Backing up Windows 10 mail before re-installation


  1. Posts : 108
    Windows 10 Pro
       #1

    Backing up Windows 10 mail before re-installation


    I'm trying to backup Windows 10 mail app so I can re-install Windows 10 however I'm only able to get part way through the instructions

    a) Navigate to the following location:
    b) C:\Users\Username\Appdata\Local\packages\microsoft.Windowscommunicationsapps\Localstate\Indexed\Livecomm\any folder name\any folder name\mail.(C:\ being the drive where Windows is installed)

    c) The app data folder in the above said location is a hidden folder. So, if you are unable to view, change the view options to show hidden files and check.
    d) You will find many folders for each folder in the mail folder (like inbox, sent, drafts). Open these folders and locate the folders that contains the emails.
    e) Copy and paste these email files in the desired location. You will be able to open these files using any email applications.


    On my Windows 10 Installation
    microsoft.Windowscommunicationsapps =

    microsoft.windowscommunicationsapps_8wekyb3d8bbwe

    I'm hoping there's some method to backup Windows 10 Mail app. Though it's a great app, integrated into Windows 10 it is missing functions I am use to having, such as a store file for backup, rules, and other features of Windows Mail and Outlook.

    I do have an old version of Outlook that I'm uncertain can be installed to run under Windows 10? I think Window Mail Vista use to be a download and could be installed on Windows 7? Windows Mail Live I read someplace is part of Windows Live Essentials ?
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 42,639
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #2

    The Mail app is, as you've discovered, limited and does not lend itself to that.

    Programs like Thunderbird (free) are far more comprehensive and include the ability to handle multiple accounts merged or separately, use mail filter rules etc.

    I moved from MS progs after being fed up with them ditching Outlook Express, then Windows Mail; the data was dispersed across a number of locations. In those cases I used a 3rd party program to move mail, contacts etc to Thunderbird. Now none of my email-related info is on C: - away from the OS, as it should be.

    You have probably seen:
    Backup Or Save Email Messages In Windows 10 Using Mail App
    backup email Windows 10 - Microsoft Community
    How to Back Up Messages From Windows 10s Mail App
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 108
    Windows 10 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #3

    These versions of Office come with Outlook and will install and run under Windows 10


    • Office 2016 (Version 16)
    • Office 2013 (Version 15)
    • Office 2010 (Version 14)
      Office 2007 (Version 07)
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 2,701
    Windows 10
       #4

    You don't have to backup Emails as such if you are setup with Windows Mail and all accounts are IMAP as the Emails are stored on the respective Mail account servers.
    They will be synced after re-installing Windows along with the Mail App once Accounts have been setup again.

    Individual Emails can be saved from the Mail App as an .EML file. However that maybe very tedious with loads of Emails.

    The reference you are quoting for locations don't exist on mine, it may well be out of date.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 108
    Windows 10 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #5

    Helmut said:
    You don't have to backup Emails as such if you are setup with Windows Mail and all accounts are IMAP as the Emails are stored on the respective Mail account servers.
    They will be synced after re-installing Windows along with the Mail App once Accounts have been setup again.

    Individual Emails can be saved from the Mail App as an .EML file. However that maybe very tedious with loads of Emails.

    The reference you are quoting for locations don't exist on mine, it may well be out of date.
    Windows Mail is a mail client I have used, and by default it's included with Windows Vista. .It's email accounts can be either Pop or Imap. I mainly used POP accounts unless the pop isn't working.

    Windows Mail does have a store folder similar to Outlook. By default it's path is C:\users\(your user name)\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Mail\Local Folders.

    However it's not always in that exact location, some people reported not being able to find "Local Folder" from it's default path.

    To find the actual path to Window Mail store folder select 'Tools|Options|Advanced|Maintenance|Store Folder' from Windows Mail menus.

    Outlook 2007 is able to import Windows Mail by choosing "Import and Export" (choose) "Import Internet mail and address" (choose) Outlook Express 4.x, 5.x 6.x or Windows Mail

    Then Choose Option:

    Replace duplicates with items imported
    Allow duplicates to be created
    Do not Import duplicate items

    Finish

    A box open up asking one to "Please select the mail folder for Outlook Express 4.x, 5.x 6.x or Windows Mail"

    I have Windows Mail on a separate USB drive and tried to import Windows Mail mail or store folder from it's default path and received an error

    "The mail folder could not be opened. If another application is using this file, please close it and try again."

    Under "Local Folder" there are a bunch of files and folders including bunch of files with the same extensions e.g.

    account{0E0A7DCB-14E8-4BAE-85CB-BA9E619BCFF6}.oeaccount

    I'm not familiar enough with Window Mal store / mail folder(s) to say what caused the error? Perhaps it's the wrong store folder path?

    I recently purchased a copy of MS Office 2007 that includes Outlook 2007.

    I like Windows 10 mail app ok and it's well integrated into Windows 10. However for myself it's not a true mail client where one can create mail rules, import and export, etc. I prefer a mail client such as Outlook where one can easily create folders similar to the file explorer.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 13,848
    Win10 Version 22H2 Pro and Home, Win11 Pro and Home
       #6

    albert1 said:
    These versions of Office come with Outlook and will install and run under Windows 10


    • Office 2016 (Version 16)
    • Office 2013 (Version 15)
    • Office 2010 (Version 14)
      Office 2007 (Version 07)
    Actually the applications in Office 2007 were Version 12. This Wiki page has a chart, bottom 1/3rd or 1/4th:
    Microsoft Office - Wikipedia
    I got started with Office in '95 but actually preferred WordPerfect starting with WP 5.1 for Windows for several functions that were easier to accomplish.

    As for old versions, I have Office 2000 running on an IP/Insider Preview computer but only need the basics [Word and Excel], haven't tried all the features that a business would need and don't know how its Outlook will work, got stung by that with Office 97 that almost immediately had Outlook 98 as a patch.
      My Computers


  7. Posts : 108
    Windows 10 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #7

    Berton said:
    Actually the applications in Office 2007 were Version 12. This Wiki page has a chart, bottom 1/3rd or 1/4th:
    Microsoft Office - Wikipedia
    I got started with Office in '95 but actually preferred WordPerfect starting with WP 5.1 for Windows for several functions that were easier to accomplish.

    As for old versions, I have Office 2000 running on an IP/Insider Preview computer but only need the basics [Word and Excel], haven't tried all the features that a business would need and don't know how its Outlook will work, got stung by that with Office 97 that almost immediately had Outlook 98 as a patch.
    I have both Office 97, Outlook 98 and Outlook 2003 that came bundled with some hardware. I've been computing over 35 years since 1981. First started computing using a dumb terminal connected to a VAX mainframe. The computer center with the VAX upgraded all their dumb terminals to IBM XTs. Back in those days I owned several CP/M machines as well as IBM XT's that came bundled with a software package consisting of a word processor, spread sheet and database application.

    To connect to the Intranet I used a 150 baud modem from my home that called up the VAX. . Most if not all of the hardware and software was experimental. People were engineering and creating designs so a floppy drive could interface with a PC's motherboard.
    Last edited by albert1; 04 Mar 2018 at 13:06.
      My Computer


 

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