What folders are needed to backup Windows Mail + Contacts?

Draeger · 27 Jul 2009 at 09:42

Hi,

I have a friends laptop here which won't boot up. It froze at some point and after switching off using the on/off switch it said "System Volume is corrupt" and ran through chkdsk etc, but it is just going round and round in a boot loop now and refuses to boot up. Safe mode freezes at chkdisk.sys and never loads either.

Before I attempt a fix I need to backup all her data. I have used a PE disc to boot the thing and can see absolutely everything on the drive and have started backing it all up. She uses Windows Mail for email purposes and I would like to know exactly what folders and files I need to backup from it in order to be able to drop everything back into it when the repair is complete just in case the drive needs a format and Vista reinstalled.

How do I go about backing up Windows Mail, what files and folders need saved and also once I have the required files and folders, how do I get all the info in them back into a new install of Vista/Windows Mail?.

Likewise with her "Contacts". What do I need to backup to keep them all?.

I've backed up Outlook/Windows Mail info before but it was using Genie Mail Backup installed on a working and bootable Vista, never backed up anything like this using just a PE disc where the only thing I can do is see the files and copy and paste what is required to an external drive so any assistance is highly appreciated!.

Many thanks. :cool:

Uhtred · 27 Jul 2009 at 09:46

By default it is placed on the C drive, under your username in the AppData\Local\Microsoft\ Windows Mail.

Not sure about contacts.

edit - oh, contacts are under the profile with documents/pictures etc

Draeger · 27 Jul 2009 at 14:39

Cool, ta. So thats all I need to back up?.

Then after a reinstall of Vista, just copy those folders back over into where they are supposed to go and all previous email etc will return?.

Uhtred · 27 Jul 2009 at 15:52

with the contacts - certainly. With windows mail you might need to use the import function, i'm not familiar with the programme though so someone else might need to confirm...

It would be worth importing the files on another PC first to check you've got everything before clearning the disk...just to be safe

theheyes · 27 Jul 2009 at 18:09

I've bung emails straight into the folder and Windows Mail repopulated the inbox when I next run it when I had to restore for someone. It worked for me but your mileage may vary - I can't see why it wouldn't though.

Draeger · 27 Jul 2009 at 19:06

Cheers guys. Well, I've copied the entire "Windows Mail" folder from the Users folder so I'm guessing I've got everything I need somewhere in there. Whether just dropping it into a new install of WM will work or whether I need to select "Import" and point it somewhere within the folder remains to be seen. :cool: