How Do I Backup My Outlook Express Files?
There are a couple of ways to back up your Outlook Express files. Outlook Express was and is widely used by many PC users because it was included free on many Windows operating systems. Over the past few years, as users have moved from operating systems such as Windows XP to Windows Vista, Outlook Express has been replaced by email programs such as Windows Live Mail and Hotmail. Concerns about transferring or backing up Outlook email files and address books are common but can be accomplished by following a few steps.
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Instructions
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Backing up email messages
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Click on "Tools" on the menu bar.
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Select "Options".
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Click the "Maintenance" tab.
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Click the "Store Folder" button.
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Find the directory that contains your email folders from the dialogue box that appears.
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Exit Outlook and back up your files by copying them to an external source, such as a CD.
Backing up your address book
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Click on the "Start" menu.
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Select "All Programs" and then click the "Accessories" item.
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Click on "Address Book".
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Select the "File" tab, and then click on "Export".
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Click on "Address Book (WAB)" and choose a location, such as a CD, for your file.
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Tips & Warnings
You also can transfer Outlook items other than email and address books, such as signatures, rules and accounts, but it is a complicated process requiring advanced computer skills. Software such as Outlook Express Backup Wizard simplifies and speeds up the process.
Mail folders that have been backed up to a CD usually will appear as "read-only" files, and will need to be copied to another computer's hard drive and "unmarked" before being imported into the new email program.
In the past, it was possible to drag and drop Outlook email messages onto a CD to copy and back them up, but this can result in "read-only" files that can be read on the backup device (CD) but sometimes cannot be unmarked and imported into a new email program.
