Backing-up and Restoring .dbx files

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Emrys Davies - 14 Apr 2007 22:12 GMT

Mr Bear/Mr Saunders,

I have Win98 SE, OE6 and IE6.

I have successfully backed-up my .dbx files to a USB Flash Drive. I
then, as an experiment, deleted one of the mail .dbx files from its
store folder in IE and also from Folders in OE and I then, successfully
restored it using the File > Import facility in OE. Before importing I
had checked on the flash-drive that the file was not marked 'Read Only'.

I also experimented by copying the same file from the flash-drive to
the hard drive, checked that it was not 'Read Only' and successfully
imported it from there. The result was the same as that in the direct
import.

The only slight drawback which I observed was that the file/folder lost
its folder hierarchy in OE.

Would you kindly comment on what I have done as I want to get it right
in as simple a way as is possible.

I also have lots of useful Usenet/Newsgroup information in Mail folders,
and I think I recall you saying that OE will not import these. Is that
correct please.

When creating the back-up every .dbx file/folder in the Store Folder was
transferred to the back-up media so if I need to do a full 'Restore'
does it mean that I would need to delete the 'Inbox', 'Outbox' etc. and
the newsgroup material from the back-up media before I proceed.

Incidentally, I have studied your back-up advice on the internet and
although I find it most helpful I very much appreciate
your-down-to-earth reasoning.

Thanks a lot,
Regards,
Emrys Davies.

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Frank Saunders, MS-MVP OE/WM - 15 Apr 2007 02:54 GMT

> Mr Bear/Mr Saunders,
>
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
> Would you kindly comment on what I have done as I want to get it right
> in as simple a way as is possible.

While that is not the method we usually recommend, it works, as you have
found out. I have no objection to it. As for foler hierarchy, I quit using
one because I was doing too much experimenting and losing the hierarchy so
often I got tired of fixing it.

> I also have lots of useful Usenet/Newsgroup information in Mail folders,
> and I think I recall you saying that OE will not import these. Is that
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> does it mean that I would need to delete the 'Inbox', 'Outbox' etc. and
> the newsgroup material from the back-up media before I proceed.

Doing it this way WILL keep your newsgroup information since you are
restoring the Folders.dbx that knows about them.

> Incidentally, I have studied your back-up advice on the internet and
> although I find it most helpful I very much appreciate
> your-down-to-earth reasoning.

Actually, I don't worry much about backups because I generally have all of
the mail messages downloaded on three or four different computers. Besides,
I find very little email worth saving. If it's important I transfer it to
paper.

Signature

Frank Saunders, MS-MVP OE/WM
http://www.fjsmjs.com
Answer in newsgroup. Don't expect an answer to email.

Reply to this Message

Emrys Davies - 15 Apr 2007 10:50 GMT

> > Mr Bear/Mr Saunders,
> >
[quoted text clipped - 42 lines]
> I find very little email worth saving. If it's important I transfer it to
> paper.

Frank,

Thanks a lot. You have been very explicit and most helpful, as usual.

Just one point and then I think that I understand this subject a little.
In the event of me needing to 'Restore' a couple of the backed-up files
would I 'Restore' everything contained in the back-up media with the
presumption that OE will overwrite those files/folders which I do not
need to restore? I was thinking about Folders.dbx needing to be
involved.

Also, if I need to update the back-up would I need to back-up the whole
'Identity' again or copy a new file/folder to the back-up media,
singularly? Again I am thinking about the use of Folders.dbx.

You will have observed that I have not yet experimented with the above
as I am treading warily until I know a little more of what is possible
and any dangers involved.

Thanks,
Regards,
Emrys Davies.

Reply to this Message

Frank Saunders, MS-MVP OE/WM - 15 Apr 2007 18:15 GMT

> Frank,
>
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
> as I am treading warily until I know a little more of what is possible
> and any dangers involved.

Yes, you would need the Folders.dbx or OE won't even look at the news
folders and you might as well leave them out. If there are any Search
Results folders leave them out. OE should have erased them.

Signature

Frank Saunders, MS-MVP OE/WM
http://www.fjsmjs.com
Answer in newsgroup. Don't expect an answer to email.

Reply to this Message

Emrys Davies - 15 Apr 2007 22:01 GMT

Frank,

Is there a correct way to drag and copy in this case?

The path to my .dbx files is:

C:\WINDOWS\Application Data\Identities (Guid)\Microsoft\Outlook Express

In (C:) I drag and copy 'Identities' into a suitably marked folder on my
Flash-drive (E), but I realise that I could just as effectively drag and
copy Outlook Express into (E). Is there a correct way? I note that the
former way creates a more correct path (Address) in 'E'.

Thanks,
Regards,
Emrys Davies.

Reply to this Message

Frank Saunders, MS-MVP OE/WM - 16 Apr 2007 12:04 GMT

> Frank,
>
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
> Regards,
> Emrys Davies.

If you do Identities you can't just copy it to a new or reformatted machine
because the Registry will have different {GUID}s for the Identities.

Signature

Frank Saunders, MS-MVP OE/WM
http://www.fjsmjs.com
Answer in newsgroup. Don't expect an answer to email.

Reply to this Message

Emrys Davies - 16 Apr 2007 16:11 GMT

> > Frank,
> >
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
> If you do Identities you can't just copy it to a new or reformatted machine
> because the Registry will have different {GUID}s for the Identities.

Thanks a lot Frank. That makes real sence and is an important point.

Regards,
Emrys Davies.

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