Cannot import from OE - Mail folder in use

[Doug]

I cannot import from Outlook Express. The Outlook Express folder was copied
from the old PC onto a memory stick and transferred to the new PC, then
copied into a Downloads folder on the new PC.

When I try to Import, I get a message that it cannot import as the mail
folder is in use. The same message after a reboot. I have trtied importing
directly from the memory stick, but get the same message. Strangely, before
trying to import from OE, I exported the Outlook PST file which was only used
for Calendar. This imported correctly. Could it have altered Outlook in
some way, so as to lock the mail folder?

 

[Gordon]

I cannot import from Outlook Express. The Outlook Express folder was
copied
from the old PC onto a memory stick and transferred to the new PC, then
copied into a Downloads folder on the new PC.

Did you just copy the mail folders, or did you copy the entire folder?

When I try to Import, I get a message that it cannot import as the mail
folder is in use. The same message after a reboot. I have trtied
importing
directly from the memory stick, but get the same message.

Import into OE on your new PC (or Windows Mail if on Vista) and then EXPORT
from OE/Windows Mail to Outlook

Strangely, before
trying to import from OE, I exported the Outlook PST file which was only
used
for Calendar. This imported correctly. Could it have altered Outlook in
some way, so as to lock the mail folder?

It may or may not have had an effect - importing/exporting pst files
to.from Outlook can corrupt your mail profile.
you should never use these functions for transferring data from one Outlook
to another. just copy the pst file, open in the new instance of outlook and
copy the data to the new file.

 

[Doug]

--
Doug

Did you just copy the mail folders, or did you copy the entire folder?

I copied the "Outlook Express" folder from Doc & Sets/user/local
settings/appdata/identities/{56....}/microsoft.
Just as I have done many times before.

Import into OE on your new PC (or Windows Mail if on Vista) and then EXPORT
from OE/Windows Mail to Outlook

I've never had to do that before, Outlook normally imports well.

It may or may not have had an effect - importing/exporting pst files
to.from Outlook can corrupt your mail profile.
you should never use these functions for transferring data from one Outlook
to another. just copy the pst file, open in the new instance of outlook and
copy the data to the new file.

That is just the opposite answer to previous posting. I have been advised,
by a MVP in this forum, that it is always better to import, than to add the
data file and copy.

 

[Gordon]

That is just the opposite answer to previous posting. I have been
advised,
by a MVP in this forum, that it is always better to import, than to add
the
data file and copy.

Would you like to tell us which one? most, if not all Outlook MVPs do NOT
recommend using the import function to transfer data from one Outlook to
another...

 

[Doug]

You'd have to search the forum, it would have been in 2003 or 2004 and I've
been using import since then. This is the first problem I've struck.

The question is, why is the mail folder in use?

 

[Gordon]

You'd have to search the forum, it would have been in 2003 or 2004 and
I've
been using import since then. This is the first problem I've struck.

You've been lucky then.

The question is, why is the mail folder in use?

have you tried the solution I suggested? Import into OE/Windows Mail first
and then export from there to Outlook?