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How do I backup my Outlook Express email?

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Summary: Backing up your Outlook Express email can be done with a few easy steps.

How do I backup my Outlook Express email?

Backing up is important, we all know that. And in many cases, one of the most important things to be backed up is your Outlook Express email.

Now, of course, you should be backing up your entire machine. But there are can certainly cases where all you want is to backup you email. The good news is that it's easy to do.

Outlook Express stores your email in a set of ".dbx" files, one per folder. To locate where those files are located:

  • Click on the Tools menu

  • Select the Options... item

  • Click on the Maintenance tab

  • Click on the Store Folder button

The resulting dialog will indicate which directory contains your email folders.

Exit Outlook Express, and simply backup the entire contents of that directory.

Related:

Article 421 | Posted August 20, 2004

Recent Comments

Hi. First Question: When you say "simply back up the entire contents of that directory," do you mean to put in a disk and copy that directory to the disk? Second Question: I tried to open items in the folder, but got a message that couldn't be opened. Needed to know what created it. I tried opening by using Microsoft word, but now I get symbols that I can't read. Also all the documents in the stored email folders have been switched to M so when I open anything it just looks like symbols. Thank you very much. Teri

Posted by: Teri at December 2, 2005 03:34 AM

I have indeed been backing up my Outlook Express address book and .dbx files. I am about to migrate from a PC to an iMac, which will run Windows XP (as well as Tiger). I will download the newest version of Outlook Express and will import the address book. However, what is the procedure for telling the new Outlook Express to use the backed-up .dbx files (of which I have hundreds in scores of different folders).

Please send me an e-mail to let me know when you answer, as this is time critical. Thanks.

Posted by: mimbrava at November 30, 2006 08:46 AM

Hello, I'm about to backup my Outlook Express AND everything else in my computer (if I can) for the first time, so right now I'd like to know if there are more places in my computer to backup besides the ones I listed below?:

All files and folders of OE
MS Word
Corel WordPerfect8
Favorites

Thanks so much for letting me know if I'm missing anything to backup. :o) Adela

Posted by: Adela at March 28, 2007 07:49 PM

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA1

There's no way for me to know all the places that might be important to how you
use your computer. In general, the safest thing to do is to backup everything.
- From c:\ on down.

Leo
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----
Version: GnuPG v1.4.6 (MingW32)

iD8DBQFGDHCaCMEe9B/8oqERAgbHAJ9JjReECjkh7FPUdUOlQ3ea3WmeyACgh3yI
+/Hu2QOQMnFXZzehxUrNNDU=
=FDPD
-----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

Posted by: Leo Notenboom at March 29, 2007 07:06 PM

Tried following your instructions for finding where my emails were, but my 'Doocuments and Settings\Owner' directory does not have a 'Local Settings' folder. Nor can I find any *.dbx files or folders. I am using Windows XP. Can you help?

Posted by: Ken at May 27, 2007 03:03 AM

I have installed a MAXTOR ONE TOUCH III, USB 2.0 and instructed it to back up my C:drive; but I don't think it backs up Outlook Express emails PLUS all attachments to those emails. How can I be sure that my emails+attachments are being backed up on a regular basis? Do I need something other than a Maxtor?

Posted by: Rita at July 4, 2007 09:58 AM

I tried your directions for locating Outlook folders, but when I click on "Tools", then "Internet Options", I do not see a "Maintenance" tab. Am I in the wrong 'options' box?

Posted by: Rita at July 4, 2007 10:05 AM

Are my Outlook Express emails stored on my hard
drive or in memory? I have over 8,000 unread messages.

Posted by: Alan at November 5, 2007 10:27 PM

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA1

Hard drive. Anything "stored" only in memory is lost when you turn off yoru
computer.

Leo


-----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----
Version: GnuPG v1.4.7 (MingW32)

iD8DBQFHMN1UCMEe9B/8oqERAoJ1AJ4y1cL4wexppx53dtkI0GmehBtxBQCfYY3O
v6k+CPJ3u0F6Z+JtDUJ3pfs=
=3Jhl
-----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

Posted by: Leo A. Notenboom at November 6, 2007 01:31 PM

Gave me the missing .dot information needed to find missing emails.
Thank you.

Posted by: C. Gillette at January 6, 2008 05:16 PM

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