Recover Outlook Express Address Book

Maccy · 27 Apr 2011 at 10:32

I've tried Googling for all sorts of guides her but not getting much luck.

Mum's computer died last week so purchased new parts (great service as always OC!) and installed XP onto a new drive. I have the existing drive connected as well so can view all previous data on there.

However I need to restore the Address Book data from her Outlook Express, stupidly she hadn't backed it up. Is there any way of finding the correct file and manually importing it?

If I could do this for the messages as well that would be a plus, although I haven't had much luck despite copying over the Identities folders from the old Documents.

edscdk · 27 Apr 2011 at 10:40

search for a .wab file, make sure you include hidden / systems

its in either profile\application data\microsoft\<a folder with the word address book in its name> or profile\local settings\microsoft\<same as other one>

then in outlook select import OTHER <not outlook address book> (i htink) if you pick import address book it will want to imort from exchange...

Maccy · 27 Apr 2011 at 10:42

Ta, just had another search in App. Data and found the Microsoft folder, then Address book. Easy enough to import!

edscdk · 27 Apr 2011 at 10:44

to get old emails abck - search the drive for *.dbx, there may be a few but some with obviously show the folder names she used to have and have recent folder date...

the fiels are usually in \application data\microsoft or local settings\microsoft

copy the folder onto the new machine, use the ?tools? ?options? ?maintenance? to move the current folder store, tell it NOT to overwrite next time you open outlook you should see the old emails...

edscdk · 27 Apr 2011 at 10:46

edscdk said:
to get old emails abck - search the drive for *.dbx, there may be a few but some with obviously show the folder names she used to have and have recent folder date...

the fiels are usually in \application data\microsoft or local settings\microsoft

copy the folder onto the new machine, use the ?tools? ?options? ?maintenance? to move the current folder store, tell it NOT to overwrite next time you open outlook you should see the old emails...

thats move it to the location you put the files you want... (but tell it not to overwrite)

I always put it in "my docs\email" - so its easy for people to back up...