OLEXP: How to Manually Convert Messages from an Outlook Express 5 Beta 2 Message Store (224411)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Outlook Express 5.0 for Windows NT 4.0
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 5.0 for Windows 98
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 5.0 for Windows 95
This article was previously published under Q224411
For information about the differences between Microsoft Outlook Express and Microsoft Outlook e-mail clients, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

257824 OL2000: Differences Between Outlook and Outlook Express

IMPORTANT: This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry

SUMMARY

This article describes how to manually convert messages from an Outlook Express 5 Beta 2 message store.

MORE INFORMATION

WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

If an Outlook Express 5 Beta 2 message store (.ods file) is not in the same folder as an Outlook Express 5 message store (.dbx file), the messages are not converted.

During the conversion process, the ConvertedToDBX value in the registry is located. If a message store with an .ods file extension does not exist, the ConvertedToDBX value is set to 1. This stops the conversion process and the messages are not converted.

To manually convert a message store from an .ods file to a .dbx file:
  1. Quit Outlook Express.
  2. Click Start, click Find, and then click Files or Folders.
  3. In the Named box, type *.ods, *.dbx.
  4. Click Find Now.
  5. Copy all of the .ods files to to the folder that contains the .dbx files.

    For information about how to copy a file, click Start, click Help, click the Index tab, type copying, and then double-click the "Copying files" topic.

    NOTE: The default message store location on a single-user computer is the C:\Windows\Applicaton Data\Microsoft\Outlook Express folder. The message store folder location may change if multiple users exist.
  6. Use Registry Editor to delete the ConvertedToDBX value in the following registry keys

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Identities\clsid\Software\Microsoft\Outlook Express\5.0

    HKEY_USERS\UserName or .Default\Identities\clsid\Software\Microsoft\Outlook Express\5.0

    where clsid is the numerical value of the current identity.
  7. Restart Outlook Express.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:6/29/2004
Keywords:kbhowto KB224411
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