Computer help required

Hi all, I was wondering whether some kind person/people could help me with a plea for help in converting Windows Live Mail emails (I know, I know) into .PST format (?) so I can use Outlook for my email going forward.

I've always found WLM reliable and simple to use so I've stuck with it but it's very dated and now unsupported so the time has come to make the move.

I have several email accounts set up in WLM, each one having hundreds of .EML emails in them.
I would like to keep this structure within Outlook.

Does Outlook use a single .PST file to hold all data or will there be one .PST for each email account?

I am unsure of the best way forward with regards to converting.
There appear to plenty of companies offering software to convert my emails but I want to be sure that's ALL they are doing!

I would be grateful for any advice.

Thank you,
Graham

Can't help with converting WLM emails but have used Outlook for 20+ years.

I have several email accounts and each have their own .PST files; that works very well. Though, if you wanted, different accounts can use the same .PST file.

Edited by cheshire_man (Sat 19-Oct-19 20:53:15)

I need to do the same at some point in time (move from WLM to an alternative).

In WLM (I'm still using the 2011 version!) I have 14 accounts for various reasons, and as I was looking export them to a new mail client (is that the right term?) I noticed the option to export in Outlook format. This currently won't work as when I attempt to do that, it reports that 'the operation could not be performed' because Outlook is missing.

I hope that by installing a 'proper' version of Outlook I can get it to work, but it's not a priority at the moment.

If you are going to use Outlook, have you installed it yet? I use the mail client built into W10 which says Outlook in it's title but I don't think it's the 'proper' version. I can't find any 'import' references in the tools (that doesn't mean it won't, I just can't find the option).

Better make sure you are all talking about the same Outlook. Also that any related conversion software is targeting the one you mean.

Just done a bit more digging around out of interest, since I'm trying to achieve a similar result (although I don't really want to use Outlook, I don't think it can be purchased on it's own and my Office is very old, it's 2007). Thunderbird and eM Client are a couple of options I might try.

I found this page and it explains about using eml files, which is what WLM stores the emails as, individually in folders. I followed the instructions and have found all my emails; each one can be opened directly from it's folder. Default (on my PC) is WLM, but it can also be opened in the W10 Mail app.

I've not done much other than procrastinate regarding the move, but it needs to be done. I'm sure I'll do it but not just now.

In reply to a post by vitrocmax:

I don't really want to use Outlook, I don't think it can be purchased on it's own

It can be, but it's quite pricey: https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/p/outlook/cfq7ttc0k7c4

Which version of WLM do you have? In my WLM 2012 there is the option Export Email Messages to MS Exchange. This includes MS Outlook. Outlook needs to be resident at the time.

Hi XRaySpeX,
Thank you and strangely enough that�s exactly what I�ve done this morning!

vitrocmax, have you managed to sort out yours?

Thank you also to those who replied.

Graham

Edited by VWGolfman (Sun 20-Oct-19 15:50:45)

@cheshire_man: Where in OL can you specify separate .PST files for each a/c or does it just do it?

I only have OL 2003 & it creates only 1 .PST file.

Edited by XRaySpeX (Sun 20-Oct-19 16:32:45)

I'm using Outlook 2010 but the method will be essentially the same.

As far as I recall, when creating the account, it asks for name, email address, password, then it'll ask for SMTP and POP details (if that's what you are using). During this dialogue it asks for - or auto-generates - the .PST filename and details.

So basically it just does it.

But you also said:

In reply to a post by cheshire_man:

Though, if you wanted, different accounts can use the same .PST file.

So it can't just do it. There must be an option to choose between many & 1?

Typically it can be changed during setup: https://i.imgur.com/L2iBFcl.png

Although as Outlook setup is increasingly automated these days, the option may not always be offered during setup (but can be altered later).

Indeed there is. The default is to create a new .PST file but there is the option to use an existing file.

Though as one of the posters aid he was using Office 2007 that shouldn't be an issue.

But you're right, it can be changed later, though preferable to get it right at the beginning.

In reply to a post by cheshire_man:

though preferable to get it right at the beginning.

I certainly agree with that. I prefer a single inbox, so not getting it right initially and leaving it at default means editing the data file setting, shifting any mail which has been downloaded in the interim, and deleting the newly created data file(s).

I have an Inbox for each mail account: mine, my wife's, and 2 or 3 organisations I'm involved with. All have different email addresses.

It works for us, however what works for us may well not work for others.

Well, I set up another a/c on my OL 2003 but it never gave me any option as to what to do with the ,PST file. All I can do to the single .PST file is rename it or reposition it.

BTW: I'm not asking about Inboxes, only PST files. I know I could make many Inboxes, even 1 per a/c by the use of filters.

Edited by XRaySpeX (Sun 20-Oct-19 21:48:07)

In reply to a post by XRaySpeX:

BTW: I'm not asking about Inboxes, only PST files. I know I could make many Inoxes, even 1 per a/c by tje use of filters.

I know, but like I say the default for later versions is to create one data file (pst) for each new email account added. And of course since it's a different data file, it's a different inbox.

I can't confirm the behaviour for 2003, it's been a very long time since I used that.

Looking at this it looks as if it creates a new .PST when an account is created, there being no option to use an existing .PST.

Obviously, in the example linked to, use the correct POP & SMTP addresses.

In reply to a post by cheshire_man:

it looks as if it creates a new .PST when an account is created,

Not when an account is created, but only on the 1st a/c (or maybe it came with a skeletal .PST most likely). When an account is created it adds to the existing .PST.

With OL 2003 there is only ever 1 .PST.

Edited by XRaySpeX (Mon 21-Oct-19 11:18:01)

In reply to a post by XRaySpeX:

With OL 2003 there is only ever 1 .PST.

Not strictly true. You can have more than one PST registered with Outlook 2003 but email from all accounts is delivered to one PST at a time, unless you employ filtering rules.

Edited by Oliver341 (Mon 21-Oct-19 12:05:13)

How? Should you be saying "Inbox" instead of ".PST"? That I'll agree!

In reply to a post by XRaySpeX:

How? Should you be saying "Inbox" instead of ".PST"? That I'll agree!

Go to "Tools > E-mail Accounts" and view/change existing accounts. In there you can create a new data file and select which data file to deliver email to: https://www.authsmtp.com/images/setup/outlook-2003-6...

Yes, you can replace a single .PST file with another single .PST file. If you consider they are both "registered" with OL, so be it!

In reply to a post by XRaySpeX:

If you consider they are both "registered" with OL, so be it!

Well both pst files are present in the drop-down list in the image above, and are both available for filtering rule delivery. If you don't think that qualifies as "being registered", so be it!