I don't what I did to import email to Thunderbird. I had no emails on OE (since I don't have it on new pc) and there were no emails on Windows Live. My emails were at first opened on the web then I imported to Thunderbird. Shut webmail and there they all were,om Thunderbird. Need some tuning on Thunderbird but otherwise very good. Very OE. Good luck.
What was Microsnot's logic behind doing away with OE in Windows 7 anyway? It makes no sense to me.
I used a an OE backup utility to backup my account settings and mail, and now I can't restore them because I have no client to restore them to.
Datalyss:
Not sure why they did away with OE. May have been an architectural decision or possibly anti-trust?
You can import your OE stuff into other mail clients, such as Thunderbird. It can be configured to highly resemble OE.
Don't know what you used to backup OE, but this app is well regarded:
Free email archiving and backup software - MailStore Home
Outlook Express Backup 6.5 by Geniesoft.
It would be so easy - but less profitable (?) - for Microsoft to provide a skeleton version of WLM for those not wanting the enormous full application (around 150mb) plus a converting program to facilitate transfers of address bks/messages which don't use WLM formats.
For those like me using more than 1 Windows system on the same PC and wanting to use a common address book and message store WLM has been a nightmare.
I have finally resolved my problems by dropping WLM in favour of Mozilla's Thunderbird which comes in at 40mb! Then use the 'Dawn' FREE address converter [http://mysite.verizon.net/zakharin/software/Dawn/] to convert & import address books.
I am just getting through the same experience myself, and like my other post said it is very awkward and the only thing about Windows 7 that has been inconvenient. Still not liking webmail and will never consider Windows Live. I think MS dropped the ball here. Good opportunity for someone to pick up the ball but I don't see anyone running with it...
There is a one word solution for this now and in the future...Outlook
I used to trouble shoot for Outlook - phone helpdesk and it was worse than Outlook Express at the time, maybe they fixed all the problems Outlook used to have. If you are just using your computer for personal use it is hard to justify the $$$ for Outlook. If MS can offer a browser for free they can offer a integrated mail program for free as well. Just my opinion on it. Webmail - ick!
Totally agree with Lee K. To have to pay for the complexities of Outlook when all one needs is a straightforward email prog is not an everyman solution. And just as the courts have forced MS to enable a full choice of browsers to be useable with Windows it should do the same with email applications. MS can well afford also to allow and support Outlook Express to be available as an alternative to WLM. There are plenty of us who don't want the all singing and dancing WLM and will jump ship from Windows if things carry on like this.
So far still very happy with Mozilla and Thunderbird. WL was not for me and I no longer miss OE. I recommend this for all you OE faithfuls. MS has made a BIG mistake dropping OE. BIG mistake.
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