Genealogy Chat

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Have just been out and bought a new computer! Yey! Last time I bought a new one, was just before I started researching my family tree, so it was just a case of plugging it in, loading any programs I needed and away we go!! This time it’s whole different ball game, because the amount of stuff I have ‘saved’ on the computer. Family tree software, etc is not a problem, know what I’m doing there. My biggest problem is E-mails. I have literally 100’s that I have saved in folders on OE, of info that other people have sent to me, in the body of the e-mail. I know how to deal with anything that has been sent as an attachment. There appears to be no way of salvaging these e-mails from the computer, other than to print them all off onto paper, or e-mail them all back to myself!! I feel sure they should be a way to save them on to a CD, but can’t for the life of me work it out. Any ideas!! Thanks Debbie Ps Forgot to say that I have looked on the Outlook Express website, but can't find anything that seems to answer the question.

Hi Debbie, There is a way of saving your emails from Outlook Express - It is not that obvious though. I'll need to check it out as I haven't done it for a while. Get back to you soon. Peter

Hi Deborah May be a daft question but, do you not have a 'files and settings transfer wizard' on your new pc? If you're not sure then look in start/programs/accessories/system tools and scroll down to it. Before you do that look in help and support, type in 'files and settings transfer wizard' and look at the overview. It should explain it pretty good. All this is assuming you have Xp? Hope that helps. Good luck Vikki xx

Debbie - I'm sure you can do it from Outlook Express because I copied all mine onto a floppy to get them onto my new computer a few months ago but can't remember exactly how. Kate.

Hi all, Sorry, just been having dinner. MGHS I know what you mean, but I can't do that. My e-mail is provided by Tesco, but I have always collected it through OE, so that's where everything is saved. There is nothing in the tesco mail box. Vicki, Haven't even taken in out of the box yet! There's so much extra to think about this time, and it was a spur of the moment purchase, so hadn't pre-prepared for this!! But yes, it is xp, same as this one. Debbie

Debbie, Instuctions as promised - good luck. Copying Outlook Express Messages. Open Outlook Express and go to Tools then Options and click on the Maintenance Tab, then click on the Store Folder button. Select the name of the folder by highlighting everything in the centre box , then right-click and copy. You now have your folder path and name on you clipboard. Close the dialogue boxes, then click on Start, then Run, then right-click and select Paste. You should find that your Outlook Express Store Folder name appears in the box. Press Enter. Now copy all your files (they should have an extension .dbx) from this folder to your backup CD, then from that into a new folder on the new computer. Select all the files in this new folder, right click on the selection, select properties and then un-tick the box marked “Read Only” Once you have done this, open Outlook Express on the new PC – click on Cancel if it asks you to set up a new account. Click on the Tools Menu, then Options, then on the Maintenance tab, and finally on the store folder button. Click on Change, and browse to the folder in which you copied the .dbx files. Click on OK, the OK again to close the dialogue boxes. Outlook Express will ask whether to use the new messages – click on Yes. Then close Outlook Express and open it again to see your old messages on your new PC.

Hi Peter, Thank you very much! Will definitely give that a go. Debbie

Hi Peter, All done!! Thank you, that worked a treat!! Debbie