Apply Now in Message rules WLM

I recently got a new computer that is running Win 7. I used OE on my old XP computer, and like everyone else, I am having difficulty adjusting to WLM.

In OE, I had several message rules set up to filter mail into different folders automatically for my several email addresses (all pop). If I wanted to create another rule from existing messages, I created the rule, clicked apply now and set it to apply to the inbox and all subfolders.

For some reason, I cannot get this to work in WLM. I created the rules successfully and messages are going to their rightful folder. However, the messages in my inbox prior to creating the rules will not move with the 'apply now' function.

I belong to many yahoo groups. I want the yahoo groups emails in my inbox to go to my yahoo groups folder. In OE, I clicked it to search all folders, but it won't allow me to do this in WLM, only inbox and storage folders.

Can someone please explain how I get the messages from inbox to my yahoo groups folder using apply now in message rules? I get stumped at the which folder to apply to since it doesn't allow me to apply to subfolders - it's dimmed. I can't figure out if I apply to the folder the message is in currently b/c I get stumped when it doesn't allow me to tick 'subfolders'.

Can anyone help?

I have looked it over and it's not really self explanatory. That's why I am asking the question here. I had no problem with the function in OE, but can't get it to work in WLM. I must be missing something, a new procedure or a small thing because it doesn't work.

I did post my specific problem in my original message.

CAn anyone help with this? I am also having difficulty getting messages to go into their folders.

Ok this is what I have done so far: I don't like the separate folders for each email address in WLM, so I created rules to move them all to part of the thread under my main email. All messages are going to the right folders for that condition when mail arrives, but for sorting messages, they are not going in.

For instance, I created a folder for all my messages from USAA with these conditions: where the from line contains 'usaa.com', move it to the USAA folder. However, none of the messages are going into that folder, they go into the main folder for that mailbox even though the mailbox folder is lower in the rule list (which I know processes in order). I have tried many other conditions by adding 'when the message body contain usaa.com' etc. No dice.

I too have a new WLM; no matter how I chose the selections I do not get any downloaded messages sent to the appropriate folder/box; even when I highlight & "choose apply now". Perhaps I don't understand exactly what the message rules are suppose to do. My assumption is that when mail downloads it will be moved into the files/sub boxes created and chosen under the INBOX.

Any help would be appreciated.

I reread the answers multiple times before I sent in my post and then I reread the replies one more time after submitting my post and I FINALLY got it. I had made the sub files/boxes for my storage under the INBOX rather than the account name. So thanks richc46 for the information and the help.