How to clone outlook express configuration one XP machine to another

  • Thread starter Thread starter brassplyer
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brassplyer

I want to duplicate my Outlook Express setup from one XP machine to
another so I don't have to go through setting up each new identity,
set pop settings etc. I found the identities forlder but simply
copying that doesn't seem to do it. Maybe I'm missing something.

Thanks for all assistance.
 
Not only do you have to copy across the "Identities" folder but also open
[Regedit.exe] and copy (export) the contents of the following key to a [.reg] file :

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Identities]

Choosing : "File" > "Export" from the top menus in [Regedit.exe] will copy ALL of
the information in the above key and all subkeys to a file of your naming.

Copy this [.reg] file plus the "Identities" folder to each [XP] machine you want OE
"cloned" on.

Then "import" the [.reg] file on each target machine by double-clicking on it and
answering [Yes]

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

IMPORTANT - The "Profile Name" on each target PC must be the same name as on the
primary PC or the "path" to the "Identities" folder (and Store Root) will not be the
same.

If it is not the same - after copying the "Identities" folder and importing the
[.reg] file - you will have to manually edit the following reg value to reflect the
correct "path" (on each profile / machine)

Open [Regedit.exe] and go to the following key :

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Identities\{GUID}\Software\Microsoft\Outlook Express\5.0]

(Where GUID stands for the "Globally Unique ID" - a long binary number unique
identity)

....and manually edit the following value under this key (for each ID if more than
one).

"Store Root"="c:\documents and settings\%USERNAME%\local settings\application
data\identities\{GUID}\microsoft\outlook express"

Make sure the above value reflects the actual path to the [.dbx] files that "store"
the folders within OE

(I have replaced my profile folder name with %USERNAME% and the long ID number with
{GUID})

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In addition to the above, to also import the Address book - open Address Book on the
primary PC and choose from the top menus : "File" > "Export" > "Address Book
(Wab)..." and choose a name for the address book.

Do this for each identity on the primary PC so you have one (or more) [.wab] files.

Copy the one (or more) [.wab] files across, along with the "Identities" folder and
the [.reg] file, to each of the other target PCs

For each identity on the target PCs open Address Book and choose "File" > "Import" >
"Address Book (Wab)..." .

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :-)
 
Not only do you have to copy across the "Identities" folder but also open
[Regedit.exe]  and copy (export) the contents of the following key to a[.reg] file
Click to expand...


Thanks. I should clarify, I've got the former C: drive from one
machine hooked up as a slave drive to another. It was having issues
and want to copy some files while they're still accessible. Should the
procedure you outlined still work? Should I be able to access the
registry info from the former C: drive?

Thanks
 
Copying (exporting) the reg key specified in my first post would be a little more
complicated.

As all you have is an old drive hooked up as slave, if I got that right?

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :-)




Not only do you have to copy across the "Identities" folder but also open
[Regedit.exe] and copy (export) the contents of the following key to a [.reg] file
Click to expand...


Thanks. I should clarify, I've got the former C: drive from one
machine hooked up as a slave drive to another. It was having issues
and want to copy some files while they're still accessible. Should the
procedure you outlined still work? Should I be able to access the
registry info from the former C: drive?

Thanks
 
Copying (exporting) the reg key specified in my first post would be a little more
complicated.

As all you have is an old drive hooked up as slave, if I got that right?

==

Cheers,    Tim Meddick,    Peckham, London.    :-)


Not only do you have to copy across the "Identities" folder but also open
[Regedit.exe] and copy (export) the contents of the following key to a [.reg] file
Click to expand...

Thanks. I should clarify, I've got the former C: drive from one
machine hooked up as a slave drive to another. It was having issues
and want to copy some files while they're still accessible. Should the
procedure you outlined still work? Should I be able to access the
registry info from the former C: drive?
Click to expand...


Correct. f it's more complicated that's fine if it's still doable. I
could *try* to see if it will work again as a C: drive in the other
machine but I'm really reluctant to touch it now that it's at least
readable after the other machine did a chkdsk and fix on it. I have a
suspicion it has problems with the IDE connector hardware.
 
brassplyer said:
I want to duplicate my Outlook Express setup from one XP machine to
another so I don't have to go through setting up each new identity,
set pop settings etc. I found the identities forlder but simply
copying that doesn't seem to do it. Maybe I'm missing something.

Thanks for all assistance.
Click to expand...


Backing up and Cloning your OE Identities:
http://www.insideoe.com/backup/clone.htm
 
brassplyer said:
I want to duplicate my Outlook Express setup from one XP machine to
another so I don't have to go through setting up each new identity,
set pop settings etc. I found the identities forlder but simply
copying that doesn't seem to do it. Maybe I'm missing something.

Thanks for all assistance.
Click to expand...

The account settings can be exported from Tools, Accounts, <select account>
and click EXPORT.

