Exporting email messages from WLM to Outlook

Sharyn

unread,

Apr 2, 2008, 6:23:01 PM4/2/08

to

I was hoping someone might be able to give me some advice on how to export my
email messages from one machine running Windows Live Mail to another machine
running Microsoft Outlook 7.

We're talking about 7000 email messages here and I am petrified of losing 5
years of email history, but each time I attempt to export from WLM (using the
microsoft exchange/ outlook format), I receive an error and WLM closes down.

I can find a file called "Mail.MSMessageStore" on the WLM machine, but not
sure how I can connect to this using Outlook. Any help would be appreciated!

Ron Sommer

unread,

Apr 2, 2008, 8:17:54 PM4/2/08

to

Try exporting one folder.
These instructions are altered from a message by winston.

File/Export/Messages
Choose Microsoft Windows Live Mail, click next
Click Browse, and browse to a new folder, Select the folder, click OK,
Click Next
Select a Folder, click Next....the export will begin...do not interrupt

Copy the files to a jump drive (former is preferred... retains the
file's write attribute vs the cd read only)
Copy the folder to new machine desktop or folder of your choice.

Open Outlook and try to import the folder.
--
Ronald Sommer

"Sharyn" <Sha...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:631561AA-841B-4801...@microsoft.com...

Sharyn

unread,

Apr 2, 2008, 9:16:00 PM4/2/08

to

Thanks for your reply Ronald, but I am not sure how to import a folder into
Microsoft Outlook. When I use the Import and Export tool within the File
menu, there are a variety of Import formats to select from, but none that I
can see will a) allow me to import an entire folder or b) individual .eml
messages. Any suggestions?

Ron Sommer

unread,

Apr 2, 2008, 9:43:26 PM4/2/08

to

I don't know if Outlook 2007 will File, Import, .... eml messages.
I am not familiar with Outlook.
--
Ronald Sommer

"Sharyn" <Sha...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:6064B168-5943-4B96...@microsoft.com...

...winston

unread,

Apr 2, 2008, 11:58:36 PM4/2/08

to

The only option is to to Import from another program or file.
Outlook 2007 will recognize Outlook Express and Windows Mail(Vista's client).
- It does not prompt or acknowledge WLM even if present on the same system.

It would be wise to not tamper with MailMsMessageStore!
It would be wise before proceeding any further to use WLM export messages function to backup WLM's messages and
accounts....instructions are here, also available in other threads in this forum.
http://liveunplugged.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!F92775FC46A390CA!165.entry

I've not attempted the WLM to OL07 direction..thus ymmv especially if you've ~7000 messages over 5 yrs(which obviously originated
in a different program prior to the 5 month old RTM version of WLM.

If OL07 is already in use, backup its pst file to avoid damage and prior to attempting an import using 'another program or file'
the messages***need*** to be moved into Windows Mail or OE depending upon your operating system.
- The alternative is to drag and drop, though OL07 will still see those dragged as eml files not native to Outlook 07. Plus, if
WLM is present they will continue to open in WLM since that most likely is congifured as the default for *.eml files(OL is not an
option for *.eml files on my Vista machine only WLM and WM)

Finally as far as I can see it will create the account and import all...no selective folder or individual choices. 7000 is quite a
lot..don't interrupt it may take a while.

--
...winston
ms-mvp windows live mail

"Sharyn" <Sha...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:6064B168-5943-4B96...@microsoft.com...

Earle Horton

unread,

Apr 3, 2008, 12:34:25 AM4/3/08

to

I successfully exported WLM all my storage folders to Outlook 2007, where
they showed up as Personal Folders, Storage Folders. There is the option to
export all folders or selected folders. Spot checks seem to indicate that
messages and folder structure are intact. There are lots of messages going
back a few years, but maybe not 7000. Back up Outlook's messages first, or
export to an empty message store. It said something about a "Profile".

Cordialment,

Earle

"...winston" <winst...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:u5gy27Tl...@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...

...winston

unread,

Apr 4, 2008, 4:19:07 AM4/4/08

to

Which file type option in OL07 did you choose to Import ?
Sure it didn't pull them from WM or OE?
--
...winston
MS-MVP Windows Live Mail

"Earle Horton" <012...@nospam.com> wrote in message news:384F0004-D7D9-4DB6...@microsoft.com...

