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Best Free Outlook Express Backup
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| Introduction |
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Many email programs do not provide a practical way to back up messages, contacts and accounts. For example, Outlook Express (OE) uses an arcane data store that makes it difficult for ordinary mortals to back up, much less restore email messages. Backup programs offer a more straightforward way to back up messages, account settings and contact details (address book).
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Discussion
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Outlook Express Backup is a full-featured backup program from Genie-Soft, who specializes in backup software. This is a splendid program. OEB is suitable for all users, as it's easy to install and easy to use in default mode, yet it's very powerful. There are "wizards" to lead you through the backup and restore steps. You can easily schedule automatic backups. The backup archive is simply a Zip file (with extension *.boe). This is a find by Tech Support Alert editor Rhiannon.
KLS Mail Backup does not backup POP or IMAP accounts. That means you cannot use it to backup webmail accounts like Gmail or Hotmail directly. Amic E-Mail Backup is a good basic backup program for Outlook Express. It backs up messages, contacts and accounts. Amic is easy to install and easy to use. Amic does backup a number of other email programs, but not Thunderbird or Windows Live Mail. Amic does not seem to have been actively developed since 2006. [review] |
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Manual Backup
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iOpus has an article on using Microsoft's own File and Settings Transfer Wizard -- included in Windows XP -- to back up Outlook Express. Their utility captures messages, settings, accounts and contacts. You simply restore them as if your "old" computer is now your "new" computer. I used Outlook Express for several years in a previous life. ;-) I simply used Windows Explorer to manually back up the messages and address book, and I exported account settings directly, using the "Account Settings" dialog under "Tools". You'll find Microsoft's guide helpful if you want to try this approach to manual backup. |
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Related Products and Links
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| Best Free Email Backup Utility |
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Comments
my emails are 'piggy backing' onto the email i originally sent, with a '+' sign to the left of the email in the inbox, i have to click the '+' to see the email(s), : how can i 'undo' this ? it wasn't doing this yesterday, before i installed avast free security; i don't know if avast has anything to do with this, i had avg free before; thanks
Sorry, but we are unable to provide individual support here in the comments sections. Please post your query here in our forum.
http://www.techsupportalert.com/freeware-forum/general-computer-support/
Just archieved my Gmail- no problem. Now, how do I backup my Gmail contacts?
Thanks very much for everyone's work.
Go to Gmail "Help" (link is at the top of the Gmail page). Search for "backup contacts".
.." Comment: I know there are valid reasons for staying with an old friend, but Outlook Express is past its "sell-by" date. ;-) Microsoft's new Windows Live Mail is similar to Outlook Express, but it is improved and more secure..."
My problem with Windows Live Mail is that Microsoft has purposely chosen to make Live Mail INCOMPATIBLE with Windows XP. Yeah, yeah, know, I could buy Windows 7. Why? That's what they want (mo' money). XP and OE work just fine...
@Stoic Warrior
You could even say past its "best-if-used-by" date. ;-) I've been thinking about retiring this page. When you pointed out that you're stuck with it for Windows XP, I realized that the time to do that is when support for XP expires. A couple more years I think.
MailStore Home has a portable beta version, just tried it and works great.
Thanks for the tip waynebob. I've updated the information. I just may switcdh to the portable myself when it leaves beta.
StaticBackup referred to under Related Products & Links now offers payware or a 20 day trial.
Regards
wasbit
Thanks for letting me know Wasbit. I'm going to remove it as soon as I post this reply. :-)
Comments here -- the page you're on now -- should relate directly to software that fits the title, "Best Free Outlook Express Backup".
Gizmo's Freeware Forum is a better place to get help at this site for specific questions. More editors watch the forum, and you'll get excellent support there.
http://www.techsupportalert.com/freeware-forum/
http://www.techsupportalert.com/freeware-forum/freeware-forum/
http://www.techsupportalert.com/freeware-forum/general-computer-support/
How can I open pps files in Outlook Express please?. Something simple please as the brain cells are deteriorating fastand idont know much about computers
Thank ypo
Most *.pps files are PowerPoint files. If you have Microsoft Office you should be able to open a *.pps attachment with PowerPoint.
If you don't have Office there is a free reader.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=048DC840-14E1-4...
Hi Gizmo
can you help me please I have just moved to windows 7 and am having the devil of a time getting my old OE6 email transfered, It was all compreesed as DBX files and above you say
"The default "Store Folder" is named "Outlook Express" and can be copied onto a CD or an external hard drive or a flash memory drive, from which it can be copied onto your new PC's hard drive. This will get all your old OE messages into WLM, but, unfortunately, not your OE Address Book."
But I am unable to aopen a single dbx file with Windows Live mail and where on the hard drive shopuld I copy it?
what am I doing wrong?
Rgds
Derek Ashmore
When you write, "I have just moved to windows 7...'" it's not clear if you upgraded an old computer or are now using a new computer. If you are able to run Outlook Express on an XP machine you could install Windows Live Mail on it, and let the install process import from Outlook Express. Then you could move the Windows Live Mail store to the Windows 7 machine.
On the other hand, if you only have the old Outlook Express store to work with, one of these links may help.
