Backing up Outlook Express messages

[Paul Clough]

Had a friend reload XP onto my computer after backing up data which included address book and messages. Address book made it through to Outlook Express 6 but messages did not. They are in a folder under "Outlook--Office data file", but I am unable to open them or transfer them to OE 6 as per the import instructions in OE6. I am assuming that this is because they were not backed up/exported correctly in the first place."Open with" doesn't give me an application that works, although a websearch said that Outlook would work. Problem is I do not have Outlook and on dial-up would take ages to download it unless I can specify Outlook only in the down load. Is there a way I can save all these messages and get them into my newly loaded OE6??
Thanks

[photolady]

Your messages are saved in a folder named Inbox.dbx. The original folders are located under your user name, Application Data, Identities, Microsoft/Outlook Express. If you didn't back those up then it's most likely you didn't get the correct folders. OE uses the extension .dbx for mail folders. Outlook on the other hand uses the extension .pst. And you can't download Outlook like you can Outlook Express because Outlook is part of Microsoft Office. You would have to buy that in order to get Outlook.