Outlook Express 6 > Outlook 2007

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quickymart

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#208939 6-Mar-2017 11:54

I have my trusty old Windows XP desktop which runs both Outlook Express 6 and MS Outlook 2007 (for two different mailboxes).

Last week I discovered that OE doesn't like Inbox.dbx files over 2GB in size. I was in the middle of downloading my mail when suddenly it threw up an error that it couldn't download the mail. I closed OE and restarted it, only to find that my Inbox (which had a large number of messages previously) now says "There are no messages in this folder"(!)

Checking the Inbox.dbx file confirms it's there but over the magical 2GB limit so OE probably can't read it. No worries, I thought, I'll migrate to MS Outlook as that can handle 20GB. The import wizard went well, only it didn't import anything from the inbox.

I can't point it manually to a file using the Import tool. Tried converting from .dbx to .pst but to no avail. I've taken a backup of everything (just in case) - but can anyone suggest a way for me to migrate the Inbox into Outlook? I'm at a loss on this one...

Thanks in advance

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meow
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#1730798 6-Mar-2017 12:09

Without doing the whole "why have you got XP connected to the internet?" I've managed to import into Mozilla Thunderbird then export from Thunderbird into a PST which then I import into Outlook. This was however years ago but may be a workaround.

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quickymart

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#1730849 6-Mar-2017 12:37

Thanks, I'll give that a try.

This is my desktop machine, which runs fine on XP - no real need for an upgrade, as it's mostly used for file storage

1101

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#1730944 6-Mar-2017 14:16

When OE hits the 2G limit , the email database gets corrupted . Not that uncommon .

From here its data recovery to try & get what you can from that corrupt dbx. Stop using OE for now as that wont be helping

Or Recover from backup

Lias

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#1731058 6-Mar-2017 16:05

quickymart:

This is my desktop machine, which runs fine on XP - no real need for an upgrade, as it's mostly used for file storage

It's a 16 year old OS that hasn't received security updates for nearly 3 years, and for which dozens if not hundreds of unpatched security vulnerabilities exist.

I'm a geek, a gamer, a dad, a Quic user, and an IT Professional. I have a full rack home lab, size 15 feet, an epic beard and Asperger's. I'm a bit of a Cypherpunk, who believes information wants to be free and the Net interprets censorship as damage and routes around it. If you use my Quic signup you can also use the code R570394EKGIZ8 for free setup.

Hammerer

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#1731139 6-Mar-2017 19:10

If the emails were important then I would immediately get an image the drive so I can restore it onto another drive where I can try to recover it as many times as I like until I've recovered the data.

Then, if you have a recent backup, you use it asap because you can usually recover your recent emails by resyncing. From memory, I got up to 50 days back last time I had to do this.

Someone with more recent knowledge can probably be more specfic about retention periods on email servers.

yitz

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#1731145 6-Mar-2017 19:27

There was an update to Outlook Express 6 somewhere along the line where during the routine "compact mail store" operation the program would move the previous set of DBX files to the Recycle Bin. So depending on how often you clear the Recycle Bin you might have luck looking in there.

quickymart

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#1732176 6-Mar-2017 22:22

Cheers for the suggestions. I have the .dbx files (backed up as well), just need to get them into Outlook...

As to upgrading from XP, my upgrade budget (thanks to children) is currently $0, and will stay that way for some time, so it will have to stay as it is, I'm afraid.

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ANglEAUT

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#1732193 7-Mar-2017 01:00

quickymart: ... As to upgrading from XP, my upgrade budget (thanks to children) is currently $0, and will stay that way for some time, so it will have to stay as it is, I'm afraid.

Consider browsing www.freecycle.org. There are many generous people out there.

Please keep this GZ community vibrant by contributing in a constructive & respectful manner.

1101

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#1732322 7-Mar-2017 10:10

Lias:

[

It's a 16 year old OS that hasn't received security updates for nearly 3 years, and for which dozens if not hundreds of unpatched security vulnerabilities exist.

Android : unpatched security vulnerabilities on older versions. Throw away any phone/Tablet that doesnt have a recent Android version ie many Samsungs
IP Cameras : unpatched security vulnerabilities . Turn those off
older & many new home routers : unpatched security vulnerabilities . Replace your home router & pray there arnt unpatched security vulnerabilities on it.
many websites : unpatched security vulnerabilities
panic

Even when XP was current, most of the XP's I saw werent updating via WinUpdate
many Win7 PC's , still current, arnt updating via WinUpdate (a known Winupdate issue )
many company PC's attached to MS Server based networks arnt updating (as Wsus is commonly broken on un-maintained servers)

Just install FF on your old XP. Dont use the old version of IE . Dont use it for banking.

quickymart

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#1743601 18-Mar-2017 22:55

michaelmurfy:

Without doing the whole "why have you got XP connected to the internet?" I've managed to import into Mozilla Thunderbird then export from Thunderbird into a PST which then I import into Outlook. This was however years ago but may be a workaround.

Thanks again for this, tried to give it a go tonight, however it tries to import direct from OE (which has 0 messages in the Inbox) and therefore imports nothing from the Inbox.
Is there any way I can point Thunderbird to an OE store folder I've backed up to and get it to import from there?

Rickles

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#1743761 19-Mar-2017 12:22

https://support.office.com/en-us/article/Import-your-messages-or-account-from-Outlook-Express-to-Outlook-CA8ECAAB-3330-46A1-B925-DEAC3F3C4359

Any help?

Rickles

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#1743763 19-Mar-2017 12:26

PS Scroll down to "poorman UK" ... looks like aneat trick there -

https://www.sevenforums.com/browsers-mail/50199-export-outlook-express-xp-into-outlook-2007-windows-7-a.html

Rikkitic

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#1743783 19-Mar-2017 13:18

Is this helpful?

http://www.outlook-expressrecovery.com/dbx-2gb-limit.html

Plesse igmore amd axxept applogies in adbance fir anu typos

quickymart

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#1744160 20-Mar-2017 00:14

Will try both later this week and report back - fingers crossed.

1101

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#1744266 20-Mar-2017 09:40

Your inbox email database is now corrupt.
You cant just import it into outlook. It has to be repaired 1st

Ive had to do this several times on various PC's , it not a simple process but if you google you'll find some suggestions (eventually)
MS once had a downloadable fix to hack back the database size . Expect some corruption and expect to loose some email.
Its been years since I last did had to fix corrupt OE inbox so cant remember how , I do remember it not being easy

There are plenty of 3rd party OE recovery programs, despite what they say, none are free (Ive yet to find a free one)

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