Merge Message Storage Folders in Windows Live Mail (or not).

Hi all,


I've messed up, and I hope that someone can help me out.


I've set up Windows Live Mail on a new system (Windows 10),
then downloaded a lot of messages from the server to the
default folder that WLM sets up on installation.


I know how to change that default folder:


File > Options > Mail ...
Advanced > Maintenance ...


Store Folders


C:\Users\Sys_2016\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Live Mail




My problem is that I did not do that before letting WLM
go online and download messages, and I have all of the old
messages from the system that I was previously using as
my email client copied to a folder on my new system.


What I want to do is to merge everything from the default folder
that WLM has downloaded my most-recent messages into with
everything from the folder that I've copied over from the old system.




But I may not have to, if WLM behaves as I hope that it might.




If I just change the download folder (using the steps above)
to the folder path on the logical drive that has all of my
old messages, would WLM then redownload all of the messages
that it has downloaded in the meantime?


(All of the messages are still on the server.)


That seems too simple, and I'm concerned that I'm going to
mess myself up more than I already have.


Thanks!

Welcome to the TenForums @wylbur

First off so you are aware, Windows Live Mail is no longer supported and depending on your mail server and their plans to drop access you could find yourself in a messy situation. I've already had to move several of the people I support here in Canada.

Now because it is not supported doesn't mean it won't work but it could get pretty glitchy.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/...ows-essentials


If you have Office 365 you could move to Outlook 2016 or you might want to try Mozilla Thunderbird. Thunderbird may not be the prettiest client it does work.

I believe to get your mail to redownload you are going to need a new "Profile" in WLM. If you are setting the account up as IMAP then your online account is the book of record and what gets download should be what is on mail servers. Now you say you have your old mail file so I assume these are personal folders that are not on your Web Mail Server so not sure how these would be merge.


Ken