Backup of emails with Windows Mail (Vista)

My one big issue with Outlook Express was that it stored emails in an
encrypted format deep within the Document and Settings directory and it was
difficult to backup and you need Outlook to access them.

Windows Mail looks great, but does it do the same thing? Is there an easy
way to backup emails separately from other files?

I would rather backup and be able to access email backups in a plain text
file.

Robert Miles answered provided some information in this newsgroup yesterday
that indicated where your email messages in Windows Mail are stored. Once
you know where your messages are stored, you can use the backup system of
your choice to backup your messages. Here is what he had to say:

> Where, and in what file type, are Windows Mail messages stored?

In various file types, such as .eml and .nws. For the directory name, click
on Tools, then Options, then Advanced, then Maimtenance, then Store
Folder. Record the directory name, then click on Cancel, then Close,
then Cancel again. Note that when you want to look inside this folder,
you have to enable showing hidden and system files first.



"Joe B." <Joe B.@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:EFD39FD2-A30A-4E40-89B1-0E62644A6909@microsoft.com...
> My one big issue with Outlook Express was that it stored emails in an
> encrypted format deep within the Document and Settings directory and it
> was
> difficult to backup and you need Outlook to access them.
>
> Windows Mail looks great, but does it do the same thing? Is there an easy
> way to backup emails separately from other files?
>
> I would rather backup and be able to access email backups in a plain text
> file.

"Joe B." <Joe B.@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:EFD39FD2-A30A-4E40-89B1-0E62644A6909@microsoft.com...
> My one big issue with Outlook Express was that it stored emails in an
> encrypted format deep within the Document and Settings directory and it
> was
> difficult to backup and you need Outlook to access them.
>
> Windows Mail looks great, but does it do the same thing? Is there an easy
> way to backup emails separately from other files?
>
> I would rather backup and be able to access email backups in a plain text
> file.

It stores the mail in individual .eml files in a hidden directory. To find
this
directory for a particular user, start Windows Mail under that user's
account, then click Tools, then Options, then Advanced, then Maintenance,
then Store Folder. Record the folder name, then click Cancel, then Close,
then Cancel again. If you want to look at this directory, be sure to enable
showing hidden and system files before you go there.