importing messages to windows mail from outlook express

After my computer crashed I've bought a new one and installed Microsoft
Vista. I'm now trying to salvage data from my old hard-disk, which contains
my old XP installation. I've located the .dbx files containing all my
previous mail. However, Windows mail for no apparent reason refuses to import
the messages.

When I click on "import" and "messages" from the "file" menu in windows
mail, I get the choice of importing from an archive file or an Outlook
Express identity. I'm quite sure I need the latter, but this option is in
grey and can't be clicked!?!?!?!?!? Then why is it there at all!?!?

Anyway, I hope someone can help me with this problem. I've read the help
file on http://www.oehelp.com/backup.aspx but I don't think it solves my
problem. And I would prefer not to pay for a program like OEX while Vista has
the solution in grey but won´t let me access it.

For clarity, I´m running microsoft Vista home basic in Dutch. References
above are translations by me, hope they make sense. Thanks in advance for
your time and effort!

"Ruben Dekker" <Ruben Dekker@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news0E8FE85-6ABE-4FC6-B380-39EE320EE47D@microsoft.com...
> After my computer crashed I've bought a new one and installed Microsoft
> Vista. I'm now trying to salvage data from my old hard-disk, which
> contains
> my old XP installation. I've located the .dbx files containing all my
> previous mail. However, Windows mail for no apparent reason refuses to
> import
> the messages.
>
> When I click on "import" and "messages" from the "file" menu in windows
> mail, I get the choice of importing from an archive file or an Outlook
> Express identity. I'm quite sure I need the latter, but this option is in
> grey and can't be clicked!?!?!?!?!? Then why is it there at all!?!?
>
> Anyway, I hope someone can help me with this problem. I've read the help
> file on http://www.oehelp.com/backup.aspx but I don't think it solves my
> problem. And I would prefer not to pay for a program like OEX while Vista
> has
> the solution in grey but won´t let me access it.
>
> For clarity, I´m running microsoft Vista home basic in Dutch. References
> above are translations by me, hope they make sense. Thanks in advance for
> your time and effort!


See http://www.oehelp.com/backup.aspx

--
Frank Saunders, MS-MVP OE/WM
http://www.fjsmjs.com
Answer in newsgroup. Don't expect an answer to email.

Do not choose to import from an Identity (that is only for when you are
updating). Instead follow the directions on the site exactly, as it is very
tricky and buggy, but it will work if you follow those steps exactly.

I only wrote OEX to do this, because there is no other way in Vista to get a
dbx file into WinMail if the import steps don't work.

steve

"Ruben Dekker" <Ruben Dekker@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news0E8FE85-6ABE-4FC6-B380-39EE320EE47D@microsoft.com...
> After my computer crashed I've bought a new one and installed Microsoft
> Vista. I'm now trying to salvage data from my old hard-disk, which
> contains
> my old XP installation. I've located the .dbx files containing all my
> previous mail. However, Windows mail for no apparent reason refuses to
> import
> the messages.
>
> When I click on "import" and "messages" from the "file" menu in windows
> mail, I get the choice of importing from an archive file or an Outlook
> Express identity. I'm quite sure I need the latter, but this option is in
> grey and can't be clicked!?!?!?!?!? Then why is it there at all!?!?
>
> Anyway, I hope someone can help me with this problem. I've read the help
> file on http://www.oehelp.com/backup.aspx but I don't think it solves my
> problem. And I would prefer not to pay for a program like OEX while Vista
> has
> the solution in grey but won´t let me access it.
>
> For clarity, I´m running microsoft Vista home basic in Dutch. References
> above are translations by me, hope they make sense. Thanks in advance for
> your time and effort!
>
>
>