Outlook Express and HDD Probs

[Danno]

I Think I've had another hard drive failure, disk check is dropping sectors like Paris Hilton drops her drawers. Problem is that is where my default windows XP sits (I have two, one on each HDD). I need to try and recover all the relevant $$$$ from the original outlook express such as contacts, accounts and emails.

Anyone know if they are stored in a file and how to import them into the working outlook on the working version of XP? The old drive will let me get to most of the file structure.

I've had to re-install all the flaming software and had grief with trying to set up my bband wireless router as it is! Bl00dy PC's!!!!!

[mooter]

you'll need to find the .pst/.ost files mate

(you'll need Show Hidden Files and Folders to be enabled for this bit - Tools > Folder Options > View)

usually somewhere like

C:\Documents and Settings\YOUR USER NAME\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook

(well, thats for Outlook obviously, I dont use Express, but I am assuming the process/folder location is the same)

Then just copy the entire folder and its contents to the same place on your other harddrive/xp installation. ta da.

[Wild Thing]

All your messages are in files with ext dbx

[Wild Thing]

To inport your address book you must first have exported it within outlook express by going to address book then file and you will see inport and export

[mooter]

opps yeah, my message only covers emails. contacts will be stored elsewhere.

[Danno]

Ah, but if I cant open my old OE then how can I export my contacts? Isn't it a .wab file?

[Rob]

Substitute %username% for your unique username on your PC in the following instructions...

If its Outlook Express, you need to take a copy of the Outlook Express store directory which is located at C:\Documents and Settings\%username%\Local Settings\Application Data\Identities\{6DE0BD44-77C8-4809-9155-D157CA70DA28}\Microsoft\Outloo k Express (This folder should contain a load of .dbx files, and that long weird number in the path above may not be exactly the same, but it will look similar).

When you're ready to import it back into OE again, go to File menu > Import > Messages... Then select Microsoft Outlook Express 6, click next. Then put the green dot next to 'Import mail from an OE6 store directory', then click OK. In the next window, browse to the location where you copied the Outlook Express folder to. On the next window, click All Folders, then next, then you're done.

For contacts you need to find the .wab file. If it in the default location, it should be here C:\Documents and Settings\%username%\Applicatio n Data\Microsoft\Address Book\%username%.wab

To import it again, just open the address book, File menu > Import > Address Book (WAB). Then just browse to wab file you copied, click Open, then you're done.

Well it should go something like that anyway Good luck!

[Wild Thing]

Hi Danno
Yes it is a wab file, to get to it go to the folder programme files then folder outlook express and you should see it

[Rob]

Oh, you won't be able to import the mail account settings as you need to have exported them from the broken Outlook Express before hand. It never saves the passwords anyway, piece of $$$$!

[Danno]

I'll try that later. Thanks guys

[Gizmo]

Oh, you won't be able to import the mail account settings as you need to have exported them from the broken Outlook Express before hand. It never saves the passwords anyway, piece of $$$$!

Looks like someone else has had to do the transferral and backup of outlook express files also!

[Rob]

Hehe, I do it for other people for a living....and they never remember their effiing passwords

[TJG]

This liitle prog worked well for me www.handyrecovery.com its not free, about £30 but brilliant for the price.