Backup Outlook Express - Comments Page 1

If you get the chance, could you add a little something about how one would *restore* the folders, in case of a crash? If users copied the folders into place on their hard drives, would they need to set something in OE describing where the folders were located?

EDITOR'S NOTE: To restore from backup, you'll need to use the File+Import function. When Outlook Express asks where to import from, just point it to the folder on your backup CD.

This is the system I use. It utilizes the File and Transfer Wizard that is part of XP.

http://www.iopus.com/guides/free-oe-backup.htm

It is good idea to make a Store Folder somewhere e.g. in C:\My Documents\Mail instead of confusing default location. Even better idea is to make it on other than system disk C:, for example D:\Mail. Then you'll be safe when your windows crashes and you have to reinstall it cleanly.

There's also a commercial program that backs up Outlook Express. Express Assist (now in version 8) has been around for years and I've used it since it first came out. It has many great features and is easy to use. Details are at http://www.ajsystems.com/ea.html

I like e-Backup to backup and restore everything in Outlook Express. I also use it to transfer an Outlook Express setup to include settings, e-mails and address book from one PC to another.

I too use e-Backup. I just ran into a problem setting up a new system - it wouldn't work with an AMD 64 system.

A much simpler solution is to download this tiny free (19kb) program,DBExract. It is a gem, and whats more,converts it all to plain text.Go here:- http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/file_download.asp?fid=23383&fileidx=1#

I have also used the OE backup program found here http://www.oehelp.com/oebackup/default.aspx. It will back up all the mail folders, accounts and address book into one folder that can then easily be burned to a CD/DVD etc.

Seems like a much more difficult way than i do it on both win98 and winXP. I create a new folder on the desktop. Open it and make it half size.Move it to one side. Open the mail folder you want. inbox or drafts or personal folders. Make it half size and move it to the other side. Highlight the letters you wish to save.. you can do them all at once if you like by clicking top one then shift/click bottom one. Now left mouse click and hold and DRAG the whole thing to the new folder.(or copy/paste.) The originals remain in the mailbox. Name your new folder then burn the folder to disk.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Interesting... you CAN drag messages from Outlook to a folder on your hard drive. But you CANNOT drag and drop into the CD Drive folder.

I create an efolder within Outlook Express dated for a particular month, in NAME-YYMM where name is some name to help me remember what the efolder contains, copy and or move the messages I want to keep into that efolder. Then after quitting OE, I navigate to the identity folder, and drag and drop the entire efolder onto a CDRW along with the folders efolder. Outlook retains the efolder structure and assorted stuff it needs to access that folder should I ever have a need to access an email from that efolder.