Earle Horton

unread,

Apr 4, 2008, 11:06:47 AM4/4/08

to

In WLM, File, Export, Messages, Microsoft Exchange, Profile Name "Outlook",
Selected Folders, select all storage folders, and "OK". Boot Outlook 2007
and there's all your mail. It sure looks as if it's all there, but I
wouldn't swear to it yet. I am curious about "mail profiles" but I haven't
had time to see what it does. According to the popup, I can create a new
mail profile in Control Panel and export messages there.

Cheers,

Earle

"...winston" <winst...@gmail.com> wrote in message

news:#3m5#xilIH...@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...

bonisuresh

unread,

Mar 23, 2010, 3:27:20 AM3/23/10

to

I was hoping someone might be able to give me some advice on how to export my
email messages from one machine running Windows Live Mail to another machine
running Microsoft Outlook 7.

i was already tried

i opend window live and open file option
and open export
and i was selected windowlive messages
and i have selected folders.and i was kept in pendrive.
lateron i go to another machine.and i tried to import the windows live mails.but its not importing

Shary wrote:

Exporting email messages from WLM to Outlook
02-Apr-08

Previous Posts In This Thread:

On Wednesday, April 02, 2008 6:23 PM
Shary wrote:

Exporting email messages from WLM to Outlook

On Wednesday, April 02, 2008 8:17 PM
Ron Sommer wrote:

Try exporting one folder.

Try exporting one folder.
These instructions are altered from a message by winston.

File/Export/Messages
Choose Microsoft Windows Live Mail, click next
Click Browse, and browse to a new folder, Select the folder, click OK,
Click Next
Select a Folder, click Next....the export will begin...do not interrupt

Copy the files to a jump drive (former is preferred... retains the
file's write attribute vs the cd read only)
Copy the folder to new machine desktop or folder of your choice.

Open Outlook and try to import the folder.
--
Ronald Sommer

"Sharyn" <Sha...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:631561AA-841B-4801...@microsoft.com...

On Wednesday, April 02, 2008 9:16 PM
Shary wrote:

Thanks for your reply Ronald, but I am not sure how to import a folder into
Thanks for your reply Ronald, but I am not sure how to import a folder into
Microsoft Outlook. When I use the Import and Export tool within the File
menu, there are a variety of Import formats to select from, but none that I
can see will a) allow me to import an entire folder or b) individual .eml
messages. Any suggestions?

"Sharyn" wrote:

On Wednesday, April 02, 2008 9:43 PM
Ron Sommer wrote:

I don't know if Outlook 2007 will File, Import, .... eml messages.

I do not know if Outlook 2007 will File, Import, .... eml messages.

I am not familiar with Outlook.
--
Ronald Sommer

On Wednesday, April 02, 2008 11:58 PM
...winston wrote:

"Sharyn" wrote:

On Thursday, April 03, 2008 12:34 AM
Earle Horton wrote:

I successfully exported WLM all my storage folders to Outlook 2007, where they
I successfully exported WLM all my storage folders to Outlook 2007, where
they showed up as Personal Folders, Storage Folders. There is the option to
export all folders or selected folders. Spot checks seem to indicate that
messages and folder structure are intact. There are lots of messages going
back a few years, but maybe not 7000. Back up Outlook's messages first, or
export to an empty message store. It said something about a "Profile".

Cordialment,

Earle

"...winston" <winst...@gmail.com> wrote in message

news:u5gy27Tl...@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...

On Friday, April 04, 2008 4:19 AM
...winston wrote:

Which file type option in OL07 did you choose to Import ?
Which file type option in OL07 did you choose to Import ?

Sure it did not pull them from WM or OE?

--
...winston
MS-MVP Windows Live Mail

On Friday, April 04, 2008 11:06 AM
Earle Horton wrote:

In WLM, File, Export, Messages, Microsoft Exchange, Profile Name "Outlook",
In WLM, File, Export, Messages, Microsoft Exchange, Profile Name "Outlook",
Selected Folders, select all storage folders, and "OK". Boot Outlook 2007
and there's all your mail. It sure looks as if it's all there, but I
wouldn't swear to it yet. I am curious about "mail profiles" but I haven't
had time to see what it does. According to the popup, I can create a new
mail profile in Control Panel and export messages there.

Cheers,

Earle

"...winston" <winst...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:#3m5#xilIH...@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...

