How to clone outlook express configuration one XP machine to another

You cannot copy the registry entry directly for the simple reason that the registry
for the OS on the slave drive is not the current registry.

But you can bring up [part of] the registry for the slave drive's OS - and thereby
"extract" the email account settings in the form of an exported reg-file.


Firstly, copy and paste the command below into a Command Prompt (DOS-box) window :

reg LOAD HKU\SLAVEME "D:\Documents and Settings\TargetUser\ntuser.dat"

....where you will need to replace my fictitious "TargetUser" folder with a real one
that existed on the old PC's drive.

Then, copy and paste this command into a Command Prompt window :

regedit /e c:\email.reg HKEY_USERS\SLAVEME\Identities

(After successfully exporting a reg-file, then issue the UNLOAD command : )
(reg UNLOAD HKU\SLAVEME)


Then, open the resultant file [c:\email.reg] in notepad.exe.

You will have to manually replace all instances of : HKEY_USERS\SLAVEME\

....with : HKEY_CURRENT_USER\

It should only take you a minute, then save the file.

After making the modifications, import the file by double-clicking on it and choosing
[Yes]

When you open Outlook Express, you should see your new Identities displayed in the
"Switch Identity" box.


*NB Make sure you have first copied the folders within the chosen profile's :

"%USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\Application Data\Identities"

....folder from the old [slave] drive to the comparable profile on [C:] drive.


And ALSO - please note what I said in my original reply about any discrepancy with a
difference in profile-names between the one you are trying to export from and the one
you are going to import to.

If they are not the same you must modify the registry (AFTER importing the
reg-entries) to reflect the new path to the "Store Root" folder.

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :-)

*NB - In my previous post, I assumed your slave drive was drive [D:] but [obviously]
if it not - then you need to change the drive-letter accordingly.


*Plus - I also assumed that all you have is the old drive and that you no longer have
access to the old copy of WinXP that was upon it.

If this is incorrect and you have access to the old copy of XP - then (as "Patrick
Keenan" quite rightly points out) it is a whole lot easier to 1). start the old XP
2). Start the old OExpress & 3). Export each mail account setting (to an .iaf
file) by : going to "Tools" "Accounts" - click on the "Mail" tab - click on the
"Export" button for each mail account.

Otherwise, the more complicated method I outlined is the only way to retrieve your
old settings if you can no longer access the old copy of XP.

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :-)

*NB - In my previous post, I assumed your slave drive was drive [D:] but [obviously]
if it not - then you need to change the drive-letter accordingly.


*Plus - I also assumed that all you have is the old drive and that you no longer have
access to the old copy of WinXP that was upon it.

If this is incorrect and you have access to the old copy of XP - then (as "Patrick
Keenan" quite rightly points out) it is a whole lot easier to 1). start the old XP
2). Start the old OExpress & 3). Export each mail account setting (to an .iaf
file) by : going to "Tools" "Accounts" - click on the "Mail" tab - click on the
"Export" button for each mail account.

Otherwise, the more complicated method I outlined is the only way to retrieve your
old settings if you can no longer access the old copy of XP.

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :-)

On Jan 3, 2:21*pm, "Tim Meddick" wrote:
*NB - In my previous post, I assumed your slave drive was drive [D:] but [obviously]
if it not - then you need to change the drive-letter accordingly.

*Plus - I also assumed that all you have is the old drive and that you no longer have
access to the old copy of WinXP that was upon it.


Didn't have access to it as an O/S, though the files are on the disk.

I went through the procedure, and other than a snag when it left
duplicate "Main identities" it worked, however I seem to be not be
having success with the old address book. I copied the old .wab file
to where the current one is, but OE isn't picking up on it.

I fixed the duplicate main identity problem mention above by erasing
the newer one in the registry and the identities folder and OE then
recognized the contest of the remaining one.

On Jan 3, 2:21*pm, "Tim Meddick" wrote:
*NB - In my previous post, I assumed your slave drive was drive [D:] but [obviously]
if it not - then you need to change the drive-letter accordingly.

*Plus - I also assumed that all you have is the old drive and that you no longer have
access to the old copy of WinXP that was upon it.


Didn't have access to it as an O/S, though the files are on the disk.

I went through the procedure, and other than a snag when it left
duplicate "Main identities" it worked, however I seem to be not be
having success with the old address book. I copied the old .wab file
to where the current one is, but OE isn't picking up on it.

