how do i get emails and address book from outlook?

[yogitree69]

My main drive (xp)wont boot so im gonna have to wipe it.
Ive got xp on my second drive and want to import the address book and email (http://toolbar.desktoptraffic.net/cgi-bin//ezlclk.fcgi?id=69)s from outlook on my first drive to outlook on my second drive.

ive had a look at the import/export but it doesnt do what i'd like to do.

I cant use the transfer files and settings as i need to run it on the other drive and as i said before it doesnt boot.


I hope this makes sense.

Any help would be great
Thanks

[PhilEnfield]

Yep ... makes perfect sense, I had the same problem a week ago, when my old box gave up the ghost.

The problem is "Outlook Excuse" stores the .eml files in a binary format, which makes it difficult/impossible to read, with any other application, so you will need an extract program to retrieve them. I have a small utility that does this, so if you email me through the forum, I'll send it over to you.

In order to view/access the folders, in XP,you will need to change Folder Options/View ...... to "Show Hidden Files & Folders" & uncheck "Hide Protected System Files" box.

The Emails are stored in Documents and Settings, see path below (substitute Phil with your Username) :

C:\Documents and Settings\Phil\Local Settings\Application
Data\Identities\{85F602F1-76B2-4C33-8444-B8EB7A4A6891}\Microsoft\Outlook Express ....(these nos.will differ).
You will see your folders with a .dbx extension and it's these you need to extract to a location on your HDD. Once extracted the individual emails will be listed, with the .eml extension.

Once you extract the .eml files you can drag/drop them back to OE on your new drive.
The easist way of doing this that I found was to open OE, open the Local Folder(s), showing the emails and copy paste.

I hope that all makes sense ;)

P.S.

Your address book is saved as a .wab file ... do a search on the old HDD for this, although, if you never exported it on the old setup, you may not be able to retrieve it, however you will be able to find most of them from your old emails.

[Zac]

I have had success just picking up the dbx files and moving them then replacing them on the new system, but found the address book had to be exported.

[PhilEnfield]

I have had success just picking up the dbx files and moving them then replacing them on the new system, but found the address book had to be exported.Yeah ... you can move the dbx folders over, but this will overwrite any stuff saved already on the new setup. Also OE is quite temperamental, when you tinker with it's binaries and can get corrupted quite easily, so you take this risk, doing it this way.

By extracting the .eml files from the dbx directories, you can then add them to anything existing on the new setup and it also gives you a chnce to filter/delete those emails you dont really want to keep ;)

[Zac]

Thanks for the tip Phil

[yogitree69]

Thanks, i will try later today and let you know the results!!

[yogitree69]

Hi, just to let you know it worked a treat.
Thanks so much for that, you saved my bacon!!

[PhilEnfield]

Glad it worked ok 4 u m8

I just found out also that your address book may be retrievable ....

Change folder Options to show hidden folders and go to C:\Documents and Settings\Phil\Application Data\Microsoft\Address Book ...... (replacing Phil with your username, of course) and if there's a .wab file there ..... bingo !