Can't recover old Outlook Express mail

[essayons]

I backed up all my OE 6 mail folders under Local Settings in my Documents & Settings directory before I installed Windows XP Pro on a new HDD. Now I want to get the folders back to where I can recover my previous email configuration (for a total of 4 users, actually) but when I try to import from the new OE install, it refuses to show the Local Settings directories even though they are there, so I am at a loss as to how to recover all my mail.

help!

Thanks -

Don

[Paul Komski]

I don't know of a straightforward way of retrieving the mail account settings - unless these were first exported as .iaf files.

To get back the mail folders - first copy the backup(s) to where you want them to reside on the HDD. Then go into tools, options, maintenance and click on store folder. Then browse to where you have put your backup folders by selecting the change button.

[essayons]

I tried that, but all I get is still the single Welcome message. Perhaps there's more I need to do?

UPDATE!! I had created a new directory for my OE *.dbx files, but for some reason whenever I tried to copy my files into this directory, the inbox.dbx and outbox.dbx files never copied. I renamed the empty files and then copied again, and this time they did copy. I then did an import, and WHAM! all my dbx files were there and imported very smoothly. I'm back in business!

I also learned a few things about using OE - and if I wasn't so used to the interface I'd switch to another program right here and now - just about the best place on the net for OE advice is www.tomsterdam.com.

Thanks for your help, Paul!

Don

[Paul Komski]

Would seriously suggest changing to such as Foxmail or Thunderbird if only for ease of backup reasons. Neither of these clients are deeply integrated in the OS or Registry and the installation folder can be moved wherever you want it - and without any need for a reinstallation. Such "standalone" features are also great if you are accessing these programs from multi-boot setups. The "basic" GUI of mail clients tends to follow a very similar pattern and so the familiarity thing is a bit of lame duck in all reality.

;)