How to Move Mail in Outlook Express to a New Computer (10 Steps)

By Tricia Goss

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Outlook Express is a popular email client provided with Internet Explorer in Windows versions 98 through XP. If you upgrade to a new computer, you can move your Outlook Express email messages as well. OE message files are compatible with several other email clients, such as Microsoft Outlook, Windows Mail and Windows Live Mail, so even if your new computer does not have Outlook Express you can still retain your email messages.

Export Messages from Your Old Computer

Step 1

Open Outlook Express. Go to the "Tools" menu and click "Options." Go to the "Maintenance" tab of the dialog box. Click the "Store Folder" button to find the location where Outlook Express stores email messages.

Step 2

Select the "Store Folder" location. Right-click it and select "Copy." Close Outlook Express.

Step 3

Right-click the "Start" button and select "Explorer" to open "Windows Explorer." Click inside the address bar of the "Explorer" window. Right-click and select "Paste" to paste the address of the "Store Folder." Press "Enter" to navigate to this folder.

Step 4

Press "Ctrl+A" to select all of the items in the Outlook Express folder. Right-click and select "Copy" or use the keyboard shortcut "Ctrl+C."

Step 5

Insert the CD or thumb drive you want to use to move your email messages. Open the folder for this removable media device if Windows does not open it automatically. Click inside the folder. Right-click and select "Paste" to paste the email messages from the "Store Folder." Remove the media device when the pasting is complete.

Import Messages to Your New Computer

Step 1

Insert the removable media device into the new computer.

Step 2

Start Outlook Express or another compatible email client into which you want to move your email messages.

Step 3

Go to the "File" menu. Point to "Import" and select "Email Messages."

Step 4

Select "Microsoft Outlook Express" as the file type from which you want to import messages. Click "Next."

Step 5

Browse to find the removable device folder and import the email messages into your new email client.

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