Outlook Express *.dbx files import into Thunderbird?

[~Divine~Wind~]

Well my xp install went wonky and spent a while replacing files, botting other PC, locatin files replacing files to the extent now that outlook express will now not open.

I have recvered all of the .dbx files from the outlook express settings folder.

Can I use these to rebuild my folders/mail/settings in thunderbird or will I need to install outlook express and export them all?

Anyone done this before?

 

[Tomc@T]

Yes you can, I usually just drop them into the new folder created by Outlook Express.

Dont know about Thunderbird.

 

[~Divine~Wind~]

thats the thing,

This PC is vista and as such no outlook express.
just need to make sure I can retreive the mails before I nuke the xp machine

 

[Tomc@T]

I have not done it on a Vista machine before, I will boot my XP machine and try it on my Vista notebook.

 

[Pho]

thats the thing,

This PC is vista and as such no outlook express.
just need to make sure I can retreive the mails before I nuke the xp machine

Can you not import them into Windows Mail?

 

[Tomc@T]

Well that was a ball ache.... but I got there in the end with the help of Google!!!

First off, I tried to just import an OE6 store via File -> Import -> Messages

It just would not work, I then found some help with this link on Google:

http://www.oehelp.com/backup.aspx#oe2wm

Apparantly you have to make sure that your dbx files are NOT read-only, so navigate to the folder where you store them, press ctl and A then right click, select properties and uncheck the Read-Only Box.....

Tried it again and Vista/Windows Mail gave me an error message about the files being in use....????

As I had taken the files from my main PC, I decided to take ownership of the files, so right clicked on the folder and took ownership. (you might not need to do this)

I then did the import messages (OE6 store) via Windows Mail, it selected the folder I chose and then I could import them ok.

It will create a folder called Imported Folders in the folder list.

Also note there appears to be a bug when selecting your folder, it will name the last folder twice, I just click on browse again and selected the menu and it was okay with that.

I learnt something new tonight!! Hope it helps you.

 

[~Divine~Wind~]

hey thanks for the info, Ive been back and forthe between thunderbird,vista mail and outlook...

Errors on all of them

I only have the .dbx files not the exported files which I think is why I might be seeing these troubles, nuked the xp machine, Acronis to the rescue!

 

[Tomc@T]

I only have the .dbx files not the exported files which I think is why I might be seeing these troubles, nuked the xp machine, Acronis to the rescue!

I only had the dbx files too....

 

[~Divine~Wind~]

not sure whats gone on then tbh lol.

The copying of the dbx's back into outlook has restred everything but account settings and message rules.

Gonna rebuild completely then see what export options I have.

 

[Tomc@T]

not sure whats gone on then tbh lol.

The copying of the dbx's back into outlook has restred everything but account settings and message rules.

Gonna rebuild completely then see what export options I have.

The dbx files only contain the email information, they do not hold account information nor any message rules, if you wanted the account information, you would have had had to export the account into a .iaf (iirc) and then import it into Windows Mail.

As long as you know you email account settings, this is not a problem, just set them up as normal and the add new message rules as you require them.