I just installed a larger HD. Before swapping it, I backed up the complete
content onto a large external drive.
Besides the My Documents folder, I need to move my Outlook Express folders
to the new drive as well. I did find the regular folders containing Inbox,
Outbox, Sent Items, Deleted Items and Drafts in C:\Documents and Settings\My
Name\Local Settings\Application
Data\Identities{30DigitNumber}\Microsoft\Outlook Express.
There are a few other folders there as well, but not the ones like "Family
and Friends" and others I generated. Also based on their size, they are much
to small to contain the thousants of emails the original folders still
contain. It looks like these private folders are not stored here. I may be
that their data are compressed to deal with my much too full HD.
Where can I find them and how do I copy them over onto the new larger
internal HD?
Also, when I tried to import the ones shown, only emails from 2002 were
imported while the bulk of them was generated in 2003 through 2005. Why are
the latter one not imported. I reinstalled the old drive and still found all
old E-mail where they were before. So, where can I find the newer ones?

Thanks for your help,

Regards,

John

All dbx files are in the same place. Default and user created folders.

Tools>Options>Maintenance>Store folder will reveal the location
of your Outlook Express files. Press the Tab key to highlight the folder
location, then Ctrl+C. Close OE, then Start>Run>Ctrl+V will put the location
in the box - Click OK and you'll see the OE files. Otherwise, write the
location down and navigate to it in Windows Explorer.

In WindowsXP, 2K & 3K, the OE user files (DBX and WAB) are by default
marked as hidden. To view these files in Explorer, you must enable
Show Hidden Files and Folders under Start>Control Panel>Folder
Options>View.

Is it possible that you backed up the message store from another identity?
Perhaps one that is no longer in use? Also, you must include Folders.dbx in
order to import.

See these links for references.

Backup and Restore:

http://www.insideoutlookexpress.com/backup/

http://www.oehelp.com/backup.aspx

http://www.oehelp.com/OEBackup/Default.aspx
--
Bruce Hagen
MS MVP - Outlook Express
~IB-CA~

"John" <John@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:81E86770-413E-4B54-B4DE-D537A4189C39@microsoft.com...
>I just installed a larger HD. Before swapping it, I backed up the complete
> content onto a large external drive.
> Besides the My Documents folder, I need to move my Outlook Express folders
> to the new drive as well. I did find the regular folders containing Inbox,
> Outbox, Sent Items, Deleted Items and Drafts in C:\Documents and
> Settings\My
> Name\Local Settings\Application
> Data\Identities{30DigitNumber}\Microsoft\Outlook Express.
> There are a few other folders there as well, but not the ones like "Family
> and Friends" and others I generated. Also based on their size, they are
> much
> to small to contain the thousants of emails the original folders still
> contain. It looks like these private folders are not stored here. I may be
> that their data are compressed to deal with my much too full HD.
> Where can I find them and how do I copy them over onto the new larger
> internal HD?
> Also, when I tried to import the ones shown, only emails from 2002 were
> imported while the bulk of them was generated in 2003 through 2005. Why
> are
> the latter one not imported. I reinstalled the old drive and still found
> all
> old E-mail where they were before. So, where can I find the newer ones?
>
> Thanks for your help,
>
> Regards,
>
> John

Before importing, did you empty Deleted Items and Sent Items folders, move
everything out of Inbox to other, user-created OE folders and then compact
all folders (http://www.insideoe.com/files/maintain.htm#compact)?

References:

Backup & Restore OE Data
http://www.insideoe.com/backup/index.htm
http://www.insideoe.com/faqs/how.htm#importOE5
http://www.oehelp.com/backup.aspx

OE Files & Settings
http://www.insideoe.com/files/index.htm

OE Registry Keys
http://www.insideoe.com/files/regkeys.htm

Why you may lose messages:

http://insideoe.tomsterdam.com/probl...s.htm#mailgone
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/IE/...orruption.mspx

Recovering lost data: http://www.oehelp.com/OETips.aspx#4
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
DBXtract
http://www.oehelp.com/DBXtract/Default.aspx

DBXtend (additional functionality)
http://www.oehelp.com/DBXtend/Default.aspx

DBXpress (faster, more powerful, with even greater functionality)
http://www.oehelp.com/DBXpress/Default.aspx

OEX (OE Enhancement Program)
http://www.oehelp.com/OEX/Default.aspx
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Avoiding Such Corruption in Future:

- Don't use Inbox or Sent Items to archive messages. Move them to local
folders created for this purpose.

- Empty Deleted Items folder daily.

