Problems with Windows Mail: Downloading Old Mail Multiple times

HI,

I have a problem with "Windows Mail." The problem is simply this: I use two web-based emails (Yahoo and Earthlink). In both cases, I must keep my emails on-line for a long time -several years. I need to have portable access to them even when I am away from my computer. I can't be alone in this.

Yet I also want to use the Windows Mail successor to Outlook. I can't figure out an intelligent way to use this program with my needs. Because I keep email on the servers, each time I download the new emails I copy the older ones first. I now have three sets of copies of the older emails, which I then have to manually delete from Windows Mail. There must be a better way!

First, is it possible to download messages from most recent to older, so that I can stop the downloading when it gets to mail I already have downloaded?

Second is it possible to put a 'range' of time that I want to download mail (i.e. backwards, say until 2010 but not further)?

Third is it possible to delete the multiple copies of emails on Web Mail that I have so that I do not have the duplicates, but do not have to remove them -very laboriously- by going through my entire folder on Web Mail? Is there some automatic way to do this or is there a program or function I can use?


Thank You,

Hi Mike,
you would be better using Windows Live Mail it has better backup features.

Roderunner said:

Hi Mike,
you would be better using Windows Live Mail it has better backup features.

Click to expand...

Roderunner, I have never used it and know nothing about it. Since both are made by Microsoft, can I easily change over and keep the emails already on Windows Mail to Windows Live Mail? Does this Windows Mail specifically serve my purpose? You don't say. The three issues I outlined above are most important:

First, is it possible to download messages from most recent to older, so that I can stop the downloading when it gets to mail I already have downloaded?

Second is it possible to put a 'range' of time that I want to download mail (i.e. backwards, say until 2010 but not further)?

Third is it possible to delete the multiple copies of emails on Web Mail that I have so that I do not have the duplicates, but do not have to remove them -very laboriously- by going through my entire folder on Web Mail? Is there some automatic way to do this or is there a program or function I can use?


Thank you

First, is it possible to download messages from most recent to older, so that I can stop the downloading when it gets to mail I already have downloaded?

Not that I know of.

Second is it possible to put a 'range' of time that I want to download mail (i.e. backwards, say until 2010 but not further)?

As above.

Third is it possible to delete the multiple copies of emails on Web Mail that I have so that I do not have the duplicates, but do not have to remove them -very laboriously- by going through my entire folder on Web Mail? Is there some automatic way to do this or is there a program or function I can use?

Before you change to Windows Live Mail, back-up all the mail you want to keep. This guide was made using WLM so will be compatible with your present program. After you have done it, make a sub folder for years 2010, 2011 & 2012. Inside these sub folders, make others for months.
They can then be stored in the location you want, i.e. an external hdd.
I don't believe in storing mail on the server as it is the main cause of you getting duplicates. View attachment Export & Import Messages in WLM.pdf

Roderunner. I have to say, your 'solution' does not serve as an answer to any of my problems. And to say that my leaving mail on the server is the 'cause' of my problems in getting multiple emails is an inversion of the problem: the email programs don't recognize the prior emails and don't offer any way to prevent from the duplication. But the fact that I leave my email on the server is both a necessity -because I need access wherever I go, and a passive constraint which one should be able to expect a program to compensate for. I don't think I'll switch -it really doesn't serve my purposes at all and is no better for my needs than Windows Mail.

In my method, I use Gmail and its accessible wherever I go. Can you get access to your accounts directly without using Windows Mail ?
Am I correct in saying you don't take a laptop/notebook with you in your travels.

Roderunner, I do have a laptop with me or a smartphone. I use Earthlink webmail, which has a limited amount of memory. However it is private in a way that neither Gmail nor Yahoo are -it is non-searchable by the company. I am an attorney. But for this reason, I cannot keep all my email on the web and I must occasionally download the oldest. But this means, each time I do it, that I get copies of the other emails I had already downloaded. I also need the access on webmail to emails that are as old as 3 years. But when I use Windows Mail, I have the problems I mentioned. I need a solution to those problems mentioned above.

Mike,
I have read your post a few times so hopefully understand it better.
As Earthlink has a limited amount of memory, but your still able to go back 3 years looks good.
As I have limited knowledge on down loading specific emails, I still think my method would be easiest unless you can access your Earthlink account directly, during your travels, and just open/save the items you want. Sorry I can't give better advice.

MikeRH,

This is a really, really, really late reply. I was looking for a solution to a different issue and the search turned up your post.

I think the solution to your requirements is to use IMAP instead of POP3. If all of your mail servers support it, you can set up accounts on your client to use that protocol.

Yahoo

• The difference between POP and IMAP
• How to set up IMAP

Earthlink: I couldn't find a clear example, but it is available. select IMAP when you set up the new account with incoming server set to port 143. The rest should be that same as for POP3 (id, login, smtp,SSL, etc)