Submitted via EggHeadCafe - Software Developer Portal of Choice
Measuring SharePoint Page Rendering
http://www.eggheadcafe.com/tutorials/aspnet/c0a9ac9e-53cd-442f-8981-9d5f236c2be5/measuring-sharepoint-page.aspx

...winston

unread,

Mar 23, 2010, 4:37:08 AM3/23/10

to

Windows Live Mail does not export to Outlook 2003, nor does Outlook 2003 import from WLM.

To resolve your problem..

1. Sign up for a new Hotmail account(or use an existing one)
- if new, ensure you logon to the account at mail.live.com to validate the account and setup the account to create the Inbox
and other default folders in the web UI
2. Create user created folders in the account in the web UI
- create as many as you need(subfolders are not allowed)
3. Setup the Hotmail account in WLM (do not setup as Pop3, ie. setup as an Http account)
4. Perform a full Sync in WLM to setup the folders for the account in WLM
- optional since WLM will prompt to download the folders when accessing the account in WLM
5. Copy(not Move) messages from other accounts in WLM to the folders in the Hotmail(http) account in WLM
6. Sync in WLM to ensure the messages are uploaded to the web server
- logon to mail.live.com to ensure the messages are present
7. Install the Outlook Connector in Outlook(Version 12 or the Version 14 beta)
- note if you use Version 14 and are using Outlook 2010 beta ensure you install the correct one(32 or 64 bit) for your version
of Office/Outlook
8. Add the account to the Outlook Connector(click on Outlook Connector on the OL toolbar and add account)
9. Close Outlook(needs to be done to setup the account and create the *.ost file for use with the Outlook Connector
10. Open Outlook and perform a send/receive on the Hotmail account.
11. Once complete the messages on the web UI will be available in Outlook in the Hotmail accounts folder structure(scroll to bottom
in Outlook' s folder pane-left hand side)

At this stage you can copy the messages from the Hotmail account's folders to Outlook's folders(default or user created)

Once complete, you can remove the http account in WLM and Outlook.
- Note: if removing the account in Outlook and also removing the Outlook Connector it is important to done in the following order
a. Remove the account in Outlook (access email account setup, select the account and remove)
b. Uninstall the Outlook Connector(Add-Remove Programs for XP or Programs and Features for Vista/Win7)
***Do Not*** perform (b) before (a) !!!!

I am assuming that you already know how to export contacts to a CSV file in WLM and import them for use into Outlook....if that
assumption is incorrect, consider doing so before you uninstall WLM.

--
...winston
ms-mvp mail

"boni suresh" wrote in message news:2010323327...@yahoo.co.in...

slk759

unread,

Mar 23, 2010, 2:05:03 PM3/23/10

to

In addition to the detailed information Winston provided, I believe you will
have to copy those folders from the pendrive to the PC's hard drive before
you'll be able to work with them. There are some access issues with
external media.

"boni suresh" wrote in message news:2010323327...@yahoo.co.in...

Sammy Samuels

unread,

Aug 19, 2010, 5:37:53 AM8/19/10

to

I would suggest you to export emails from Windows Live Mail to Outlook 2007 using this program link:

http://www.pcvare.com/convert-windows-live-mail-to-outlook.html

I found this tool a week ago when i am having problem to convert Windows Live Mail to Outlook. Then I searched google and found this tool. It successfully converts all my emails from Windows Live Mail to Outlook 2007.

Hope you will also get best results.

Regards,
Sammy Samuels

> On Wednesday, April 02, 2008 6:23 PM Shary wrote:

> I was hoping someone might be able to give me some advice on how to export my
> email messages from one machine running Windows Live Mail to another machine
> running Microsoft Outlook 7.
>
> We're talking about 7000 email messages here and I am petrified of losing 5
> years of email history, but each time I attempt to export from WLM (using the
> microsoft exchange/ outlook format), I receive an error and WLM closes down.
>
> I can find a file called "Mail.MSMessageStore" on the WLM machine, but not
> sure how I can connect to this using Outlook. Any help would be appreciated!

>> On Wednesday, April 02, 2008 8:17 PM Ron Sommer wrote:

>> Try exporting one folder.