- Disable Background Compacting [N/A in SP2] and frequently perform a manual
compact of all OE folders while "working offline". More at
http://insideoe.tomsterdam.com/files/maintain.htm.

- WinXP SP2 only: Do not shut down your machine while Windows is
automatically compacting your message store.

- Your anti-virus application's email scanning feature can also cause such
corruption. Disable it. It provides no additional protection.
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-Windows (IE/OE, Shell/User, Security), Aumha.org VSOP, DTS-L.org



John wrote:
> I just installed a larger HD. Before swapping it, I backed up the complete
> content onto a large external drive.
> Besides the My Documents folder, I need to move my Outlook Express folders
> to the new drive as well. I did find the regular folders containing Inbox,
> Outbox, Sent Items, Deleted Items and Drafts in C:\Documents and
> Settings\My Name\Local Settings\Application
> Data\Identities{30DigitNumber}\Microsoft\Outlook Express.
> There are a few other folders there as well, but not the ones like "Family
> and Friends" and others I generated. Also based on their size, they are
> much to small to contain the thousants of emails the original folders
> still contain. It looks like these private folders are not stored here. I
> may be that their data are compressed to deal with my much too full HD.
> Where can I find them and how do I copy them over onto the new larger
> internal HD?
> Also, when I tried to import the ones shown, only emails from 2002 were
> imported while the bulk of them was generated in 2003 through 2005. Why
> are the latter one not imported. I reinstalled the old drive and still
> found all old E-mail where they were before. So, where can I find the
> newer ones?
>
> Thanks for your help,
>
> Regards,
>
> John

Bruce, people often raise problems re .dbx files. You mention that "In
WindowsXP, 2K & 3K, the OE user files (DBX and WAB) are by default marked as
hidden. To view these files in Explorer, you must enable Show Hidden Files
and Folders under Start>Control Panel>Folder Options>View."

The only reference to .dbx files in OE Help is under "Compact and back up
folders."

It might be worth having in OE Help an entry entitled "dbx" (or perhaps
"Can't find files") which explains dbx files and how to retrieve them.

Faustino

We are only volunteers here. We suggest things to MS, but they are rarely
addressed, with one exception. The next Windows OS, Vista, will have a
completely remodeled e-mail client called Windows Mail. So far, the program
looks good.

As far as what you are asking for, chances are that MS will not spend much
time, or resources, with OE since WinMail (Hopefully) will correct most of
the bugs.

In a perfect world, myself and other MVPs would be out of their *lucrative*
job.
--
Bruce Hagen
MS MVP - Outlook Express
~IB-CA~

"Michael Cunningham" <mrcunningham1@optusnet.com.au> wrote in message
news:udHY%236s%23FHA.272@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
> Bruce, people often raise problems re .dbx files. You mention that "In
> WindowsXP, 2K & 3K, the OE user files (DBX and WAB) are by default marked
> as hidden. To view these files in Explorer, you must enable Show Hidden
> Files and Folders under Start>Control Panel>Folder Options>View."
>
> The only reference to .dbx files in OE Help is under "Compact and back up
> folders."
>
> It might be worth having in OE Help an entry entitled "dbx" (or perhaps
> "Can't find files") which explains dbx files and how to retrieve them.
>
> Faustino
>
>

Bruce,
Thanks for your help. I did already enable Show Hidden Files.
Following your advise, I found the "missing" folders in OE. But if I
navigate to the same folder directly on C:\ , there are a few differences:
- via C:\ there are only 18 folders versus 72 found via OE
- via C:\ the total file size is ~ 1100 KB versus ~ 220 MB found via OE
- via C:\ generic folder names are displayed versus the exact folder names
found via OE
- via C:\ all folder names have the same modification date of 2/20/2002
versus variables dates mostly in Q4 2005 if accessed via OE.
This is a puzzle to me? Can anyone explain this?

Note: I did generate a detailed list of private folders and subfolders last
year or the year before.

