The Hindu Business Line : Converting .dbx mails to .pst

Outlook Express messages are stored in the file with .dbx extension. Microsoft Outlook messages are stored in the file with extension .pst files. By default, the dbx files are stored in the user profile folder.

The user profile folder can be c:\Documents and Settings\ username\Local Settings\Application Data\Identities\{Random number}\Microsoft\Outlook Express. The exact folder can be found from the Outlook Express store folder path. For each Outlook Express folder such as Inbox, Outbox, Sent items, Deleted items, there will be one dbx file in that folder.

In Outlook, all the mails and mail folder are stored in .pst file.

It is possible to configure Outlook with a .pst file located in any folder and not specific to user profile folder.

Outlook Express is installed along with the Windows OS. Most of the mail accounts will be configured in Outlook Express. Microsoft Outlook, being an Office product, has more features than Outlook Express. Generally, users migrate from Outlook Express to Outlook.

The messages, contacts from Outlook Express can be imported to Microsoft Outlook.

The procedure to import messages from Outlook Express to Outlook (.dbx to .pst) is the same for Microsoft Office Outlook 2003 and Microsoft office Outlook 2002. The procedure is simple if both applications, Outlook Express and Outlook, are installed in the same computer. To import Outlook Express messages in the same computer, please open Outlook. From File menu, click Import and export. Click Import Internet mail and addresses. Select import mail check box. Click Next. Click Finish. To save a copy of the summary of import in the inbox, click save in inbox.

When Outlook and Outlook Express are installed in a different computer, copy the Outlook Express files to the computer where Outlook is installed.

To find the location of the folder where the dbx files are stored, in Outlook Express, in Tools menu, please click Options; click Maintenance tab. Click Store Folder. Note the path displayed in Store Location.

Copy the dbx files from this path to the computer where Outlook is installed. Configure Outlook Express in the computer where you have installed Outlook with these copied files.

After this, you open Outlook and follow the same steps when Outlook and Outlook Express are installed in the same computer.

Contacts can also be imported from Outlook Express to Outlook.

In Outlook, you can either import them into contacts folder or to a Personal Address Book accessible in Outlook.

For more details, please refer to this URL: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/outlook/HA010919601033.aspx

Solution by P. Natarajan

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