When I burn Outlook express onto a CD it only saves the program's set up files. How can I save the contents of the folders in Outlook Express on a CD so that I can open and read them on a different computer? I have Nero burning rom.

You will have to export the mail into a file before burning them onto disk. Go to File/Import and Export follow the instructions and it should put all of you emails into a file. You will have to do this for each folder you want to save. I'm not at a computer right now to check the exact procedure.

Thank you for your answer When I click on Export it tells me that it will export to Microsoft Outook, or Microsoft Exchange only. Are they any good for our purpose? How do I know if I have MS Exchange? Also I just did a manual backup according to the MS instructions. I copied it all into a new folder on my desktop, but the files inside are all unopenable. They have the Windows icon and a dbx suffix, and a menu asking me to choose a program to open it. Now What?

If I understand you correctly, you want to copy your OE files to a CD so that you can transfer the files to another computer and use your email on the new computer... OE will only export to a .pst file which is the file that Outlook (NOT Outlook Express) uses for it's email...the files systems between Outlook Express and Outlook are NOT compatible... The data files for OE are NOT kept in the same directory as the OE program files, and where OE keeps those files varies according to your version of Windows operating system... As far as Exchange goes, if you are on a network where you work, you MIGHT be on Exchange...talk to your IT manager... None of the files in OE can be opened by any other program than OE... The best way to find out where the files are located is this... If you are using OE v6.0, open OE, go to Tools > Maintenance...towards the bottom is a button called "Store Folder"...that will tell you where the email files are located... On my computer XP Pro, this is where my files are located...yours may be similiar to this... C:\Documents and Settings\Steve\Local Settings\Application Data\Identities\{B3CCE8C4-90B9-415A-9FFC-3F4753E6435F}\Microsoft\Outlook Express What you can do is go to the folder at the end of the location, like above...and copy the entire folder to your CD... Now, when you move it to your new computer, I like to put all my email data in the My Documents file...give it a folder name like "Email Stuff" or something creative like that... Now next time you need to move your email, it's easy to find, and you can back it up easily... Hope this helps... Steve

Very clear Steve. Thanks for following up on my brief attempt to help.

pumfa... No disrespect intended, just trying to help... Steve

Dear Pumfa and Steve, Thank you for your time and effort. May I beg your patience with me a little longer, as I am not sure I fully understand. It reminds me of the answer someone gave when asked what they thought of Einstein's theory of Relativity. He answered "He seems to understand it quite well!" Anyway – did I understand correctly, that even if I did manage to save my OE files, I could only open and read them if I can get them back into an OE program? You say " What you can do is go to the folder at the end of the location, like above...and copy the entire folder to your CD... Now, when you move it to your new computer, I like to put all my email data in the My Documents file..." But If I do that My Documents won't open the files because only OE can open them. NO? There's two reasons I want copy my emails, one, is that I want to write letters on someone else's computer in Word, and then save them on a regular floppy until I get back to my own computer, and then just copy and paste the letter from the floppy to my OE email and send it. However, in order to be able to write these letters, I need to respond to information saved in past messages which are in various folders in OE. If I have them on a CD, all I have to do is run the CD and open the files I need, read the info in them, and then revert back to Word to continue writing my letter. The question is how can I just "open and read" the saved mail from the CD? I think you were telling me I can't. Please confirm. The other reason I want backup is that I have so much information in the saved email folders that I don’t want to loose. If my computer crashes, I would want to be able to get into and read the info on those saved emails. If I save the whole OE folder on a CD, does that mean my separate OE folders with the old messages are saved too and can be reinstated in a new computer if need be? But on only by using that folder to reinstall OE? I am not on a network by the way. I hope I haven't confused you as much as I've confuses myself Thank you for taking the trouble with me Candy