transferring Outlook express files to another PC

[wengang]

Hi all.
I have a friend (not myself) who saved all his folders from Outlook Express to .dbx files (like Inbox.dbx Sent.dbx,...) before formatting his computer

Now he can't figure out how to get the old folders to work in the new windows. I haven't used Outlook express ever, so I can't quite get it.
It seems that when you set up an "identity" on OE, it builds a folder in your documents and settings, where it sets up default files inbox.dbx, sent.dbx, etc.

So I set up an identity on my computer and then pasted over the default files with my friend's files. But when I reopened OE, it didn't change anything. Then I set up a second identity and tried to import the folders from the first identity where I'd pasted the old files. It did the import successfully but didn't change anything.

Does anybody know what I have to do with the .dbx files (I know they contain info, they are over 200 mb!) to get a fresh copy of OE to recognize them and show the messages inside them?

Thanks all.
Wengang

[ALL]

did you import everything? in outlook express you are given many options under file>import. make sure you import the messages, it is the most importatnt.

[wengang]

sure. file > import > messages. That's exactly what I'm trying to do.

It gives me the option to import from an identity or from another location.
I've tried both ways, under identity, selecting all folders, and then I get a success message, but no results in OE. The messages aren't being imported.

[dglienna]

Last time that i did it, i exported and imported .pst files.

[wengang]

right.
I don't know what my friend did to get the dbx files. I think he just tracked them down in Documents and settings and copied them, rather than export the files.

Still, the files hold over 200 mb, there must be something salvageable in them.

[ALL]

try saving it in the mail folder, where ever that is (somthing like "documents and settings/localfolders/somgthing...") and then rename it the current file he is using, then override it, and see if that woks.

PS: for outlook express you cant do a file>export because microsoft wants you to pay for some program they make to do that. the eassiest way is to right click on "local folders" and find the location, then copy that file (thats what we always do)

[wengang]

Well, I think that's what my friend did too. The dbx files were located in d&s/localsettings/.../.../identities/dfsdflkjdsf;lskdjfasdklfja;/ like that
and when I set up a new user on my pc in OE6, it set up precisely those same files in a similar location.
So when I pasted his files into the folder, there was no rename needed, it asked if I wanted to replace and I clicked Yes.
Then it replaced them.
When I opened OE again, no change at all.

[ALL]

i hate to say this, but i think your file is corrupt
try putting the file on another computer, and doing the same thing, that will tell you if there is a problem in his installation of OE6 or if it is the file.