AboutJim Stiles Expertise I am a Certified Internet Web master and designer with twelve years experience in creating, developing and maintaining both personal and corporate web sites. I have an extensive working knowledge of HTML, DHTML and JavaScript. While I specialize in DHTML and JavaScript functions, my main topic is assisting persons and businesses with the overall development and outlay of their web sites. I also have 18 years of experience in Law Enforcement and Corrections. I have an extensive knowledge of all Microsoft Office applications, all Windows Operating systems, Eudora and Outlook email programs as well as Microsoft Exchange server 5.5 and Outlook Web Access. I am also certified in Video Teleconferencing and network systems.
Experience I have many various certifications from Microsoft as well as individual course studies in web site development, advanced database development, Cisco ISDN, LAN and WAN technologies. I have developed and currently maintain four personal and three corporate web sites. I currently hold the position of Network Adminstrator for the Information Services Division at my local Sheriffs Office.
Question I wish to backup my folders and addresses. I know of several programs to do so but it should be an easy task to just move them to a disk or CD.
How would you backup and save outlook express?
Thanks
using XP Home
Latest OE
J
Answer The messages in every Outlook Express folder are stored in two files, a *.idx file and a *.dbx file, on your system.
To back up a folder, simply create a copy of the corresponding *.dbx file, (for example, Inbox.dbx or Sent Items.dbx), in a convenient location, such as a floppy disk:
To back up a folder, exit Outlook Express, if you haven't already, and then follow these steps:
1. Select Start + Find + Files or Folders.
2. Type *.dbx on the Named line.
3. On the Look In line, select your hard drive.
4. Click Find Now.
Typically, on a Windows 98 system, these files are located in the
"C:\Windows\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook Express\Mail" folder.
5. In the resulting list, hold down Ctrl as you click each folder you want to back up, or press Ctrl + A to select all the folders.
6.a) To copy the files to a floppy disk, right-click the selection and choose Send To + 3 1/2 Floppy (A).
6.b) To copy the files to a folder, right-click and drag the files into this folder; then release the key and mouse button and select "Copy Here" from the shortcut menu.
Note: If you're copying the files to disk, the total size for all the folders you're copying can't be over 1.44 MB. If it is, you need to either split the files into smaller groups or compress the files by using a utility such as WinZip.
Now, here's how to restore this information to Outlook Express:
1. Exit Outlook Express, if you haven't already.
2. In an Explorer window, navigate your way to the folder that contains your Outlook Express *.dbx files.
Typically, on a Windows 98 system, these files are located in the "C:\Windows\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook Express\Mail" folder. If you aren't sure, use Find to locate them.
3. Rename the *.idx and *.dbx files that correspond to the folders you're about to restore. For example, if you plan to restore the Inbox folder, rename Inbox.idx to Inbox.idx.bak and Inbox.dbx to Inbox.dbx.bak.
4. Copy the backed-up *.dbx files to the Mail folder.
5. Delete the file folders.nch from the Mail folder. The folders.nch file contains a list of the current folder names. Launch Outlook Express and your messages should be right back where they belong.
You can delete the renamed *.idx and *.dbx files once you're sure the operation was a success.
