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Thread ID: 130567 2013-04-14 05:48:00 Lost Windows Live Mail Contacts List garyasta (1151) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
1336928 2013-04-14 05:48:00 I had a computer crash using Win7 and now have a Win8 computer. I have backup files of the Win7 data, including C drive. However, I cannot find any Windows Live Mail Contacts folders in the backup files.
I have tried using searches on various formats, e.g. C:\Users\User name\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Live Contacts\{36 characters folder name} etc. but can find no Contacts folders.
Any ideas where they might be?
garyasta (1151)
1336929 2013-04-14 06:26:00 What version of WLM do you have ??

The contacts folder is actually a hidden system file, you need to go into the folders options / View and untick " hide protected operating system files"

More Info windows-live-mail-contacts-database/ (liveunplugged.wordpress.com)
wainuitech (129)
1336930 2013-04-15 04:39:00 Hi wainuitech

Thanks for your response.

I changed the show hidden folders setup but the contacts folder still does not display in my backup folders.

I seem to have copies of the various folders that I used in the original Win7 setup and may import them into the Win8 WLM once I have found the Contacts folder.

I used (done on the Win7 machine) EaseUS TODO backup and I can open the folders in the backup files (located on an external drive) using the Win8 machine but there is no contacts folders showing in the backup files.
garyasta (1151)
1336931 2013-04-15 05:07:00 Did you unhide the "hide protected operating system files" as well, other wise they wont show.

If they are not there then Todo may have not brought them across in a backup.

It depends on how you backed up the W7, if it was a drive Image or just a backup. A drive Image should have brought everything, a backup may not have.
wainuitech (129)
1336932 2013-04-15 05:24:00 There's no tick in the "hide protected operating system files" box. I actually can't remember how I set Todo up, but I guess that I will set it up now so that it takes image backups. garyasta (1151)
1336933 2013-04-15 05:38:00 If you go to your windows live mail account online you can download them. I did that last year with this computer when I was setting it up which surprised me. It happened when I downloaded and installed WLM and I got a surprise that my address book with all its contacts were there from my previous computer.
:)
Trev (427)
1336934 2013-04-15 05:50:00 I have a problem there.

MS indicates that they have noticed some irregular instances in my MS account and have blocked my access. When I try to sort this out, I get a link message that is supposed to take me through a process that requires me to receive a message through my phone line.

I don't have a phone line nor do I have cellphone coverage. Everything is done via satellite broadband and the internet. I was using Skype but now I'm having problems trying to set this up too, as i need MS connectivity as well.

I'll just have to see how I can sort things out.

Life is a slow-motion thing for me. It takes time to sort things out.

Cheers
garyasta (1151)
1336935 2013-04-16 01:32:00 try..
C:\users\User name\contacts
The older version used that. You may get lucky & find some contacts there.

I feel for you, I'm trying to restore some Win Mail emails, mail restore is failing miserably.
What a POS
I suggest you dump it & buy Outlook as soon as possible, after you get this sorted out.
1101 (13337)
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