"P Bentley" wrote in message
...
Since Microsoft is stopping support for windows XP, novice wishes to save
what he can from my current 'outlook express' (especially folders and
their contents if possible) and transfer to a windows 7 system which he
will install on the same computer.

I have access to another lap top if its easier to temporarily store files
on there. Also I have the emails in outlook.com from which I can access my
emails if necessary.

So is it possible to transfer folders and their contents *simply* from
outlook express to somewhere for 'easy' recovery please? Thanks.


Unless bundled by the manufacturer, Windows 7 does not come with any e-mail
client so you'll have to download one.

Top 11 Free Email Programs for Windows
http://email.about.com/od/windowsema...email_prog.htm


These are the instructions for Windows Live Mail.


Transferring data from Outlook Express to Windows Live Mail:

For Messages:

In Outlook Express, compact you folders first.

Click on Outlook Express at the top of the folder tree so no folders are
open. Then: File | Work Offline (or double click Working Online in the
Status Bar). File | Folder | Compact all folders. Don't touch anything until
the compacting is completed.

Compact Your OE Folders:
http://www.insideoe.com/files/maintain.htm#compact


Copy the *ENTIRE* OE message store folder to a flash drive. (Folders.dbx
must be included). Place this on the Desktop or other location on the
machine using WLMail.

V-2009: Open WLMail and: File | Import | Messages | Microsoft Outlook
Express 6 and point to where you saved it.

V-2011/2012: Menu Button | Import Messages | Microsoft Outlook Express 6 and
point to where you saved it.

OE Message Store Location:

In OE: Tools | Options | Maintenance | Store Folder will reveal the location
of your Outlook Express files. Write the location down and navigate to it in
Windows Explorer or, copy and paste it into Start | Run.

In WinXP the OE user files (DBX and WAB) are by default marked as hidden. To
view these files in Windows Explorer, you must enable Show Hidden Files and
Folders under Start | Control Panel | Folder Options Icon | View, or in
Windows Explorer | Tools | Folder Options | View.

Note: If any DBX file is over 300MB, go back into OE and move some of the
messages from the related folder to a new user created folder and compact
again to get the file size down.

For Addresses:

Open the Address Book in OE and File | Export | Address Book (wab) and save
it to the Desktop. Copy to a flash drive. Place this on the Desktop or other
location on the machine using WLMail.

For WLMail 2009: Open the Contacts list in WLMail, (Go | Contacts on the
Menu Bar), and File | Import | Windows Address Book (wab) and point to where
you saved it.

For WLMail 2011/2012: Switch to the contacts window (click the address book
icon at the foot of the folder pane, (or press Ctrl-3). Click the Import
button, select Windows Address Book (wab) and point to where you saved it.

Note: If you use a CD or DVD instead of a flash drive, after placing on the
new machine you must remove the Read Only attribute in Properties before you
import.

For Account Settings:

In OE: Tools | Accounts, select the account and export it to the Desktop.
This will be a .iaf file. Copy it to the new machine's Desktop.

For WLMail 2009: Tools | Accounts and import the settings from the location
you saved them.

For WLMail 2011: Menu Button | Options | E-Mail Accounts and import the
settings from the location you saved them.

Account settings may not import into WLMail 2012. If not, you will have to
do it manually.
--

~Bruce