When Outlook is installed and configured on the old computer, export from OE to Outlook then move the *.pst file to the new computer. See Moving Outlook to a New Computer for the steps required to create a profile and use the *.pst file on the new computer. See page 2 if you need instructions for exporting from Outlook Express to Outlook.
If Outlook is not installed on the old computer, you need to either install it on the old computer and export from OE to Outlook then move the pst or install Windows Live Mail on the new computer and move the OE dbx files to the new computer, then export to Outlook. I think its easier to install Live Mail and move the dbx file than it is to install Outlook on the old computer. The steps below will tell you how to do this.
Note: When you export from Windows Live Mail to Outlook, the message headers are missing and you need to enter an address when you reply to an imported message. If you need to reply from Outlook, it might be easier to install Outlook on the old computer and export, then move the pst. Or use one of the tools listed at the bottom of the page to convert from OE or Windows Live Mail to Outlook.
See Tools below for utilities that can convert Outlook Express files to Outlook.
Get Outlook Express files
Find and copy the entire Outlook Express data folder on Windows XP. To find the location of the message store, go to OE's Tools, Options Maintenance tab and click on Store Folder button.
Select and Copy the folder path in the Store dialog. It should look something like the following, if you were using the default folder path:
C:\Documents and Settings\username\Local Settings\Application Data\Identities\{FA572F59-2087-498C-A7A9-F546571D6ECF}\Microsoft\Outlook Express
Close the dialogs and OE and paste the folder path in Windows Explorer's address bar. Press Enter. This will open Explorer to the location of OE's dbx files. Copy the contents of the entire Outlook Express folder, including the folders.dbx file to the Windows 7 computer, placing it in your My Documents folder. If you are moving it on a USB drive, you don't need to copy it to the Windows 7 hard drive, Live Mail can read the files from the USB drive.
The Address book uses the wab extension and is at C:\Documents and Settings\username\Application Data\Microsoft\Address Book – it may be named username.wab. Copy it to the Windows 7 computer too.
Import Outlook Express Email into Live Mail
- Download and install the Microsoft Live Mail client
- Open it and go to File, Import Messages.
- Select to import from Outlook Express 6
- Browse to the Outlook Express folder you copied from the old computer.
- Select the folders you want to import and finish the wizard.
Import Address book (wab) in Live Mail:
- Open the Live mail address book module
- Go to File, Import. Windows Address book
- Browse to the *.wab you copied and complete the wizard
If you want to use Windows Live Mail, you're done and ready to go.
Export Mail and Address book into Outlook
You'll need to export the messages and address book from Live Mail to Outlook.
- Go to File, Export, Messages
- Choose Microsoft Exchange.
- Pick the folders and finish the export.
Open the Live Mails' Contact module and export the addresses in CSV or vCard format then import in into Outlook. If you export as vCard format, you can drag and drop them from the file system into Outlook's Contacts.
Tools in the Spotlight
Address Magic supports dozens of applications and formats to convert email, calendar, and address books, to or from Outlook. Converts over 30 address book formats, 20 email formats, and 4 calendar formats. Automatically customizes itself for your computer by finding your email applications and data files. Supports over 150 different address book fields, including names, postal addresses, email addresses, phone numbers, comments, and many more. Automatic field mapping between different address books, full distribution list support, and maintains email folder structure. Converts HTML email, text email, attachments, and all headers. | |
Aid4Mail is an email migration and conversion tool, which supports over 30 mail formats including Outlook (PST, MSG files), Windows Live Mail, Thunderbird, Eudora, and mbox. It can search mail by date, header content, and in the Forensic and Enterprise versions, by message body content. Mail folders and files can be processed even when disconnected (unmounted) from their email client including those stored on CD, DVD, and USB drives. |
Tools
Convert Outlook Express to Outlook using DBX Converter tool to convert dbx to pst and to convert dbx to eml so as to read Outlook Express emails in MS Outlook, Thunderbird. | |
Software product to aid users in moving emails from Outlook Express to MS Outlook format. Software reads orphan dbx files and imports them into PST mailboxes. Perfect DBX reader and converting them into Outlook PST file format. Supports conversion of pst file to Outlok 2000/2003/2007/2010. | |
Transend Migrator converts data between virtually all email systems. |
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Last reviewed on Apr 17, 2012
That sounds good.
will try it and get back to you guys.
Thanks, this really helped. One question, is it safe to clear the live mail inbox to save disk space once you have exported the files from Live Mail to Outlook?
Yes, once you are satisfied that nothing is missing, you can delete the live mail files to save space.
I have exported myOulook express folders from Windows live messenger into outlook as above but where does do they go in outlook as I can not find them?
They go into the default pst file, creating the same folder structure you had in Outlook Express. If you don’t see them in Outlook, go to Control panel, search for mail – how many Outlook profiles are listed?
Thank you for your reply.
I have now found them hidden away in storage folders, then imported folders. For me it was not the obvious place to look.
Thanks, Nick
I changed from Outlook Express to Outlook 2010. Am only getting 1/3 of my e-mails in Outlook 2010 as I am getting in Outlook Express. I now have both so I can compare. What happened with the e-mails that are not coming to Outlook 2010? Tahnks RRM
It’s hard to say what happened. What type of account do you have configured? Do you have any idea what messages are missing? Did you look for them in the Junk mail folder or the Unread mail folder?
I have read these posts, and have followed the directions. They have been very straightforward and clear – except to the point of finding my imported messages. I copied my .dbx messages from my old hard drive onto my new hard drive (in its own library). I then imported my .dbx files into Live Mail using the OE6 option. That seemed to work fine, so I then exported from Live Mail to Outlook 2010. My messages were copied, but when I went to look for them in the Storage, I could see the file folder and I could check the file size (which looked appropriate), but I still can’t see the messages.
I’m sure this is user error, but I’m not sure what to do or where to go now.
I should add that I’m having no problem sending or receiving new mail – it’s just the old stuff that I can’t see.
Can you find them using instant search? Are you looking in the Inbox folder? Using a view that is hiding read messages?