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Thread ID: 140092 2015-08-17 00:43:00 dbx files containing old emails IanS (924) Press F1
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1406828 2015-08-17 00:43:00 I have recently bought a new computer [HP 500-400A Windows 8.1] and paid to have all data moved from the old computer to the new one. Everything was moved except the emails stored in the ''inbox'' and ''sent items'' in OUTLOOK. After a lot of searching I have found that the contents of inbox and sent items are stored in hidden files which are labelled ''dbx''. I extracted them from the old computer to a flash drive and have stored them in a folder on the new computer. I cannot move them to ''Windows Live Mail'' and the only way that I can find to open them is to use a paid app of unknown reliability. Does anyone know how these dbx files can be opened and moved ? IanS (924)
1406829 2015-08-17 01:16:00 This MAY work (answers.microsoft.com) Speedy Gonzales (78)
1406830 2015-08-17 01:23:00 This works, had to do similar a few years back on a Old XP. Mind you I was only after about 20 odd mails.

Download and install /run www.legroom.net

When you run it, navigate to the folder that has the .dbx files. Then on the second line select the output folder ( or use the same) Once extracted all the emails will be in folders, simply locate the ones you want and drag/drop into what ever mail program.


Everything was moved except the emails stored in the ''inbox'' and ''sent items'' in OUTLOOK. After a lot of searching I have found that the contents of inbox and sent items are stored in hidden files which are labelled ''dbx'' This contradicts one another ??? Outlook uses .pst where all folders are stored , Outlook Express uses .dbx, two different programs.
wainuitech (129)
1406831 2015-08-17 04:04:00 Everything was moved except the emails stored in the ''inbox'' and ''sent items'' in OUTLOOK.

Outlook never uses dbx, outlook email is in a pst. Try a sreach for PST in the old files.
Were you using outlook express on the old PC ?: it would have to be XP or earlier for outlook express.

also, what size are the dbx files you found, they may just be empty if small sizes.

Do you still have the old PC ? If so, there are some options
1101 (13337)
1406832 2015-08-17 04:20:00 Outlook never uses dbx, outlook email is in a pst. Try a sreach for PST in the old files.
Were you using outlook express on the old PC ?: it would have to be XP or earlier for outlook express.

also, what size are the dbx files you found, they may just be empty if small sizes.

Do you still have the old PC ? If so, there are some options

Thanks for reply. Yes it was Outlook Express and XP
The inbox file is 138Kb and two sent boxes each 75Kb
I still have the old PC still in working order but the Outlook express was wiped. I have found the hidden dbx files and it is these that I have transferred to the new one. The size of them seems to indicate that the emails are still there but perhaps they have become corrupted ?
To Wainui: Universal extraction finds the files to be opened but cannot open them !!
IanS (924)
1406833 2015-08-17 05:05:00 The inbox file is 138Kb and two sent boxes each 75Kb


they wont have your email in them, far too small.
In fact, they are the same size as my XP Im using now, that has never has Outlook Exp setup.

There can be dbx files all over the place, search again , on the old PC. In the search , enable the option to search system & hidden files
also search for inbox.

Some one has stuffed up, unfortunately. Outlook Exp shouldnt have been wiped untill the old email was sucessfully imported
1101 (13337)
1406834 2015-08-17 05:49:00 they wont have your email in them, far too small.
In fact, they are the same size as my XP Im using now, that has never has Outlook Exp setup.

There can be dbx files all over the place, search again , on the old PC. In the search , enable the option to search system & hidden files
also search for inbox.

Some one has stuffed up, unfortunately. Outlook Exp shouldnt have been wiped untill the old email was sucessfully imported

1101, Thanks for further reply and your info about the size of the files indicates that my old emails have gone to NEVERLAND !! Fortunately there was nothing really essential in them although I would have liked to refer to some of them sometimes.
Wainuitech, it looks as if the reason for Universal Extraction not being able to open the files was because there was nothing in them !!
Speedy, your info could not work for above reasons.
Many thanks to all for your help, Regards IanS
IanS (924)
1406835 2015-08-17 06:03:00 As 1101 suggested try doing a in depth Search. Open the Search in XP, ( had to go looking for this, forgot the actual names without having a XP handy ) :)

In the search Described here (kb.wisc.edu) Search for *.dbx (the asterisk * means all) That will locate ALL .dbx files. look for any with larger numbers in KB's or even MB's. If it finds any, right click the largest, and open file location (Similar wording) there will be any emails / dbx files.
wainuitech (129)
1406836 2015-08-18 03:45:00 As 1101 suggested try doing a in depth Search. Open the Search in XP, ( had to go looking for this, forgot the actual names without having a XP handy ) :)

In the search Described here (kb.wisc.edu) Search for *.dbx (the asterisk * means all) That will locate ALL .dbx files. look for any with larger numbers in KB's or even MB's. If it finds any, right click the largest, and open file location (Similar wording) there will be any emails / dbx files.

Thanks Wainui, this is the way I searched.
GREAT NEWS: The old emails from the old computer did not go to NEVERLAND, they went to obscure hidden folders on the new computer !!!!!! Universal Extractor can locate and decipher them. I have the old received emails opened and backed up in several ways but I cannot find ''save as'' in Win8.1 The only difficulty is that the emails have come out in alphabetical order instead of received date order, there is probably a way around this, I am working on it. Also working on getting the sent emails opened. I am keeping them in separate folders instead of clogging up the boxes in Win Live Mail.
IanS
IanS (924)
1406837 2015-08-19 00:53:00 Thanks Wainui, this is the way I searched.
GREAT NEWS: The old emails from the old computer did not go to NEVERLAND, they went to obscure hidden folders on the new computer !!!!!! Universal Extractor can locate and decipher them. I have the old received emails opened and backed up in several ways but I cannot find ''save as'' in Win8.1 The only difficulty is that the emails have come out in alphabetical order instead of received date order, there is probably a way around this, I am working on it. Also working on getting the sent emails opened. I am keeping them in separate folders instead of clogging up the boxes in Win Live Mail.
IanS

All old emails from the old computer now found in the new one and recovered with ''Universal Extractor'' and recorded in files that are separate from Win Live Mail. The only problem is that they have come out in alphabetical order of the first letter in Subject. I am still looking for a way of getting them in the original order of date of sent but perhaps I will have to live with this problem. Thanks to all for help. IanS
IanS (924)
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