Recovering emails for Windows Live Mail

[Taisi5]

My computer has been returned to me after a crash which required Windows 7 being reinstalled. Most of my data was recovered, but not my emails apparently. However, I can see a new folder on the hard drive which looks like it relates to Live Mail and which looks like it was recovered too (it's not in my usual user folder and it's dated the day of the crash/recovery), it is called AppData/Local/Microsoft/WindowsMail and contains all the files that I'd expect to see (ie it looks a lot like the folder of the same name which is under my user name). Could this contain all my old emails and if so, how do I access them? I've tried copying the files to the folder under my user name and I've tried asking Live Mail to import messages, but it couldn't see any.

I've lost four years worth of emails and all my up to date contacts, I'd really like to recover them.

 

[Lomai]

Hi

Have a look at this thread
You could also have a look at this SF Tutorial+thread
hope this helps and regards

 

[roncerr]

...a new folder on the hard drive which looks like it relates to Live Mail...called AppData/Local/Microsoft/WindowsMail and contains all the files that I'd expect to see...Could this contain all my old emails and if so, how do I access them? I've tried copying the files to the folder under my user name and I've tried asking Live Mail to import messages, but it couldn't see any...

If you double-click the *.eml files to open them they should open with your current email program so you can read them to see if they are your old files. If you don't have any *.eml files then they are not actual emails. What happens when you do that?

WLM won't see them since WLM uses a different folder called "Windows Live Mail" not "Windows Mail". The latter is a left-over from Vista's Windows Mail which Microsoft left out of Windows 7. However the tutorial thread discusses how to recreate Windows Mail on Windows 7 using that folder for those who wish to use the older, unsupported program on Windows 7.

 

[Taisi5]

There aren't any *.eml files so it looks like this folder doesn't have my old emails in it afterall. Thanks for your help.

 

[roncerr]

If most of your data was recovered, why not ask the person who recovered it if he has a copy of your AppData folder. Put it on a cd or usb stick. You can then connect it to your computer and browse to it using WLM's import messages wizard.

 

[Taisi5]

I've asked, thanks.