Note: File, Export does not do the same thing.

This won't take the folder structures or the mail contents, but does take
the server settings.

HTH
-pk
 
You cannot copy the registry entry directly for the simple reason that the registry
for the OS on the slave drive is not the current registry.

But you can bring up [part of] the registry for the slave drive's OS - and thereby
"extract" the email account settings in the form of an exported reg-file.


Firstly, copy and paste the command below into a Command Prompt (DOS-box) window :

reg LOAD HKU\SLAVEME "D:\Documents and Settings\TargetUser\ntuser.dat"

....where you will need to replace my fictitious "TargetUser" folder with a real one
that existed on the old PC's drive.

Then, copy and paste this command into a Command Prompt window :

regedit /e c:\email.reg HKEY_USERS\SLAVEME\Identities

(After successfully exporting a reg-file, then issue the UNLOAD command : )
(reg UNLOAD HKU\SLAVEME)


Then, open the resultant file [c:\email.reg] in notepad.exe.

You will have to manually replace all instances of : HKEY_USERS\SLAVEME\

....with : HKEY_CURRENT_USER\

It should only take you a minute, then save the file.

After making the modifications, import the file by double-clicking on it and choosing
[Yes]

When you open Outlook Express, you should see your new Identities displayed in the
"Switch Identity" box.


*NB Make sure you have first copied the folders within the chosen profile's :

"%USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\Application Data\Identities"

....folder from the old [slave] drive to the comparable profile on [C:] drive.


And ALSO - please note what I said in my original reply about any discrepancy with a
difference in profile-names between the one you are trying to export from and the one
you are going to import to.

If they are not the same you must modify the registry (AFTER importing the
reg-entries) to reflect the new path to the "Store Root" folder.

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :-)
 
*NB - In my previous post, I assumed your slave drive was drive [D:] but [obviously]
if it not - then you need to change the drive-letter accordingly.


*Plus - I also assumed that all you have is the old drive and that you no longer have
access to the old copy of WinXP that was upon it.

If this is incorrect and you have access to the old copy of XP - then (as "Patrick
Keenan" quite rightly points out) it is a whole lot easier to 1). start the old XP
2). Start the old OExpress & 3). Export each mail account setting (to an .iaf
file) by : going to "Tools" > "Accounts" - click on the "Mail" tab - click on the
"Export" button for each mail account.

Otherwise, the more complicated method I outlined is the only way to retrieve your
old settings if you can no longer access the old copy of XP.

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :-)
 
*NB - In my previous post, I assumed your slave drive was drive [D:] but [obviously]
if it not - then you need to change the drive-letter accordingly.

*Plus - I also assumed that all you have is the old drive and that you nolonger have
access to the old copy of WinXP that was upon it.
Click to expand...


Didn't have access to it as an O/S, though the files are on the disk.

I went through the procedure, and other than a snag when it left
duplicate "Main identities" it worked, however I seem to be not be
having success with the old address book. I copied the old .wab file
to where the current one is, but OE isn't picking up on it.

I fixed the duplicate main identity problem mention above by erasing
the newer one in the registry and the identities folder and OE then
recognized the contest of the remaining one.
 
Ah, nevermind, the username has to match the folder it's in. Now it's
working.

I really appreciate the assistance.
 
The only thing I'm finding it's not doing the same as it was on the
old machine is that when I invoke OE, instead of opening the Main
Identity by default, it opens whichever identity I was last in.
 
Well done for getting that far with it!


About the WAB file -
The [.wab] file for a profile is stored in :

c:\documents and settings\%USERNAME%\application data\microsoft\address book\

...under the name : %username%.wab

All you have to do is retrieve this file and place it somewhere obvious.

Then, in Outlook Express choose "File" > "Import" > "Address Book"

After clicking on this you are faced with a browser to search for a [.wab] file to
import.

Just browse to your "obviously" placed [.wab] file and click on the [Open] button.


All contacts in the [.wab] file should then be visible in the current identity you
imported it in.


The other way is to exit OE, replace the current wab file for a given identity with
the older one (changing the wab filename to that of the new identities') and then
restarting OE.

This is a far more complicated way of going about it and there's very few reasons I
can think of for doing it the "long way round".

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :-)




*NB - In my previous post, I assumed your slave drive was drive [D:] but
[obviously]
if it not - then you need to change the drive-letter accordingly.

*Plus - I also assumed that all you have is the old drive and that you no longer
have
access to the old copy of WinXP that was upon it.
Click to expand...


Didn't have access to it as an O/S, though the files are on the disk.

I went through the procedure, and other than a snag when it left
duplicate "Main identities" it worked, however I seem to be not be
having success with the old address book. I copied the old .wab file
to where the current one is, but OE isn't picking up on it.

I fixed the duplicate main identity problem mention above by erasing
the newer one in the registry and the identities folder and OE then
recognized the contest of the remaining one.
 
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