I'm trying to transfer my saved email messages from my old win98 computer onto my new win XP home edition computer. I have a serial cable to use with the "file transfer" feature on XP however I've run into some trouble. I transferred a few of the old files onto the new computer and saved them in a temp folder. Then when into outllok express on the XP machine and changed the storage folder location found in Tools...options...maintenance. Then restared the computer and viola! the transferrred files appeared in outlook express.....but I lost the existing files. The default storage file location was something like: C:\Documents and Settings\xxxx\Local Settings\Application Data\Identities\{84E801F5-13AC-4B89-A2D6-9AF01CDFD9F2}\Microsoft\Outlook Express. were xxxx was the XP login ID. In outlook, when I go back to: tool, options, maintainance...storage folders..change...I cannot select the defualt folder as the directory path will not display as shown. It seems that I'm limited the files and folders that are accessable. Anyway, I have two tasks to complete: 1st. I would like to restore default "storage folder" setting on my XP machine so hopefully the currently saved messages will be restored. Then 2ndly, I would like to x-fer the email messages from my old win 98 machine to my XP HomeEd machine and place them in the respective folders in outlook express. I appreciate any help, Sincerely, Rob email: rfrink@qn.net

OK, forget about the task of resetting the default storage folder.....I just learned how to "restore" my settings in XP...DUH! Anyway I'm back to where I started....how to get my old emails from the old computer into my new computer.....I have thousands of them (emails). Thanks, Rob

In Old computer: Make new folder and named ummm..."OE Masages". Go to OE Options, select Maintenance and change Store Folder with the new one created.You will be asked to transfer the old masages to this folder-click Yes. Now you know where yor masages are.Just transfer this folder to your XP machine and change its OE Store folder to.Now All of your old masages should bi in XP OE Inbox. That works for me every time when I do fresh XP install.

I already told you how to do this in your previous post #12595 The last sentence was perhaps a bit unclear so here it again. If you follow this it WILL work. ***************************************8 "Here's another way. On your old machine search for *.dbx files. When you find them (and they may be quite large if have "thousands" of messages) transfer them to your XP setup here: C:\Documents and Settings\xxxx\Local Settings\Application Data\Identities\{84E801F5-13AC-4B89-A2D6-9AF01CDFD9F2}\Microsoft\Outlook Express Noting that xxxx is your XP login ID and the bit after Identities may be different. Also be aware that this will overwrite any messages you already have in XP. To avoid this create another uniquely named folder in your XP Outlook Express and copy all your existing messages to it. When finished transfer them to the relevant folders you've imported from 98."

Kinel, yes, thanks for the note...I tried this however I cannot get this folder: C:\Documents and Settings\xxxx\Local Settings\Application Data\Identities\{84E801F5-13AC-4B89-A2D6-9AF01CDFD9F2}\Microsoft\Outlook Express I cannot view it in windows explorer nore can I select it in the options, maintance,storage folder screen. Even though you told me this in 12595, I was trying to ask how to get access to the directory structure that you listed. Any ideas...I'm using XP home edition. I sincerely appreciate the help. Rob

I only use XP Pro so perhaps the path is diferent in the Home edition but just the same all you need to do is search for the .dbx files and note the path to the folder where they reside. All the rest is the same.