Backing up E-mails and Address Book

This information is for Outlook Express and may not work for other programs.

Step 1: Open Outlook Express> at the top left you will see File-Edit-View etc. click on view> then Layout - make sure that the box named Folder List is ticked; Click OK. You should now have Folders on the left side of your screen in one pane and your emails on the right in another. Minimise.

Step 2: Create a new folder on your desktop by clicking your right mouse button on any blank area away from the icons; left click on New> then Folder. Name this folder Email Back Up. Press enter.

Step 3: Open the back up folder by double clicking the folder, then create the folders that you want to place your emails into by clicking on File> New> Folder; name them Inbox etc.; Press enter. Do the same for each folder you want to back up.

Step 4:Reduce the size of the window by clicking on the box in the top right hand corner between the - and the x symbols.

Step 5: Open the folder you want to back up eg. Inbox.

Step 6: Now re-open your Outlook Express and reduce the size of this window as in Step 4.

Step 7: By holding down the left mouse button on the top of each of the windows boxes, separate the two windows so that you can see all of the Outlook Express window, and some of the Backup Inbox window.

Step 8: In your Express window click on the Inbox Folder. You should be able to see your emails in the right pane. Click on one of the emails> then press Control A on your keyboard - this will highlight your emails; then while holding down the left mouse button on the highlighted emails move your mouse over to the Back Up/Inbox folder that you have open and release the mouse button. You should now see a copy of your emails in the Back Up/Inbox folder.This is called Drag and Drop.

Step 9: Repeat steps 5 & 8 for each folder that you want to back up. This may take some practice but, once you are confident with it, you will find it quite simple.

Step 10: To back up your address book. Open your address book then click on File> Export> Address Book (WAB); name the file Address Book Back Up and save it into the back up email folder you now have on your desk top.

Step 11: Now you are able to save the back up email folder by copying it to a CD Rom or through a network to another computer.

If you have had to format your computer, you can now put the emails you have saved into the folders in Outlook Express by reversing steps 8 & 9.

To put your address book back, reverse step 10 by using File> Import from the saved folder.

Please feel free to contact us by phone if you need help.

This help tip is a guide only and is used at your own discretion. Caloundra Computers accepts no responsibility.

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