How can I get my old mail file back into Outlook Express?

GatorDeb · 03-31-02, 11:36 AM

I copied my 42 meg mail file to CDR and then found out that there's extra steps to backup mail that I didn't take. Now I can't import it back in, and just copying to the now-empty Inbox does not work. How can I get my old mail file back into OE?

Thanks!

Eeyore · 03-31-02, 04:52 PM

i did this not too long ago and had the same problem.

this may be version dependent (of both windows and outlook express) but where were you trying to place the files?

for instance, mine were located in C:\windows\Application data\identities and follow the directories to outlook express.

if you were trying to just copy the files into that directory and it didn't show up, you may need one file from the old installation (i think it summarizes all the folders? i don't remember).

somehow i got it to work in outlook express without this file, but i really don't remember how. i hope that this is at least a bit coherent and helps nudge you in the right direction. maybe there is help online if you search google etc?

DivxGuy · 04-01-02, 12:48 AM

I hope you backed up the whole Mail directory before you reinstalled!

RD

GatorDeb · 04-01-02, 01:06 AM

This is what I did:

Copied the ONE mail file. All I have is the Inbox file. I didn't back up anything else.

I can't import it (not recognized) and if I just copy it over the current (empty) Inbox file, it doesn't recognize either.

ALL I copied was the one Inbox file.

Ben732 · 04-01-02, 08:50 AM

Along with your inbox.dbx file, there was probably a folders.dbx file. You need that folders.dbx file to be able to import your inbox into another copy of Outlook Express. Without it, Outlook Express won't know what the inbox.dbx is for. When you choose to import, Outlook Express isn't looking for the inbox.dbx file, it's looking for the folders.dbx file to tell it what folders you have.

Sorry, but if you didn't back up the folders file, you're probably out of luck.

GatorDeb · 04-01-02, 10:40 AM

THANK YOU!!!!!

Googled "Missing Folders.dbx" and found http://chattanooga.net/~scochran/DBXtract.htm .

Extracting my e-mail messages as we speak

Mail files extracted, invoice printed

I had over 4,000 files (individual messages you can double click to bring up without having to start Outlook), and succesfully copied them all to CD (it took it about 20 mins to create a file structure (before it even started copying the files)), but it didn't choke at all... so for number of files TDK 8X4X32 and Roxio Easy CD Creator 5 seem to handle extreme situations well.

I kind of like the individual mail files. I think I'm going to do this with my mail files once a month

(That was about a year of files though... I don't get 4,000 e-mails a month, and I deleted about 10 e-mails for every one I kept).

Which brings to believe there IS a fix for just about any computer screwup possible... heck even deleted hard drives can be recovered

Eeyore · 04-01-02, 02:08 PM

awesome, glad you got it fixed. it is so counter-intuitive that if you copy the "inbox" file, you can't just drop it into another installation... you're definitely not the only person who's done it, only to find out it didn't work :>

03-31-02, 11:36 AM	#1
GatorDeb DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: The "Real" Vice City Posts: 13,678	How can I get my old mail file back into Outlook Express? I copied my 42 meg mail file to CDR and then found out that there's extra steps to backup mail that I didn't take. Now I can't import it back in, and just copying to the now-empty Inbox does not work. How can I get my old mail file back into OE? Thanks! __________________ XBOX Live Gamertag: GatorDeb07 (zero seven) My XBOX 360 blogs about me "Polo por u, polo por u" - Peggy speaking Spanish from KOTH (Chicken for you, chicken for you)

04-01-02, 12:48 AM	#3
DivxGuy DVD Talk Platinum Edition Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Redmond, WA Posts: 3,988	I hope you backed up the whole Mail directory before you reinstalled! RD __________________ Blu-Ray: 32 HD-DVD: 17 DVD: 600+ and lost count

04-01-02, 01:06 AM	#4
GatorDeb DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: The "Real" Vice City Posts: 13,678	This is what I did: Copied the ONE mail file. All I have is the Inbox file. I didn't back up anything else. I can't import it (not recognized) and if I just copy it over the current (empty) Inbox file, it doesn't recognize either. ALL I copied was the one Inbox file. __________________ XBOX Live Gamertag: GatorDeb07 (zero seven) My XBOX 360 blogs about me "Polo por u, polo por u" - Peggy speaking Spanish from KOTH (Chicken for you, chicken for you)

04-01-02, 08:50 AM	#5
Ben732 DVD Talk Platinum Edition Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Edison, NJ Posts: 3,463	Along with your inbox.dbx file, there was probably a folders.dbx file. You need that folders.dbx file to be able to import your inbox into another copy of Outlook Express. Without it, Outlook Express won't know what the inbox.dbx is for. When you choose to import, Outlook Express isn't looking for the inbox.dbx file, it's looking for the folders.dbx file to tell it what folders you have. Sorry, but if you didn't back up the folders file, you're probably out of luck. __________________ "Today must be Thursday, I never could get the hang of Thursdays..." ----

04-01-02, 10:40 AM	#6
GatorDeb DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: The "Real" Vice City Posts: 13,678	THANK YOU!!!!! Googled "Missing Folders.dbx" and found http://chattanooga.net/~scochran/DBXtract.htm . Extracting my e-mail messages as we speak Mail files extracted, invoice printed I had over 4,000 files (individual messages you can double click to bring up without having to start Outlook), and succesfully copied them all to CD (it took it about 20 mins to create a file structure (before it even started copying the files)), but it didn't choke at all... so for number of files TDK 8X4X32 and Roxio Easy CD Creator 5 seem to handle extreme situations well. I kind of like the individual mail files. I think I'm going to do this with my mail files once a month (That was about a year of files though... I don't get 4,000 e-mails a month, and I deleted about 10 e-mails for every one I kept). Which brings to believe there IS a fix for just about any computer screwup possible... heck even deleted hard drives can be recovered __________________ XBOX Live Gamertag: GatorDeb07 (zero seven) My XBOX 360 blogs about me "Polo por u, polo por u" - Peggy speaking Spanish from KOTH (Chicken for you, chicken for you) Last edited by GatorDeb; 04-01-02 at 11:52 AM.

03-31-02, 04:52 PM	#2
Eeyore DVD Talk Special Edition Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: WashingtonDC Posts: 1,182	i did this not too long ago and had the same problem. this may be version dependent (of both windows and outlook express) but where were you trying to place the files? for instance, mine were located in C:\windows\Application data\identities and follow the directories to outlook express. if you were trying to just copy the files into that directory and it didn't show up, you may need one file from the old installation (i think it summarizes all the folders? i don't remember). somehow i got it to work in outlook express without this file, but i really don't remember how. i hope that this is at least a bit coherent and helps nudge you in the right direction. maybe there is help online if you search google etc?

04-01-02, 02:08 PM	#7
Eeyore DVD Talk Special Edition Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: WashingtonDC Posts: 1,182	awesome, glad you got it fixed. it is so counter-intuitive that if you copy the "inbox" file, you can't just drop it into another installation... you're definitely not the only person who's done it, only to find out it didn't work :>