I fixed the duplicate main identity problem mention above by erasing
the newer one in the registry and the identities folder and OE then
recognized the contest of the remaining one.

Ah, nevermind, the username has to match the folder it's in. Now it's
working.

I really appreciate the assistance.

Ah, nevermind, the username has to match the folder it's in. Now it's
working.

I really appreciate the assistance.

The only thing I'm finding it's not doing the same as it was on the
old machine is that when I invoke OE, instead of opening the Main
Identity by default, it opens whichever identity I was last in.

The only thing I'm finding it's not doing the same as it was on the
old machine is that when I invoke OE, instead of opening the Main
Identity by default, it opens whichever identity I was last in.

"brassplyer" wrote in message
...
The only thing I'm finding it's not doing the same as it was on the
old machine is that when I invoke OE, instead of opening the Main
Identity by default, it opens whichever identity I was last in.


See if this is what you need.

Force Identity Logon:
http://www.insideoe.com/tips/forceid.htm
--
Bruce Hagen
MS-MVP [Mail]
Imperial Beach, CA

"brassplyer" wrote in message
...
The only thing I'm finding it's not doing the same as it was on the
old machine is that when I invoke OE, instead of opening the Main
Identity by default, it opens whichever identity I was last in.


See if this is what you need.

Force Identity Logon:
http://www.insideoe.com/tips/forceid.htm
--
Bruce Hagen
MS-MVP [Mail]
Imperial Beach, CA

Well done for getting that far with it!


About the WAB file -
The [.wab] file for a profile is stored in :

c:\documents and settings\%USERNAME%\application data\microsoft\address book\

...under the name : %username%.wab

All you have to do is retrieve this file and place it somewhere obvious.

Then, in Outlook Express choose "File" "Import" "Address Book"

After clicking on this you are faced with a browser to search for a [.wab] file to
import.

Just browse to your "obviously" placed [.wab] file and click on the [Open] button.


All contacts in the [.wab] file should then be visible in the current identity you
imported it in.


The other way is to exit OE, replace the current wab file for a given identity with
the older one (changing the wab filename to that of the new identities') and then
restarting OE.

This is a far more complicated way of going about it and there's very few reasons I
can think of for doing it the "long way round".

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :-)




"brassplyer" wrote in message
...
On Jan 3, 2:21 pm, "Tim Meddick" wrote:
*NB - In my previous post, I assumed your slave drive was drive [D:] but
[obviously]
if it not - then you need to change the drive-letter accordingly.

*Plus - I also assumed that all you have is the old drive and that you no longer
have
access to the old copy of WinXP that was upon it.


Didn't have access to it as an O/S, though the files are on the disk.

I went through the procedure, and other than a snag when it left
duplicate "Main identities" it worked, however I seem to be not be
having success with the old address book. I copied the old .wab file
to where the current one is, but OE isn't picking up on it.

I fixed the duplicate main identity problem mention above by erasing
the newer one in the registry and the identities folder and OE then
recognized the contest of the remaining one.

Well done for getting that far with it!


About the WAB file -
The [.wab] file for a profile is stored in :

c:\documents and settings\%USERNAME%\application data\microsoft\address book\

...under the name : %username%.wab

All you have to do is retrieve this file and place it somewhere obvious.

Then, in Outlook Express choose "File" "Import" "Address Book"

After clicking on this you are faced with a browser to search for a [.wab] file to
import.

Just browse to your "obviously" placed [.wab] file and click on the [Open] button.


All contacts in the [.wab] file should then be visible in the current identity you
imported it in.


The other way is to exit OE, replace the current wab file for a given identity with
the older one (changing the wab filename to that of the new identities') and then
restarting OE.

This is a far more complicated way of going about it and there's very few reasons I
can think of for doing it the "long way round".

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :-)




"brassplyer" wrote in message
...
On Jan 3, 2:21 pm, "Tim Meddick" wrote:
*NB - In my previous post, I assumed your slave drive was drive [D:] but
[obviously]
if it not - then you need to change the drive-letter accordingly.

*Plus - I also assumed that all you have is the old drive and that you no longer
have
access to the old copy of WinXP that was upon it.


Didn't have access to it as an O/S, though the files are on the disk.

I went through the procedure, and other than a snag when it left
duplicate "Main identities" it worked, however I seem to be not be
having success with the old address book. I copied the old .wab file
to where the current one is, but OE isn't picking up on it.

I fixed the duplicate main identity problem mention above by erasing
the newer one in the registry and the identities folder and OE then
recognized the contest of the remaining one.