Two Log-ins for Outlook Express

[harryg]

For some historical reason (I can't remember why) my system has two users on Documents and Settings - user1 and user2. Only one user is still active - user2. user1 is still on the system, but it is not active and it is not shown in Control Panel-> User Accounts.

Both user1 and user2 have Outlook Express Identities under Documents and Settings.

The strange thing is that Outlook Express seem to be using the data and files for user1 rather than the active, logged on user - user2.

Any ideas?

Many thanks

 

[redoak]

It may be coded "default', so it is the one used. Go to Tools>Accounts and check the listing.

{redoak}

 

[harryg]

Thanks Redoak. However it is not the Outlook Express Accounts that are confusing, it is the Windows logged on users. The Outlook Express accounts are quite happy and are working fine - it is just that the messages and files are being stored under a user ( called user1) in Documents and Settings that is not shown as a user under Windows in the Control Panel.

 

[redoak]

Go to Start>Help and Support. Put "user accounts" into the "search" function. There is a long list of references; perhaps one will be of help.

{redoak}

 

[TheOutcaste]

Welcome to TSG!

OE was setup to store it's messages under the User1 account. When that account was deleted, nobody told OE to store it's messages anyplace else, so they will still go to the same place.

To move the folder, in OE click Tools | Options, then click the Maintenance tab then click the Store Folder... button.
The path will be displayed, typical is
C:\Documents and Settings\User1\Local Settings\Application Data\Identities\{UID}\Microsoft\Outlook Express, where {UID} is a random string like {18FF48CA-91FC-4450-8853-6AD2EA99D834}.
Note the path -- you can copy it by clicking at the start, then drag the mouse to the right to highlight the entire path. Then CTRL+C to copy to the clipboard.

Close out of OE.

You can paste the path into the address bar in My Computer or Windows Explorer, or right into the Run box to open the folder. Just be sure to put quotes around it. Then click the up button to go up one level (C:\Documents and Settings\User1\Local Settings\Application Data\Identities\{UID}\Microsoft\), then right click the Outlook Express folder and choose copy. Navigate to the location you want the folder to be in (just change User1 to User2 for example, but you may have to create the Identities\{UID}\Microsoft folders first).
You can put it anywhere though, right in My Documents (C:\Documents and Settings\User2\My Documents) will make it easy to find. Once you are where you want, Click Edit | Paste, and the Outlook Express folder will be copied to the new location.

Now, start OE again, click Tools | Options, then click the Maintenance tab then click the Store Folder... button, click the Change... button and browse to the new location. Highlight it and click OK. It should tell you that a store folder exists, and ask if you want to use it, say Yes.

Exit OE, then restart. Double check the Store Folder location, and verify that all your messages are there. If everything is working, you can delete the original folder under user1 (or just rename it for a few days just in case).

HTH

Jerry