Importing WM messages into WLM

[Ron W]

I am trying to import Vista based Windows Mail (WM) messages from my old computer in to Windows 7 based Windows Live Mail (WLM) on my new computer. I use the WM export technique listed in several places on-line. The message files seem to copy into memory OK, but when I try to copy them onto a thumb drive or CD, I get a "Property Loss message screen (see attached). It says file (message) XX-XX has properties that cannot be copied to the new location. I have two choices yes or skip. No matter which one I choose, I don't get something that is readible by WLM on the new computer. Help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[V3xar]

Hi Ron W. Welcome to SevenForums.

Just to confirm with you, did you follow the following steps:

Export Messages from Windows Mail

Create a Blank Folder on your desktop(e.g. WMExport)
Open Windows Mail
File/Export/Messages
Select Windows Mail
Click Next
Click Browse and navigate to the blank folder on the Desktop(choose the folder, do not open the folder)
Click Select Folder
Click Next(if the folder is not empty go back to the beginning)
Select All Folders or Selected Folders
Click Next
Wait for the Export to finish and the prompt 'Your messages were exported in Windows Mail format'
Click Finish

Import Messages into Windows Live Mail

Open Windows Live Mail
Ensure you have setup all email accounts
Click File\Import\Messages\
Select Windows Mail
Click Next
Click Browse and navigate to the folder created earlier for exporting the messages
Click OK(the Location of Message dialog box will now contain the correct path and folder)
Click Next
Click All or Selected Folders
Click Next
Wait for import process to finish
The Windows Live Mail Import Dialog box will prompt ' Your Messages were imported in Windows Mail Format'
Click Finish.

You then I presume attempted to copy this folder to your thumb drive?

Then :

Move Messages from Windows Live Mail Storage Folders to the Email Account's Folders

Scroll to the Windows Live Mail Storage folders\Imported Folder
Click to expand
Drag the messages in each sub-folder to the appropriate account

Are those the steps you followed?


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[Ron W]

Hello V3xar,

Right now, I have three computers, the old one with XP and Outlook, the newer one with Vista and Windows Mail, and the brand new one with Windows 7 and Windows Live Mail. I moved most of my email files (.pst) from the XP computer to the Vista computer about a year ago with no problems.

The export occurred on the Vista/WM computer and I hoped the import will occur on the Windows 7/WLM computer. I infer from the export/import steps that you think both are on the same computer.

I performed the export steps you outlined. They seemed to work OK. I only tried to move the "Inbox" with 72 messages to see if it would work. I attempted to copy the exported files to a thumb drive so I could physically move them from the older computer to the newer one. I got the " Property Loss" message when I tried to copy the files the the thumb drive. When I got the files to the new computer, I could import them into WLM, but there was nothing there. I can't follow the import sequence you outline exactly because WLM is not on the same computer as WM.

 

[V3xar]

Ron W, please have a look at the following:

PST Files (Outlook) in Windows Live Mail Desktop

The current WLMail cannot import from a pst file. The messages have to be imported into Outlook Express or Windows Mail.

Move the OE or WM message store to the new laptop and select the message store when doing a File, Import, Messages.

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I will see if I can find a solution for you.


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[V3xar]

Ron W, I stand open to correction from any other SevenForums member, but it would appear as though your only options at the moment are:

Download and install the Office 2007/2010 trial and export the mail to Outlook and then export as .dbx and .wab files.

microsoft office 2010 trial free download - Free Software Download from AtoZ

Install WLM on the XP machine. Export from Outlook or Outlook Express to WLM.

Actually rather than EXPORT from OE, you should IMPORT to WLM. In fact, if WLM finds the OE Store Folder, WLM will (semi-automatically) handle the import as a part of their installation process.

Hope this helps.


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[Ron W]

V3xar: I think I confused things here. The XPcomputer, OUtlook, and .pst files are out ot the picture--not a factor. I cannot export the WM message files from the Vista/WM computer. Are you saying, I should install WLM in the Vista compute, try to move the files from WM to WLM in that computer, then export the WLM files to the thumbdrive, and then import the files from the thumbdrive when it is installed on the new Windowss 7 computer?

 

[V3xar]

Are you saying, I should install WLM in the Vista compute, try to move the files from WM to WLM in that computer, then export the WLM files to the thumbdrive, and then import the files from the thumbdrive when it is installed on the new Windowss 7 computer?

That still won't work Ron,you still can't export from WM to WLM, however I presume the Vista PC has either Outllook/Outlook Express installed.

Then WM-> Outllook/O/Express->Install WLM->import to WLM from Outlook/O/Express.

I know that it seems a convoluted way of doing things but from all I have been able to source online, it's the only way!

Hope this helps.


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[Ron W]

Thanks--I'll give it a try. The Vista machine has Windows Mail, but I can load Outlook. I was able to load Outlook onto the Windows 7 machine. It worked OK, except I had to manually log in every tiime I used it. I wonder why WLM has the import WM listed as one of the options, if it doesn't work. Oh for the good old days of just moving ,pst files around.

 

[Ron W]

V3Xar:

I got the messages into the new computer, but I can't get them out of Outlook 2007.

Old Computer: Moved messages from WM into Outlook 2007, then copied Outlook 2007 data onto thimb drive.

New Computer: Moved files from thumb drive into Outlook 2007 (worked fine), BUT cannot get them from Outlook 2007 (trial version) into Windows Live Mail.

I even uninstalled WLM and reinstalled it on the chance that it would pick up the Outlook 7 messages that way, but no dice. There must be some trick to it that I missed. Ideas????

Ron W

 

[phoenixmark]

Ron, maybe this might help since I just did what you are trying to do. I had to create a blank folder on the vista computer desktop (I called it "emails"). I opened WM and exported the emails to that folder on the desktop. I copied that folder to a usb hardrive. I then created a folder on the win7 computer desktop, again called it "emails". I copied the emails folder from the external h.d. to the win7 emails desktop folder. I then imported them from there. Basically what V3xar is saying how to do it. I was told that it's best to copy the emails to a folder then copy the emails to whatever portable device you have. If it's any consolation, there were 1.69 gigs worth of email. You will find them in the "imported folder" in WLM. I didn't know where to find them at first, did the transfer 3 times and ended up with 3 sets of emails. This is my first experience with both WM and WLM since this isn't my computer.

Mark

 

[Ron W]

Mark,

We've come full circle. I did what you said--copied the WM messages to a file. But, when I tried to copy that file to another device, I got the "Property Loss" message shown in my first emial. The two choices to proceed to copy the files were Yes and Skip. I tried both. When I proceeded as you suggested, WLM couldn't find anything in the file.

 

[Ron W]

Mark, I have pretty much given up. I tried what you suggest, but the Vista computer wouldn't let me copy my emails onto a portable memory device See my first post at the start of the thread. I was able to import the WM files from the old computer into Outlook 2007 (trial version) on my new computer. I now have Outlook 2007 and WLM on the new computer, but there seems to be no way to get the message files from Outlook to WLM. I guess I'll have to fork ou the bucks for Windows Office 2007 to keep my messages on the new computer even though I don't need it otherwise. Looks like Microsoft won.