Tranferring email from one computer's Outlook to another computer - help

[Rabrrrrrr]

This isn't for me, since I don't use Outlook, since it's a fucking piece of shit that no self-respecting techie would ever use unless forced to do so, for ironical reasons, or just cuz they feel like it.

However, I have a friend who uses Outlook and who is moving to another country. She can't take the computer she has now, so she asked me if there is a way that she can save all her emails, and put them on her new computer. She'll have Windows on the computer as well.

Is this possible?

I know that with a good email program, like The Bat!, this is pure simplicity - I can use windows explorer to find the folders, zip 'em, and put on the new computer, easy as shit.

But as I remember from my time at a firm in which we all had Outlook, archiving and/or saving email was a fucking pain in the rectum, especially since, I believe, there's no way to find the "mail file" through windows explorer for Outlook, but I could be wrong on that.

Also, she isn't a big techie, so we need something simple and doable.

Any Outlook experts have an answer?

[Misunderestimator]

1. Yes, there's a file... search for *.pst

[Rabrrrrrr]

2. And is that the only file needed?

Is she tranfers that file to the new computer, all will be hunky dory?

[Misunderestimator]

4. Yep. I've done it before.

[Rabrrrrrr]

5. Sweet! Thanks!

Is there any particular directory it needs to go into?

[Misunderestimator]

7. No... you can put it anywhere... then just do File->Open from Outlook.

on edit... it's File->Open->Personal Folders

[Rabrrrrrr]

9. So then, does that then put all the email

and the inbox subfolders, etc., into the account in Outlook, so the whole directory tree and all email are viewable and usable?

[Misunderestimator]

11. Yes, it will pull in everything as it was in the old one.

I have done this just to offload emails into other *.pst files... to improve performance, etc... anytime I need access to the other pst file, I just open it. After you open it, Outlook will by default open it the next time it is loaded, until the folder is manually closed (right-clicking and closing it from the view).

[Rabrrrrrr]

10. Oh, and since you so rock, another question -

how can she transfer her address book?

[Misunderestimator]

12. Greedy one...

The "Contacts" folder should be in the same file as the mail folder. The tree of the pst file should contain an Inbox, a Calendar, a Contacts, and a Drafts and Sent folder by default. Keep in mind that this is the local folder... not the inbox and calendar and contacts that are on a server. Outlook would have to be set up to pull the mail from the server to the local (pst) file (which is the normal setup). And usually that setup contains the other folders as well.

If the Contacts folder is on the server, she can just pull a copy to the personal folder. Then it will be in the pst file.

(On edit... i guess it doesn't actually matter... if she's on a server, all the stuff will still be there, but if her contacts are stored locally they will be in the file. So... I think you are all set... and I hope I didn't give you a headache.)

[Rabrrrrrr]

13. You're the bestest!

Thanks!!

[Misunderestimator]

14. You're welcome!

:D

[flvegan]

3. Hi, I'm an idiot, but

couldn't you just dump the whole program with e-mail files onto a disk?

That, or can they be exported to a free-mail account that can be accessed via the web? Then, imported to the new computer.

Seriously, I don't know anything, so if those are stupid ideas, please be gentle.

[trof]

6. So, what do you use?

[Rabrrrrrr]

8. I use The Bat! - best email program available

It's the only software that I actually get excited and evangelical about.

[Tripper11]

15. I used this when I reformatted my computer

http://www.iopus.com/guides/oe-backup.htm

I hope this helps.