Restoring .dbx files to Outlook

[Simon]

Yesterday I reinstalled windows wiping the hard drive. As part of the data
back up I saved the identities folder containing the .dbx files for outlook
on my ext HDD.

I have come to restore these yet cannot. I am using the import and export
tool in OE but I am not given the option to restore from a store directory,
which I think I need to have in order to restore my mail.

When I try and select the folder containing the DBX it tells me it is in use
by another program.

Does anyone know how I can get around this.

I am using OE contained as part of Microsoft office professional 2003. I am
stumped. Any help greatly appreciated.

 

[Roady [MVP]]

Note that this is an Microsoft Office Outlook forum.

Outlook Express is family of Internet Explorer and Outlook of the Office
family.

Here is the link for the right forum
http://www.microsoft.com/communitie...px?dg=microsoft.public.outlookexpress.general

Good Luck!

--
Robert Sparnaaij [MVP-Outlook]
Coauthor, Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003


-----
Yesterday I reinstalled windows wiping the hard drive. As part of the data
back up I saved the identities folder containing the .dbx files for outlook
on my ext HDD.

I have come to restore these yet cannot. I am using the import and export
tool in OE but I am not given the option to restore from a store directory,
which I think I need to have in order to restore my mail.

When I try and select the folder containing the DBX it tells me it is in use
by another program.

Does anyone know how I can get around this.

I am using OE contained as part of Microsoft office professional 2003. I am
stumped. Any help greatly appreciated.

 

[neo [mvp outlook]]

Start Outlook Express so it builds the DBX files it needs. Create a new
folder named Restore and then close Outlook Express. Now open Outlook
Express and motor to the location where the file "Restore.DBX" exists.
Rename it to Restore.ORIGINAL and bring in one of the DBX files you want
back (e.g. Inbox.DBX) but make sure it is named Restore.DBX. You can start
OE and then move the items out of the Restore folder to where they need to
go. Close Outlook Express and repeat.

 

[neo [mvp outlook]]

The "Now open Outlook Express" should read "Now open Windows Explorer".

 

[Kirk_]

Make sure that all the old DBX files are in a different location that the
current OE store.

Open explorer in the folder where your old DBX files are so you can see the.
Open OE right up and create new folders that have the same names as the old
DBX files. (less the file extension) You will have to actually click on
each folder in OE after you create it to enter it or it won't create a DBX.
This will work with 50 or more folders, I have done it.

After you have new folders created that match the old folders, close OE.
Open another explorer window to the OE Store and compare the list of old DBX
and new. They should have the same names, with the new ones being only a
few bytes in size and the old ones being much bigger depending on their
content.

Delete the new DBX files and copy or move the old ones you wish to restore
to the OE store folder.

Good luck,

Kirk