

  • Messages
    In Outlook Express
    Tools > Options > Maintenance tab
    click the Store Folder button to locate the path where the Identity keeps its .dbx files.
    Close Outlook Express.

    Open Windows Explorer, navigate to that directory, copy all the .dbx files for that Identity to a folder on your Desktop.

Export for Backup

  • Account settings
    Export them as an .iaf file.
    Tools > Accounts > select Your account > Export
    Save the .iaf file to the folder on your Desktop.
    Repeat this step for additional Accounts.

  • Address Book
    File > Export > Address Book > Text File (Comma Separated Values) > Name the file > Browse to the Desktop > Select the fields > Finish

Copy the Folder of .dbx files to a CD-R or CD-RW, along with any .iaf and .csv files you have created.

_____________________________________________________________

Once the reinstall is done, copy your backup files for Outlook Express to the Desktop.
Start Outlook Express.
If you have Exported your account settings as .iaf files, you can cancel out of the Internet Connection Wizard and Import the Account Settings later, using the steps below for Import.

Tools > Options > Maintenance tab
click the Store Folder button to locate the path where the new Identity keeps its .dbx files.
Close Outlook Express.

Open Windows Explorer, navigate to that path, delete the Folders.dbx file for the new Identity.
Move the saved .dbx files into that directory.
Verify the file attributes are not Read-Only.

Restart Outlook Express, your folders and messages should appear.

_______________________________________________________________

Import after Reinstall

  • Address Book
    File > Import > Other Address Book, select Text File, click Import, navigate to the [.csv] file in the Main Identity folder on your desktop, and click Finish.
    Check your Address Book to see if it was successful.

  • Account Settings
    Tools > Accounts > Import > Browse
    to and select the .iaf file on your desktop, Close
    Repeat for additional accounts.

Let us know if you need further assistance.
 
#23 ·
I've migrated all the way to burning a CD, but as a test, I tried to open at random some of
the mail, the following was the process: Click open > Open with > Browse > Open OE >
Click Icon MSIMN ( The Icon is not opaque, it is cloudy and cannot be added to the "OPEN
WITH" Dialog Box. Although I can open in Notepad and Wordpad, but there is alot of what
I call "Gibberish", and not necessary to be read. I am making an assumption, that the mail
should be opened in OE ? Please advise .....

Thanks,

Bill
 
#24 ·
You are trying to open the .dbx files?
If so, yes, those are meant to be opened by Outlook Express.
They need to be Exported back into Outlook Express to be able to see the individual e-mails.

Is your backup meant to be a backup, or a way to reduce the messages that are in Outlook Express?
If the latter, just create more folders in Outlook Express and move your messages to those folders.
Keep the Inbox empty.
 
#25 ·
In the process of exporting back to OE, I've got things messed up. Now I cannot open OE.

This message is given: OE could not be started, because MSOE.dll could not be initialized.

OE may not be installed correctly. And this message: Disk may be out of memory ___

___ERROR___ 0x800CO12E,5...... I still do have my mail in the store.....
 
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