Access old mail from OE in Outlook 2010

SevenNoHeaven · Oct 31, 2013

I upgraded from Windows XP to Windows 7 using Windows Easy Transfer. Had Outlook Express (lots of mail history in folders and lots of contacts) before upgrade to 7.

Installed Windows Live Mail and used WLM import but very few and only the oldest messages came through, no others or contacts come through with import.

I have Office 2010 installed and now think Outlook 2010 is better for my needs anyway.

In addition to the WET file I have a "spare" back up file (.bck) from before the migration stored separately on a pocket drive.

I'm no techie but with some guidance I hope I can use Outlook and see my mail and contacts (incredibly important). Need some advice before I try something and ruin my chances. What steps do I need to take now?

Phillip Corcoran · Nov 1, 2013

Your existing backups will probably be no good for what you want to do. You need to be able to run your old Windows XP/Outlook Express (doesn't matter if it's on a different computer) to be able to migrate it's data in to Outlook on your new computer:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/outlook-help/import-your-messages-or-account-from-outlook-express-to-outlook-HA010079919.aspx

If you've wiped out your old Windows XP to install Windows 7 on the same computer, I fear you will not be able to migrate your old data since it no longer exists, and Outlook cannot use the proprietary backup files you made earlier.

You really should have researched what was required before you got rid of your XP installation (if indeed that's what you've done).

SevenNoHeaven · Nov 1, 2013

Phillip Corcoran :

Your existing backups will probably be no good for what you want to do. You need to be able to run your old Windows XP/Outlook Express (doesn't matter if it's on a different computer) to be able to migrate it's data in to Outlook on your new computer:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/outlook-help/import-your-messages-or-account-from-outlook-express-to-outlook-HA010079919.aspx

If you've wiped out your old Windows XP to install Windows 7 on the same computer, I fear you will not be able to migrate your old data since it no longer exists, and Outlook cannot use the proprietary backup files you made earlier.

You really should have researched what was required before you got rid of your XP installation (if indeed that's what you've done).

SevenNoHeaven · Nov 1, 2013

Unfortunately the research I did led me to believe that my OE data would easily be transferred to WLM which was not the case (I only got a very small piece). That water is long over the dam and now I'm looking for help with my current circumstances.

Apparently I wasn't clear, the upgrade involved a custom or "clean" installation of Windows 7 on the machine that previously had XP on it. I have no other machine.

Doesn't my old data exist in both the Windows Easy Transfer File AND in the back up file (.bck) on my external pocket drive?

Isn't the issue not having a program (OE) that can read the data?

If so, can I install software to allow me to read or convert the easy transfer or back up data to a file format that I can then import (successfully) into Outlook 2010 or WM or WLM?

If you tell me that's impossible and that I need another machine with XP on it to read the old files, can I take the drive to a "computer guy" and have the file converted and saved to the hard drive to be imported back onto my desktop (or would I need to take the CPU, too)?

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Access old mail from OE in Outlook 2010

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