neatnettricks

[Laverne]

Recently there was an exchange on this forum about how to read Outlook Express email in Windows 7 Windows Live Mail -- at this site:

http://www.topfreeforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2017&mforum=neatnettricks

A friend of mine just called me with the same problem -- and I was wondering how Jack Teems solved the problem or what he did with the emails in Outlook Express on his WinXP computer.

Laverne

[drcard]

Hi Laverne,

Must of missed that post. The procedure is simple, but depending upon the number of folders in OE can take some time.

Copy the entire OE storage folder onto a flash drive (you can use a CD or DVD, but will have to change the properties of each file from Read Only that is caused by burning a file to a CD or DVD).

Transfer the folder to the new PC which Windows Mail resides (like Desktop).

Open Windows Mail and Select File>Import>Messages>Microsoft Outlook Express 6. Select the transferred OE folder and files. Run as administrator or import will fail.

Look at the Imported Folders in Windows Mail to find your imports.

HTH, Dana:))

[jteems]

Laverne,: I tried a number of programs and "helpful" links to do the imports. Microsoft says the process is "simple". For me, it hasn't been. I succeeded in importing some of the mail and address books, but not all, and they are really scattered and not very useful. I dread having to take the laptop with Windows 7 on the road and, when I do, I doubt that I will be using Windows Mail for my email (will mostly use a Web-based interface or Thunderbird, which imported nicely).

drcard: Your solution sounds great - and simple - but, like all the others, didn't work. No problem with copying the OE file to a thumb drive and moving it to the Windows Mail folder. When I attempt to import, however, I get an error message that "no messages can be found or another application is running that has the required files open."

[Laverne]

Hi Dana,

As Jack said, your solution sounds great and simple. I will save my friend's OE store folder and try the import when her Win7 computer arrives. So, I'll not know the results for a while. I do appreciate your help.

Jack, thanks for your comments, too. I will be using your instructions on how to import the OE address book into Windows Live Mail, as detailed below.

1. Locate file extension .WAB (Windows Address Book) in OE and send this to a thumb drive. (typically you'll find this file in C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Application Data\Microsoft\Address Book\{user name}.wab

2. Placing thumb drive in the new machine, open Windows Live Mail and in opening screen, scroll to Contacts in left pane, then click on ALT | File | Import |Windows Address Book (.WAB) and it should locate the saved .WAB file from OE; if not, scroll to the thumb drive directory, select the .WAB file , and open to import into Windows 7 LiveMail.

Any further comments will be appreciated.

Laverne