How to find folder that emails are stored in?

donrc · Joined: Feb 16, 2003 Posts: 882

OK. I'm about ready to start transferring files to the new i5 machine. I went online to find where my emails are stored. (Isn't it strange to have to hunt for such a thing?)
I found where the folder is supposed to be. It says it is at:

C:\Documents and Settings\Don\Local Settings\Application Data\Identities\{Long set of characters}\Microsoft\Outlook Express

Only one problem....no Local Settings folder shows up in Windows Explorer.

Any Ideas?

drc

goretsky · Posted: Wed Oct 28, 2009 12:22 am Post subject:

Hello,

Which version of Microsoft Windows and Outlook Express are running on the old computer? Have you tried searching for *.DBX files (the extension used by Microsoft Outlook Express for mail folders) to see where they are located on your computer?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

mommabear · Joined: Feb 20, 2003 Posts: 6319

donrc · Joined: Feb 16, 2003 Posts: 882

Thanks mommabear and goretsky. Found them. The problem, as mommabear suggested was that show hidden files was not checked. That is normally one of the first things I do when installing an OS. Guess I missed that step this time. So thanks again.

The new machine took Win7 without a problem. I had dual booted with Win7 RC and XP. I thought installing Win7 Home Premium would wipe out the dual boot. Not so. With the one terrabyte hard drive I have scads of room and will also install Ubuntu Linux on the third extended drive. I think I'll be able to bring it upstairs from the workbench today.

Thanks again folks! You are terrific helpers.

drc

drwho07 · Joined: Nov 29, 2007 Posts: 1546 Location: Central FL, USA

I'd rather take a poke in the eye with a sharp stick, as have two OS's on the same hard drive. The internet is alive with complaints from users who have done that and have had terrible, horrendous, disastrous results.

I'm many things, including old, cranky and partly brain dead, but one thing I will not do is install two OS's on the same HD. Nada, Nicht, Nunca, Never!

HD's are so cheap these days that even if you have to buy them at full retail (like, who really does?) you can still afford a second HD for a second OS.

I currently have three HD's in my system and each one has a different OS on it.
I use the motherboards boot menu to decide which HD (OS) to boot from.

If one HD should crash (heaven forbid) I loose only that one OS and not the whole enchilada. Play it safe.....Play it smart and never put two OS's on the same HD.

Just a bit of friendly advise.

The Doctor Cool

drwho07 · Joined: Nov 29, 2007 Posts: 1546 Location: Central FL, USA

After re-reading the first post by the topic originator,
I just wanted to say, that as usual there is a great misconception as to how MS Windows saves email information.
The emails themselves are not saved as files in a folder.
They are instead saved as entries in a 'Data Base'.
Almost like lines in a Spreadsheet or individual cards in a Card File.
Then the data base file is saved with an extension of .dbx
and then to further complicate things it's usually hidden. Cheeeech!
Could they possibly make it any harder, just to check on your saved emails?

To save (or move) all your email files, you first have to UN-Hide them, locate them and then copy them elsewhere.

As an alternative to saving an email inside of O.E. for instance, you can always click on "File" and "SAVE AS" and save the email to "My Documents" as a real file. That's a much safer way to save important emails.

In case of some unforeseen HD episode, I'd hate to loose that email that I just saved, so I wrote a simple backup batch file that copies all my .dbx files to a separate hard drive. I've incorporated that command into my daily backup batch file, which of course, I can run anytime, from a desktop icon.

"Life with a computer, can be either as simple or as complicated as you want to make it." (author unknown)

Cheers Mates!
The Doctor Cool

donrc · Joined: Feb 16, 2003 Posts: 882

Good morning Doc! Well I guess I'll really blow your mind. Not only do I have Windows XP and Win7 on the same hard drive I also have Ubuntu on there! Very Happy

The 1T harddrive was part of a barebones deal and it would be gilding the lily to add another harddrive when I will probably never fill this one up. I do have an external HD that I back up to periodically Just in case.

Appreciate the info on .dbx files.

drc

drwho07 · Joined: Nov 29, 2007 Posts: 1546 Location: Central FL, USA

I have 1.25 terabytes of storage in my system.
It's currently in four HD's. One of them is still sitting on the desk beside the PC, with Windows 7 Ultimate on it.
I've not found a bay for it yet. lol lol lol lol (Yes I'm laughing my ass off!!)

But hey, sitting on my desk, next to my PC, it does stay cool. ( agian, LMAO !!! )

But seriously, it doesn't matter how much storage you have, if that drive crashes, you loose everything.
Allus, Todo, the whole enchilada! (total destruction) Evil or Very Mad

Why would you ever do that? Are you brain dead? ( just kidding of course )

Have you never heard of file redundancy?

I have every important file in my system, backed up at least twice.
I just re-wrote my backup batch file last night to include some new folders.
When I run that file, every new or altered file, anywhere on my C: drive, is backed up to my Storage hard drive.
And of course, that includes all saved Emails and my address book.

My computer would have to be hit by a direct lightning strike and reduced to a pile of smoldering GOO for me to loose my stuff. Wink

But then, there's the DVD backup of my C: drive, that I make every week, that's in a fireproof vault, about twenty miles away.
That's always my ACE in the hole! Wink

Even in the event of fire or lightning, my important files are SAFE.

Don't be foolish....... be safe!
Everything on just one HD, is a recipe for disaster.

Doc Cool

drwho07 · Joined: Nov 29, 2007 Posts: 1546 Location: Central FL, USA

It just occurred to me......one user who took my advise to heart came up with this novel location for his extra Hard Drive.

<<-- click to expand

I'm sure that you will notice the hard drive glued to the base plate, the one with the two-fan cooler affixed. I't the blue one! Laughing

Yes, it's novel, but not new....... I've used that same drive mounting technique many times before.
The drive stays nice and cool and just works like a champ.
As long as it's stable and cool, it really doesn't give a hoot where it's mounted.

Even in the most crowded case, there's always room for one more! Wink

The red fan, the one that looks like it's suspended in space, is actually mounted in a clear plexiglass side panel.
There is absolutely NO excuse for not providing your system with adequate cooling. The fans are so cheap!...... and you can mount them almost anywhere.

Think about it !!!

Doc

Gezzer · Posted: Thu Nov 05, 2009 4:11 am Post subject:

if you wish to use Hotmail in Thunderbird or Outlook Express on Windows this howto may help …