| If you have hundred of emails stored inside | | | | created in Outlook Express. If you are using |
| Outlook Express or Ms Outlook on your hard | | | | Windows 98, you can probably locate your emails |
| drive, which is not present on any other | | | | somewhere in the Windows directory. In Windows |
| computer ( such as a server ) this article is a | | | | 2000 and XP, emails are usually stored |
| must read, it contains free, useful information | | | | somewhere in the user data or application data |
| about how to locate and save your email files to | | | | folder. |
| a CD or secondary hard drive. | | | | The easiest way to find out exactly where your |
| Outlook Express and Ms Outlook stores your | | | | emails are stored is to start Outlook Express, go |
| email and address book in some files on the local | | | | to the Tools menu, and open the Options dialog |
| hard drive(s) of your computer. In many cases | | | | box. In the Options dialog box, select the |
| this email is NOT stored on any webserver, as is | | | | Maintenance page and click the Store Folder |
| deleted from the mail server as soon as is | | | | button. . Here you can find the path to the folder |
| downloaded. | | | | containing your emails. To open the folder, copy |
| The average computer user has several | | | | the path and paste in the address field of the |
| thousands of the emails, contacts, several rules | | | | Windows File Manager. You should see a number |
| and a few signatures, all stored on the local | | | | of .dbx files and possibly some other files, too. |
| computer and vulnerable to viruses or other | | | | After locating the email folder, you can simply |
| disasters that can make a PC unfunctional. | | | | select all the files and press Ctrl-C. Then open the |
| Our advice: you should consider saving these email | | | | folder where you want to keep the backup |
| files from time to time to a safe archived copy ( | | | | copies (on another hard disk, a DVD or a network |
| usually on a CD, or a separate hard drive ) and if | | | | drive, for example) in Windows Explorer, and |
| ever you have problems with your PC you will be | | | | press Ctrl-V. To backup the Address Book, you |
| easily able to restore the email. | | | | can follow these steps:a.. Select Tools | Address |
| It is incredible how many people do NOT save | | | | Book... from the menu in Outlook Express.b.. |
| copies of their Outlook Express email files; and | | | | Choose File | Export | Other Address Book...from |
| when a disaster strikes, they will reinstall all | | | | the address book's menu.c.. Select Text File |
| software, copy back pictures and some | | | | (Comma Separated Values) as the export |
| documents from CDs, but all their email is gone. | | | | format.d.. Click Export.e.. Select the location you |
| Forever. | | | | want to export your address book to using the |
| Viruses, power failures, software failures, human | | | | Browse... button.f.. Give your backup copy a |
| errors, hard drive failures are only a few | | | | meaningful name.g.. Click Next.h.. Select the fields |
| examples of what could destroy the data on a | | | | you want to include in your backup.i.. Finally, select |
| hard drive, including all documents, pictures, emails | | | | Finish.j.. Click OK.k.. Click Close to end the process |
| and other files! | | | | (successfully, I hope). |
| Many users do not need an complex ( and | | | | Additionally, there are several email backup utilities |
| expensive ) backup software, as they can easily | | | | which can make the backup operation much |
| copy all the important home made videos, | | | | easier. Outlook Express Backup Genie is one piece |
| pictures, documents, and important files to CDs or | | | | of software that can offer peace of mind by |
| DVDs, from where they can be easily copied | | | | creating compact backup copies of emails, |
| back when needed. However, the email is most | | | | attachments, address book, signatures, blocked |
| of the time harder to copy because not all home | | | | list, mail rules and settings periodically. The |
| users know where to find it, and which files should | | | | difference between using a automatic email |
| be copied. | | | | backup utility and manual backups, is that the first |
| This article contains a detailed tutorial of where | | | | can be scheduled to create backups quiet in the |
| these files are located and how to copy them to | | | | background at specified time intervals, and that it |
| a safe place. Also, you can use a software that | | | | will include all email information ( signatures, |
| does it fast and most important, automated at | | | | blocked list, etc ) which otherwise would be more |
| regular period of time. It is very important to do | | | | difficult to save. Also if ever the backup is |
| the process right, or you will end up with an | | | | needed, the application will ensure that the restore |
| unusable, incomplete backup copy. | | | | process is made smoothly. And, it works with top |
| While using Outlook Express is fairly easy, finding | | | | 9 popular email clients. |
| and backing up the emails can be a little more | | | | The downside of using a automatic email backup |
| complicated. Since there are a large number of | | | | utility is that it costs money, usually about 20-30 |
| files and folders on a computer running Windows, | | | | USD as one time payment, while the manual |
| the first problem is to find the files containing the | | | | backups are of course, free. The conclusion is |
| emails. Outlook Express stores emails in .dbx files | | | | that either manual or automatic, backing up emails |
| and there might be several different dbx files | | | | is a critical operation for every computer user |
| depending on how many email folders you have | | | | that would regret losing them. |