Best Free Outlook Express Backup

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 users to back up, much less restore email messages. Backup programs potentially offer a more straightforward way to back up messages, account settings and contact details (address book).

Windows Live Mail, the replacement for Outlook Express, makes it fairly easy to backup messages and accounts and contacts. Just use the two "Export" tools -- one under the "File" menu, and the other from the Contacts window, reached from "Contacts..." under the "Tools" menu. ;-) You can import your messages, contacts and accounts from Outlook Express when you install Windows Live Mail.

Backup Programs

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.

Outlook Express Quick Backup (OEQB) makes a full backup of OE's data files and registry keys, or just a backup of the address book. A full backup includes mail folders, newsgroups, address book and identity settings.

OEQB is certainly effective, but it's somewhat confusing to install and use -- particularly the first time you do a restore operation. The instructions are hard to find but helpful.

OEQB may not behave as indicated when you start it the first time. According to the instructions, you should create the folder you want to use for backups, and then select that folder in the first window that appears when you start OEQB. The window may not appear. Just click through the exception message that does appear, and select a folder by using the OEQB "File" menu.

Manual Backup

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 manual backup.

Amic E-Mail Backup
Website: http://www.amictools.com/v-amic_email_backup.html
Download page: http://www.amictools.com/download/AmicEmailBackupSetup.exe
Author: Amic Tools
Current version: 2.0
Version date: 10/21/2006
License: Freeware
Download File size: 1.3 MB
Operating Systems Supported: Windows XP, might work on Vista
64-bit version available: No
Portable version available: No
Non-English languages supported: Unknown
Additional software required: No
Other relevant information: Review

Outlook Express Quick Backup (OEQB)
Website: http://www.oehelp.com/OEBackup/Default.aspx
Download link: http://www.oehelp.com/OEBackup/oeqbfull.zip
Author: Majik (David Guess)
Current version: 1.3.0.6
Version date: 12/12/2004
Download File size: 1,952 KB
License: Unrestricted use freeware
Operating systems supported: Windows 98/XP
Additional Software Required: OE 5.0 or later, MSVB 60 (included in download file)
64 Bit version available: No
Portable version available: No
Non-English languages supported: None

OEQB Help
http://www.oehelp.com/OEBackup/oeqb.htm

Manual backup instructions for OE
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/270670/EN-US/

This software category is maintained by volunteer editor Philip Spohn.