When I got my new PC in 2009, I put the whole of the contents of the old computer's hard drive in a new folder on my new PC. On the old computer running Windows XP, I used Outlook Express for E-mails. The OS for the new computer was initially Vista since upgraded to Windows 7 so my ISP recommended Thunderbird for E-mails and I didn't worry about losing all my old E-mails and didn't export them to Thunderbird. Now I'd like to have a look at my old E-mails and their attachments. They must be lurking somewhere on my computer (perhaps in a file I found called LostMail.dbx of 46 Mb). Is it possible to uncover my lost E-mails?
Lost Outlook Express E-mails
- Thread starter clynt
- Start date
Solution
canadianvice
Distinguished
- Jul 25, 2012
- 1,759
- 6
- 20,765
Possible, but unlikely. Have you tried searching your computer for anything associated with email extension types?
That'd be the best case - you simply lost track of it. Worst case, if you deleted it, you could try something like Recuva, but the problem is that you've probably used your system for a while since then and it has been overwritten or corrupted in the deleted files.
Anyhow, that's my two cents.
That'd be the best case - you simply lost track of it. Worst case, if you deleted it, you could try something like Recuva, but the problem is that you've probably used your system for a while since then and it has been overwritten or corrupted in the deleted files.
Anyhow, that's my two cents.
If you really did back up EVERYTHING on that old hard drive then the email is there. Outlook express saves each mail folder as a dbx file, and typically stores them in a folder somewhere under %USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\Application Data\ (where exactly under this I don't recall of the top of my head, you will have to look but it should be obvious). Whatever OS you are now using, make sure you have hidden folders turned on, and do not hide file extensions.
Once you have the files you will have to import them into whatever mail program you are going to use. If you have trouble, post the program and we can hgelp.
Thanks Deuce65. Previously I was able to get to the file LostMail.dbx (of 46Mb; the only .dbx file I could find) (but didn't know how to access its contents) by going through Documents and Settings\(my name)\Application Data\Identities\{a long alpha-numeric}\Microsoft\Outlook Express\LostMail.dbx. But now, I can't even take this path because in the last couple of days I must have clicked on something I shouldn't have as now when I click on Documents and Settings (or Application Data), I now get the message C:\ documents and Settings (or Application Data) is not accessible. Access is denied. (I think all I did recently was update RealPlayer). I'm an old bloke and only semi-computer literate. PLEASE HELP ME !
You probably had permissions set up on the folder\files and they are still there after the backup, but since it is a new machine you have a new account. Easy enough to fix, right click the folder, properties > security > advanced > owner > edit > change it to your account. Let it do it's thing after okaying out. Then you should be able to go back into securities tab and grant yourself full permissions. Then you should be able to do whatever you need with ti.
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