>> These instructions are altered from a message by winston.
>>
>> File/Export/Messages
>> Choose Microsoft Windows Live Mail, click next
>> Click Browse, and browse to a new folder, Select the folder, click OK,
>> Click Next
>> Select a Folder, click Next....the export will begin...do not interrupt
>>
>> Copy the files to a jump drive (former is preferred... retains the
>> file's write attribute vs the cd read only)
>> Copy the folder to new machine desktop or folder of your choice.
>>
>> Open Outlook and try to import the folder.
>> --
>> Ronald Sommer
>>
>>
>> "Sharyn" <Sha...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:631561AA-841B-4801...@microsoft.com...

>>> On Wednesday, April 02, 2008 9:16 PM Shary wrote:

>>> Thanks for your reply Ronald, but I am not sure how to import a folder into

>>> Microsoft Outlook. When I use the Import and Export tool within the File
>>> menu, there are a variety of Import formats to select from, but none that I
>>> can see will a) allow me to import an entire folder or b) individual .eml
>>> messages. Any suggestions?
>>>
>>> "Sharyn" wrote:

>>>> On Wednesday, April 02, 2008 9:43 PM Ron Sommer wrote:

>>>> I do not know if Outlook 2007 will File, Import, .... eml messages.
>>>> I am not familiar with Outlook.
>>>> --
>>>> Ronald Sommer

>>>>> On Wednesday, April 02, 2008 11:58 PM ...winston wrote:

>>>>> The only option is to to Import from another program or file.

>>>>>> they showed up as Personal Folders, Storage Folders. There is the option to
>>>>>> export all folders or selected folders. Spot checks seem to indicate that
>>>>>> messages and folder structure are intact. There are lots of messages going
>>>>>> back a few years, but maybe not 7000. Back up Outlook's messages first, or
>>>>>> export to an empty message store. It said something about a "Profile".
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Cordialment,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Earle
>>>>>>
>>>>>> "...winston" <winst...@gmail.com> wrote in message
>>>>>> news:u5gy27Tl...@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...

>>>>>>> On Friday, April 04, 2008 4:19 AM ...winston wrote:

>>>>>>> Which file type option in OL07 did you choose to Import ?

>>>>>>> Sure it did not pull them from WM or OE?
>>>>>>> --
>>>>>>> ...winston
>>>>>>> MS-MVP Windows Live Mail

>>>>>>>> On Friday, April 04, 2008 11:06 AM Earle Horton wrote:

>>>>>>>> In WLM, File, Export, Messages, Microsoft Exchange, Profile Name "Outlook",

>>>>>>>> Selected Folders, select all storage folders, and "OK". Boot Outlook 2007
>>>>>>>> and there's all your mail. It sure looks as if it's all there, but I
>>>>>>>> wouldn't swear to it yet. I am curious about "mail profiles" but I haven't
>>>>>>>> had time to see what it does. According to the popup, I can create a new
>>>>>>>> mail profile in Control Panel and export messages there.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Cheers,
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Earle
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> "...winston" <winst...@gmail.com> wrote in message
>>>>>>>> news:#3m5#xilIH...@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...

>>>>>>>>> On Tuesday, March 23, 2010 3:27 AM boni suresh wrote:

>>>>>>>>> I was hoping someone might be able to give me some advice on how to export my
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> email messages from one machine running Windows Live Mail to another machine
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> running Microsoft Outlook 7.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> i was already tried
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> i opend window live and open file option
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> and open export
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> and i was selected windowlive messages
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> and i have selected folders.and i was kept in pendrive.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> lateron i go to another machine.and i tried to import the windows live mails.but its not importing

>>>>>>>>>>> On Tuesday, March 23, 2010 2:05 PM slk759 wrote:

>>>>>>>>>>> In addition to the detailed information Winston provided, I believe you will
>>>>>>>>>>> have to copy those folders from the pendrive to the PC's hard drive before

>>>>>>>>>>> you will be able to work with them. There are some access issues with
>>>>>>>>>>> external media.

>>>>>>>>>>> Submitted via EggHeadCafe - Software Developer Portal of Choice

>>>>>>>>>>> Custom Favorites Web Site with MongoDb and NoRM
>>>>>>>>>>> http://www.eggheadcafe.com/tutorials/aspnet/7fbc7a01-5d30-4cd3-b373-51d4a0e1afa8/custom-favorites-web-site-with-mongodb-and-norm.aspx

Sammy Samuels

unread,

Aug 19, 2010, 5:39:26 AM8/19/10