Backing Up and Restoring Outlook Express E-mail
You can actually do this without any 3rd party software. It is bit tricky but your can restore your Outlook express email relatively easily.
To Back Up Your Outlook Express Email
It is a good idea to backup your email- especially important ones- on an ongoing basis. If you think your hard drive is failing, you want to format your exisiting hard drive or you bought a new computer and want to move your email over there is a way to do it.
How to back-up Outlook Express Email
You will need to back up each individual file for your mailbox folders. The extension for the folders in dbx.
You will have a folder called Inbox.dbx, Sent.dbx and then for each of the folders you have set up. For example if you have set up forlders for “Family” you will have a database for that called Family.dbx.
Where to find Outlook Express Databases
These folder are pretty well hidden. If you are backing up and have access to your Outlook Express email you can find them by opening your email and in the Folder pane right click on the name of the folder. ( Any folder will do- they are all in the same place)
The files will be in :
C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Local Settings\Application Data\Identities\{Your Numbers Here}\Microsoft\Outlook Express\
If your email is not in admin or you have multiple users instead of Administrator use name of user.
If you go to Explorer you will see all the .dbx files for your folders. Copy /save/burn onto cd/dvd or put on thumb key the ones you want to keep. If you are wiping out your hard drive or hard drive failing do not store these files on the same drive.
Note: If you just save Inbox.dbx you will not save email that is in other folders- you must save individual .dbx files for each folder.
Restoring Your Outlook Express Email
You need to have access to your dbx files ( the database files for your email) To find see above or use the files you saved. If your drive has crashed it is possible to find.
I have used data recovery software successfully. The one I like is Recoversoft Data Rescue and also .
If you are using recovery software do a search for dbx extension files and/or look in directory for:
Documents and Settings\Administrator\Local Settings\Application Data\Identities\{Your Numbers Here}\Microsoft\Outlook Express\
If you have your files then here goes… This is tedious.
Install Outlook Express
Install outlook Express on your new computer or drive. If you reinstall into same drive, etc as OLD version you may over write your dbx files so make sure you have them saved.
Create New Folders in Outlook Express
Create new folders with the same name as your old ones. You will have course you inbox.dbx and sent.dbx , etc folder recreated for you. You have to make new folders for folder you created eg. ” recipes” or “Family” , They have to be the EXACT same name as you old folder names and are case sensitive.
New Outlook Express Folder CANNOT Be Empty!
There has to be an email in each of the folders for the database to “exist”. If you copy over you old folder then they won’t replace then folders- a new copy will created. eg. you will have an inbox.dbx folder and and inbox1.dbx folder.
What I do is just copy the welcome email from Outlook express into every folder.
Copy Over Your Old DBX files
Now you can copy over your old dbx files. Highlight the folder you want to put into your new version of Outlook express and simply copy over the dbx folders in new you have saved somewhere. When asked if you want to replace then say yes.
Your Outlook Express Email Restored
Your email will now be restored! Check your individual folder and see. If you don’t see the email then make sure you have copied them over to the right spot.
If your emails are not there most likely problems is you have to put in the right spot ( it is confusing) OR you did not create a new folder with same name as old one / put an email int he folder and did not copy over.
Any question let me know and I will try to help.
isn’t it fun how easy they make it? i’ve had to rebuild client’s folders after corruption and other such nonsense. outlook is a bit better in terms of moving things over, but i still don’t like how unfriendly it is for the typical user. good explanation! your blog in general is very helpful.
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Will this work for the new windows mail supplied with vista?
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thats so greats if i forgot my emails
thanks
I heard about not bad application-restore outlook express, it can restore deleted account setting and similar, and more than, restore Microsoft Outlook (not Oulook Express) messages, contacts, notes, journals and so on, recover Outlook Express 5, 5.5, 6 dbx files.
Netscape Communicator 4.8 has an old but very good email client in it. Used it since the late ’90’s.
Thanks really its a great article. But tell me will this also work with XP windows Black. Because i don’t want to switch to any other Operating system.
Outlook can also be backed up in a similar way… saves spending money on ‘backup software’ doing it manually as you suggest is the way to go… great info
So, this has me wondering if it’s commonplace for Outlook to actually need all these precautions? I moved away from Outlook, but I am so used to it that I want to use it as my primary email again. Should I take this as a warning, or is Backing Up just a recommendation for all email?
Thanks for the post, as it happens I just had to do a transfer between two machines today and was glad to find your helpful post
Very easy to do and worked like a charm.
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Hey i personally tried it today.. And you know what it really worked. i am really glad that i come across this article.Thanks for the wonderful post.
This is a pretty good guide, effective I believe. It’s hard to believe that Microsoft makes it so darn difficult. But, I guess that’s not a bad thing for us computer repair guys.
Good job, found this while doing some research today, and definitely answered my questions.
Here’s my problem: I believe strongly in inbox zero; that is: having my inbox constantly have zero emails in it. Is there anyway I could create an archive of my emails and then back it up with each new email that comes in? Or would that be too much work?