Archiving mail & address files.

[allthatglitters]

After several HDD failures and listening to several friends and colleges, I was wonder if there is a simple way to archive the internet mail and the address book? As an example for Outlook or Express in XP.

[Jet II]

To save emails go to:

C: - Documents and Settings - 'Your' Name or logon - Local Settings - Application Data - Identities - {xxx} (varies with user - Microsoft - Outlook Express

Copy the contents of the Outlook Express folder, this gives all email and newsgroup activity.

For Address book go to:

C: - Documents and Settings - 'Your' Name or logon - Application Data - Microsoft - Address Book

Copy the files in the Address Book folder for the contents of your address book

[Background Noise]

To make the above procedure even easier (in future) you can change the folder your messages are stored in to somewhere more usable. You need to create the new folder then in OE select 'tools', 'options', 'maintenance', 'store folder' and navigate to your new folder. (You can then import all your old stuff to your new store ('file' 'import' 'messages' from within OE) - or just copy the files from their current store to the new one from outside OE.

You can also back up/copy any messages by dragging and dropping. Just click on a message (or several) and drag it to a folder of your choice (or CDR). You get individual ***.eml files for each message rather than a single encrypted inbox.dbx file. Dot.eml files can be opened in Word for instance.

You can easily back up/copy your address book from OE by going to 'tools' 'address book' 'file' 'export' and then choose your destination.

[allthatglitters]

Thank you for your help, hopefully it will save any futher lose of my contacts and mail.