Problem importing emails into WLM

Nosmas · 18 Aug 2016

I am attempting to move all my emails from a machine with W7 SP1 Windows Live Mail to a new machine with W10 Outlook. As I understand it is not possible to transfer from WLM on one machine to Outlook on another machine I decided to install WLM on the new machine as an interim measure.

I backed up the emails by exporting from WLM to a folder on a Kingston Data Traveller, then installed a completely new WLM on the new machine and imported the emails from Kingston to WLM where they appeared in Storage Folders > Imported Folder. To my surprise the import procedure also copied in the details of the accounts I had set up on the old machine. Using Windows Explorer I copied Imported Folder and pasted it to C:\Users\Peter\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Live Mail. Having closed then re-opened WLM I was disappointed to find no sign of my emails in the Inbox folder and all the sub folders. Tried getting callback from MS Support - although very quick they couldn't help as WLM no longer supported.

Please can you advise me if I have done something wrong or omitted a step, and what I need to do now to complete the transfer of emails.

Callender · 18 Aug 2016

There's probably a way to do it but I'm not a WLM user so don't know too much about it.

Here's an alternative method that might work but requires effort.

Grab a copy of Mitec MailViewer. It's free and runs without installing.

Run the program on the old machine and browse WLM database. You will see folder names.

Problem importing emails into WLM-mitec-mail-viewer-1.jpg

Create folders with identical names somewhere - say on your desktop.

Problem importing emails into WLM-mitec-mail-viewer-2.jpg

Then in Mitec MailViever click each folder - start with Inbox ans it will display messages. Check (tick) all the ones you want to copy.

Then on the toolbar choose "Messages" > "Save" > "Email" and browse for the Inbox folder you created.

Do the same for other folders.

Once done copy these folders containing saved emails to your new machine.

Open each folder and highlight all messages. ~~Drag them into the folder with the same name in WLM.~~

EDIT: Meant to say Drag them into the folder with the same name in Outlook

Maybe that will work. I'm not sure. I know it works for email clients that I've used.Just do a test run with a single message first to confirm that it will or won't work.

How's the Midday Sun?

Nosmas · 18 Aug 2016

Callender - many thanks for your reply and suggestion. However I feel it would entail quite a bit of work and this is only an interim step as I ultimately want to export the emails from wlm and import them into Outlook in the new machine. Nevertheless I will bear it in mind if I cannot find a solution to my present problem.

Ranger4 · 18 Aug 2016

Thai website might help you.

Naples Computers, Inc. Importing your e?mail, contacts, and calendar into Windows Live Mail | Microsoft Windows | How To 239-513-1960

You will have to find where your old WLM files are, so you can locate them when WLM asks where they are.

DavidE · 18 Aug 2016

From what i read you shouldn't export/import directly to/from a flash drive, you should use a local drive such as [C].
See if using the instructions in this article helps:
Export and import messages - Microsoft Community