How do I get Windows Live Mail 2012 export to work?

Galane · 28 Jan 2015

I'm working on a laptop with Windows 7 and Windows Live Mail 2012 is not exporting email properly.

There are 4,008 messages in the Inbox folder but the export function will only copy out ONE message. A web search finds that this function of WLM 2012 is very badly broken and apparently Microsoft is not going to fix it. No difference in its dysfunction if it's set to work offline.

Exporting from Outlook then into WLM worked fine, but WLM can only (not) export to WLM and Exchange, which requires being on a network with an Exchange server.

Slartybart · 28 Jan 2015

Open the blue File menu
Select Export email > Email messages

How do I get Windows Live Mail 2012 export to work?-wlmexp-b.png

Select Microsoft Windows Live Mail

How do I get Windows Live Mail 2012 export to work?-wlmexp-0.png

Chose the export destination folder, [Make New Folder] is a bit tricky, the Folder: field doesn't always automatically get updated, I just click on the folder above it, then click on the folder I created. As long as both the highlighted folder and the name of the folder in the Folder: filed match, you're good to go.
Press [OK]

How do I get Windows Live Mail 2012 export to work?-wlmexp-1.png

Make sure the radio button

All folders is the active selection.
Press [Next]

How do I get Windows Live Mail 2012 export to work?-wlmexp-2.png

The export should begin and every eMail message should be in the destination folder you chose.

Galane · 29 Jan 2015

That's exactly what I did and it would only export ONE of 4008 messages.

Slartybart · 29 Jan 2015

What version are you running, I know it's 2012, but the specific version.

blue file menu -> about
Version 2012 (Build 16.4.3528.0331)

also what other Essential apps are installed, just mail or (photo, movie maker, etc?)

Let me know and try to repair all Essential apps not just mail
WinKey+R
type wlarp in the Run box

Please let me know why you're trying to export mail - backup?

Galane · 29 Jan 2015

Just mail installed. Version is whatever is the latest version available to download. I copied the whole mail store folder to a usb stick. Had to get the laptop ready for its new owner and delete the old user account and files.

Slartybart · 29 Jan 2015

That's what was going to be the next step, but you beat me to it.

You'll want both folders below, the 1st has your contacts, the 2nd has your message store
%LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows Live
%LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows Live Mail

If you use rules, they're stored in the registry
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows Live Mail\Rules

You can export just that key and import it as part of a restore

If you just want to look, launch Command Prompt and enter
reg query "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows Live Mail\Rules" /s > WLMRules.txt

Then open %USERPROFILE%\WLMRules.txt
This will not be a backup, just a reference to build a new rule set.

Bill
.