Thanks for your help,

Regards,

John


"Bruce Hagen" wrote:

> All dbx files are in the same place. Default and user created folders.
>
> Tools>Options>Maintenance>Store folder will reveal the location
> of your Outlook Express files. Press the Tab key to highlight the folder
> location, then Ctrl+C. Close OE, then Start>Run>Ctrl+V will put the location
> in the box - Click OK and you'll see the OE files. Otherwise, write the
> location down and navigate to it in Windows Explorer.
>
> In WindowsXP, 2K & 3K, the OE user files (DBX and WAB) are by default
> marked as hidden. To view these files in Explorer, you must enable
> Show Hidden Files and Folders under Start>Control Panel>Folder
> Options>View.
>
> Is it possible that you backed up the message store from another identity?
> Perhaps one that is no longer in use? Also, you must include Folders.dbx in
> order to import.
>
> See these links for references.
>
> Backup and Restore:
>
> http://www.insideoutlookexpress.com/backup/
>
> http://www.oehelp.com/backup.aspx
>
> http://www.oehelp.com/OEBackup/Default.aspx
> --
> Bruce Hagen
> MS MVP - Outlook Express
> ~IB-CA~
>
> "John" <John@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:81E86770-413E-4B54-B4DE-D537A4189C39@microsoft.com...
> >I just installed a larger HD. Before swapping it, I backed up the complete
> > content onto a large external drive.
> > Besides the My Documents folder, I need to move my Outlook Express folders
> > to the new drive as well. I did find the regular folders containing Inbox,
> > Outbox, Sent Items, Deleted Items and Drafts in C:\Documents and
> > Settings\My
> > Name\Local Settings\Application
> > Data\Identities{30DigitNumber}\Microsoft\Outlook Express.
> > There are a few other folders there as well, but not the ones like "Family
> > and Friends" and others I generated. Also based on their size, they are
> > much
> > to small to contain the thousants of emails the original folders still
> > contain. It looks like these private folders are not stored here. I may be
> > that their data are compressed to deal with my much too full HD.
> > Where can I find them and how do I copy them over onto the new larger
> > internal HD?
> > Also, when I tried to import the ones shown, only emails from 2002 were
> > imported while the bulk of them was generated in 2003 through 2005. Why
> > are
> > the latter one not imported. I reinstalled the old drive and still found
> > all
> > old E-mail where they were before. So, where can I find the newer ones?
> >
> > Thanks for your help,
> >
> > Regards,
> >
> > John
>
>

Thanks Michael,
That is a lot of advice to check out in one reaction!

Yes, I have message rules for all "expected" e-mail sources going to
predifined folders and frequently empty Deleted Items folder.

Will look at your other advise.

Thanks and Regards,

John

"PA Bear" wrote:

> Before importing, did you empty Deleted Items and Sent Items folders, move
> everything out of Inbox to other, user-created OE folders and then compact
> all folders (http://www.insideoe.com/files/maintain.htm#compact)?
>
> References:
>
> Backup & Restore OE Data
> http://www.insideoe.com/backup/index.htm
> http://www.insideoe.com/faqs/how.htm#importOE5
> http://www.oehelp.com/backup.aspx
>
> OE Files & Settings
> http://www.insideoe.com/files/index.htm
>
> OE Registry Keys
> http://www.insideoe.com/files/regkeys.htm
>
> Why you may lose messages:
>
> http://insideoe.tomsterdam.com/probl...s.htm#mailgone
> http://www.microsoft.com/windows/IE/...orruption.mspx
>
> Recovering lost data: http://www.oehelp.com/OETips.aspx#4
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> DBXtract
> http://www.oehelp.com/DBXtract/Default.aspx
>
> DBXtend (additional functionality)
> http://www.oehelp.com/DBXtend/Default.aspx
>
> DBXpress (faster, more powerful, with even greater functionality)
> http://www.oehelp.com/DBXpress/Default.aspx
>
> OEX (OE Enhancement Program)
> http://www.oehelp.com/OEX/Default.aspx
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> Avoiding Such Corruption in Future:
>
> - Don't use Inbox or Sent Items to archive messages. Move them to local
> folders created for this purpose.
>
> - Empty Deleted Items folder daily.
>
> - Disable Background Compacting [N/A in SP2] and frequently perform a manual
> compact of all OE folders while "working offline". More at
> http://insideoe.tomsterdam.com/files/maintain.htm.
>
> - WinXP SP2 only: Do not shut down your machine while Windows is
> automatically compacting your message store.
>
> - Your anti-virus application's email scanning feature can also cause such
> corruption. Disable it. It provides no additional protection.
> --
> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
> MS MVP-Windows (IE/OE, Shell/User, Security), Aumha.org VSOP, DTS-L.org
>
>
>
> John wrote:
> > I just installed a larger HD. Before swapping it, I backed up the complete
> > content onto a large external drive.
> > Besides the My Documents folder, I need to move my Outlook Express folders
> > to the new drive as well. I did find the regular folders containing Inbox,
> > Outbox, Sent Items, Deleted Items and Drafts in C:\Documents and
> > Settings\My Name\Local Settings\Application
> > Data\Identities{30DigitNumber}\Microsoft\Outlook Express.
> > There are a few other folders there as well, but not the ones like "Family
> > and Friends" and others I generated. Also based on their size, they are
> > much to small to contain the thousants of emails the original folders
> > still contain. It looks like these private folders are not stored here. I
> > may be that their data are compressed to deal with my much too full HD.
> > Where can I find them and how do I copy them over onto the new larger
> > internal HD?
> > Also, when I tried to import the ones shown, only emails from 2002 were
> > imported while the bulk of them was generated in 2003 through 2005. Why
> > are the latter one not imported. I reinstalled the old drive and still
> > found all old E-mail where they were before. So, where can I find the
> > newer ones?
> >
> > Thanks for your help,
> >
> > Regards,
> >
> > John
>
>

