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Restoring address book and mail from Outlook express backup files

  • 3 àwọn èsì
  • 1 ní ìṣòro yìí
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  • Èsì tí ó kẹ́hìn lọ́wọ́ Matt

Lang Stallard
Lang Stallard
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I had a computer that was running windows XP and Outlook express. That computer died. All I have is a copy of the files that were on its hard drive. My new computer runs Windows 7 and I plan to use Thunderbird as an email client How can I convert the address book and mail files to Thunderbird format and use them in the new system. A related question, assuming I accomplish that, how would I prevent the download of duplicate messages once I connect to the mail servers?

I had a computer that was running windows XP and Outlook express. That computer died. All I have is a copy of the files that were on its hard drive. My new computer runs Windows 7 and I plan to use Thunderbird as an email client How can I convert the address book and mail files to Thunderbird format and use them in the new system. A related question, assuming I accomplish that, how would I prevent the download of duplicate messages once I connect to the mail servers?

All Replies (3)

finitarry
finitarry
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Is it possible to import an Outlook Express addressbook into the mail application on Windows 7? I think you would have to get it into Windows 7 mail and then to Tbird from there.

Lang Stallard
Lang Stallard Ìbéèrè olóhun
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Thank you for your reply. I'm not sure what you mean by "Windows 7 mail". Windows 7 does not have a built in email client. See the discussion in the Microsoft Community at 

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-networking/no-built-in-email-client-in-windows-7/6251127f-e8c7-4abf-81ca-b321a4ccbf6d?lc=1033&auth=1

They did have a suggestion to "install the Windows XP virtual PC within Windows 7", then install Outlook Express. Then I would have to replace the wab(address book) and dbx(mail) files with the ones from my backup. Now, assuming that works, I could consider migrating to Tbird.

I was hoping for a solution of converting the wab and dbx files to Thunderbird format and adding them to a Thunderbird installation.

Matt
Matt
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I am not sure where Tintinary is going with this.

I would say use unDbx and the import export tools. I discuss the unDbx command line tool here. http://thunderbirdtweaks.blogspot.com.au/2011/07/outlook-express.html I also talk there about the Dawn tool for the address book. I no longer recommend that as I see Windows contacts as a superior solution.

As for the address book. That will be in a WAB file. Import it to the Windows contacts. (on the start menu type contact and press enter and select the import menu.) Then modify Thunderbird's config to show windows contact as I discuss here. http://thunderbirdtweaks.blogspot.com.au/2013/12/windows-contacts.html