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/importing-your-e-mail-contacts-and-calendar-into-windows-live-mail
http://morethanmail.spaces.live.com/default.aspx?sa=346177734
http://www.pcdon.com/080113OutlookExpress-WindowsLiveMail.html
HTH,
Phil Spohn
Outlook Express Backup is NOT "unrestricted freeware". The setup license agreement explicitly states:
"The evaluation version is the only version that is provided without charge; however, the evaluation version is not free software. All rights and licenses to the evaluation version automatically expire 15 days after first installation, after which you must register
with Genie-Soft.com Inc. and pay the then current license fee. Payment
must be in US dollars drawn on a US bank. For details on
registration methods, please refer to the help file in the
software, or contact Genie-Soft.com Inc."
This program does not appear to belong on Gizmo.
This is the link to the free version I pulled off the web just now:
http://www.genie-soft.com/products/oeb/default.html
Which is confirmed by the cnet page link:
http://download.cnet.com/Outlook-Express-Backup/3000-2242_4-10211218.htm...
This also from the Genie-Soft extended information page:
"Backup, Protect, Restore, Every thing, Anytime, With a click of a button. *This software is totally free of charge"
@MidnightCowboy Thanks for researching the current status of the free version of Outlook Express Backup.
Cheers
No problem - glad to help out :)
MailStore Home requires MS Net Framework
KLS works flawlessly without it.
Thanks for the comment Anon. I've included KLS in the reviews.
Cheers
KLS Mail Backup
http://www.kls-soft.com/klsmailbackup/
Backup:
Windows Mail profile and Windows Contacts
Windows Live Mail profile, Contacts and Messenger Files
Outlook Express profiles and Windows Address Book
Internet Explorer Favorites and Internet Accounts
Mozilla, Seamonkey, Thunderbird and Firefox profiles
Opera profiles
The Bat! profiles
IncrediMail profiles
Backup to: local and network drives
Standard ZIP compression
Full and incremental backup mode
Flexible restore options
Looks as if KLS Mail Backup covers backup of email messages and program profiles for a number of widely used programs.
Cheers
can anyone suggest a simple way, or programme, to back up win live mail and restore, also to a new install on second hard drive? thanks (XP SP3)
You can export/inport both messages and account settings via "Files" > "Export"/"Import" in the menu bar of Windows Live Mail. You can access your contacts via "Tools" > "Contacts", and export/inport them via "Files" in the contacts manager window. That should cover everything you need to backup/transfer messages, settings and contacts in Windows Live Mail.
Cheers
Thanks for reply. I did try this before but it didnt seem to work when transferring/importing messages. Account settings imported, but no messages! an 'imported folder' appeared in the pane under storage folders, but it was empty! Any ideas?
You could try copying the entire Windows Live Mail data "Store Folder" to backup or move everything -- contacts, account settings and messages. Mine is located at C:\Documents and Settings\{User Name of your Windows account}\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Windows Live Mail. Make sure WLM is closed before proceeding.
You can also find your "Store Folder" with the following steps in Windows Live Mail itself: [Click "Tools" in the Windows Live Mail menu bar > select "Options" > select the "Advanced" tab > click the "Maintenance" button > click the "Store Folder" button] You can then navigate to the folder with Windows Explorer. What I do when messing about with folders like this is make a copy of the entire folder as a backup and then experiment to see how things work.
I also found a free WLM backup program, which I have not tried yet. It's described at http://techie-buzz.com/ -- search for "backup windows live mail" (without the quotes) when you get there. Or download it at http://www.staticbackup.com/free-windows-live-mail-backup-install.exe
Let me know how things work out
Thanks for reply
Staticbackup is a good find, neat and simple. thanks for that.
Am still trying things, but so far:
Re transferring from WLM on HD1 to WLM on second HD - copying the WLM folder over seems to have worked, but i had to ensure that the WLM folder on HD2 was empty to avoid duplication/corruption. there was some kind of store corruption when starting WLM on HD2 but this was automatically recovered by WLM. also the account passwords were not transferred (whereas they are transferred if the accounts are exported and imported using WLM itself)
still cant import messages to hD2 using WLM, end up with an empty 'imported folder' still.
Is this an inherent problem with WLM? or am i doing things wrongly?
Backing up WLM on HD1 using static and restoring on HD2 worked, but again the passwords were not transferred. password issue is not a big prob though!
Havent yet tried static restore on HD1, or similarly WLM message import on HD1.
Anyway, staticbackup seems to be good, so far!
Thanks again for your help.
Thanks for the update Anon. I've found that it's harder to transfer contacts, accounts and email for most email programs than it is to simply backup/restore. Every situation seems to be a bit different. :-( Seems like you're going about it in a good way. One possibility is that registry entries are confused, and that WLM knows how to straighten them out.
Cheers
Update
All is now sorted!
'Empty' imported folder was user error! - Importing the exported is simple, and works well; the import appears as an 'imported folder' and all is contained therein, and can be dealt with accordingly. I like this method.
Copying over seems to restore 'as is' but with poss of some corruption.
Password issue - read that this may be due to it being restored/copied to a new install (although using WLM account export/import does retain password)
Therefore would use WLM export/import rather than copying over! also, to import messages first and then accounts, if doing both.
Staticbackup is quick and simple, and restores 'as is' (no 'imported folder'), except it seems passwords are not retained if restoring to new/re install.
Thanks for your help
Anon
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