Did you check Tools | Options | Maintenance | Store Folder in OE to see
where they are being kept?
Mine are actually stored in
C:\Documents and Settings\My Name\Local Settings\Application
Data\Identities{30DigitNumber}
not
C:\Documents and Settings\My Name\Local Settings\Application
Data\Identities{30DigitNumber}\Microsoft\Outlook Express

Also look at the dates on the DBX files. Every time an OE folder is opened
the date of the DBX file is updated.

--
Frank Saunders, MS-MVP OE

"John" <John@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:F0083D47-FC43-41E0-BAA0-968A0E4B2A4D@microsoft.com
> Bruce,
> Thanks for your help. I did already enable Show Hidden Files.
> Following your advise, I found the "missing" folders in OE. But if I
> navigate to the same folder directly on C:\ , there are a few
> differences:
> - via C:\ there are only 18 folders versus 72 found via OE
> - via C:\ the total file size is ~ 1100 KB versus ~ 220 MB found via
> OE
> - via C:\ generic folder names are displayed versus the exact folder
> names found via OE
> - via C:\ all folder names have the same modification date of
> 2/20/2002 versus variables dates mostly in Q4 2005 if accessed via OE.
> This is a puzzle to me? Can anyone explain this?
>
> Note: I did generate a detailed list of private folders and
> subfolders last year or the year before.
>
> Thanks for your help,
>
> Regards,
>
> John
>
>
> "Bruce Hagen" wrote:
>
>> All dbx files are in the same place. Default and user created
>> folders.
>>
>> Tools>Options>Maintenance>Store folder will reveal the location
>> of your Outlook Express files. Press the Tab key to highlight the
>> folder location, then Ctrl+C. Close OE, then Start>Run>Ctrl+V will
>> put the location in the box - Click OK and you'll see the OE files.
>> Otherwise, write the location down and navigate to it in Windows
>> Explorer.
>>
>> In WindowsXP, 2K & 3K, the OE user files (DBX and WAB) are by default
>> marked as hidden. To view these files in Explorer, you must enable
>> Show Hidden Files and Folders under Start>Control Panel>Folder
>> Options>View.
>>
>> Is it possible that you backed up the message store from another
>> identity? Perhaps one that is no longer in use? Also, you must
>> include Folders.dbx in order to import.
>>
>> See these links for references.
>>
>> Backup and Restore:
>>
>> http://www.insideoutlookexpress.com/backup/
>>
>> http://www.oehelp.com/backup.aspx
>>
>> http://www.oehelp.com/OEBackup/Default.aspx
>>
>> "John" <John@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:81E86770-413E-4B54-B4DE-D537A4189C39@microsoft.com...
>>> I just installed a larger HD. Before swapping it, I backed up the
>>> complete content onto a large external drive.
>>> Besides the My Documents folder, I need to move my Outlook Express
>>> folders to the new drive as well. I did find the regular folders
>>> containing Inbox, Outbox, Sent Items, Deleted Items and Drafts in
>>> C:\Documents and Settings\My
>>> Name\Local Settings\Application
>>> Data\Identities{30DigitNumber}\Microsoft\Outlook Express.
>>> There are a few other folders there as well, but not the ones like
>>> "Family and Friends" and others I generated. Also based on their
>>> size, they are much
>>> to small to contain the thousants of emails the original folders
>>> still contain. It looks like these private folders are not stored
>>> here. I may be that their data are compressed to deal with my much
>>> too full HD.
>>> Where can I find them and how do I copy them over onto the new
>>> larger internal HD?
>>> Also, when I tried to import the ones shown, only emails from 2002
>>> were imported while the bulk of them was generated in 2003 through
>>> 2005. Why are
>>> the latter one not imported. I reinstalled the old drive and still
>>> found all
>>> old E-mail where they were before. So, where can I find the newer
>>> ones?