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I have a Windows XP Pro machine with Outlook Express 6 on it.

I want to transfer it (Account settings, Contacts, Calendar, Messages) to:

a Windows 7 Pro machine with Microsoft Office 2007 on it.

I do not want to use the Windows Mail or Windows Live Mail. I want to use the Outlook 2007. I am not sure what to save from the XP/Outlook Express machine, and I am not sure what format the Outlook 2007 will import. I really appreciate any solid help on this.

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Short summary and recommendation (builds on and ): the cleanest way to move Outlook Express 6 mail and contacts into Outlook 2007 on a Windows 7 PC is to let Outlook do the import on the original XP box (or to create a PST there) and then copy that PST to the Win7 machine. That preserves folder structure and contacts without having to keep Windows Mail/Live Mail as the final client. (support.microsoft.com)

Practical step-by-step (no Windows Live Mail required)

  • Make full backups first: copy the Outlook Express store folder and the Address Book file. Find the store path from Outlook Express: Tools > Options > Maintenance > Store Folder; message folders are individual .dbx files. The Address Book is the .wab file under the XP profile (for example C:\Documents and Settings\<user>\Application Data\Microsoft\Address Book\<username>.wab). Copy those files to removable media. (support.microsoft.com)
  • If possible, install Outlook 2007 temporarily on the XP machine (trial/temporary install if required). Start Outlook and use its Import wizard (Import Internet Mail and Addresses / Import Internet Mail Account Settings) to bring mail and address-book data in; Outlook will create a .pst. If the automatic prompt appears on first run, accept the Outlook Express import. When complete, close Outlook. (support.microsoft.com)
  • Move the resulting .pst to the Windows 7 PC (via USB, network, or by attaching the drive), then add/open that PST in Outlook 2007 (Tools → Account Settings → Data Files → Add). Verify mail, folders and contacts. (learn.microsoft.com)

Alternatives and gotchas

  • If Outlook 2007 cannot be installed on the XP box, the Microsoft method is to copy the OE store to the target machine and run Outlook Express there before importing to Outlook—but stock Windows 7 lacks Outlook Express, so a short-lived Windows Live Mail install or a third‑party DBX→PST converter are common fallbacks. Third‑party tools exist but test on copies and keep backups. (support.microsoft.com)
  • Note: Outlook Express itself has no built‑in calendar; any calendar data must be exported from whichever program actually holds it (Outlook or a separate calendar app). (tutorialspoint.com)

Quick checklist

  • Back up .dbx and .wab before changing anything.
  • Record mail-server names, ports and usernames (passwords often must be reentered).
  • After import, spot‑check messages, contacts and a few attachments; run Inbox Repair (scanpst.exe) on the PST if Outlook reports issues. (learn.microsoft.com)

This addresses the gaps in the earlier replies by giving exact file locations, a recommended import flow that produces a portable PST, and practical fallbacks if Outlook cannot be run on the XP machine.

Recommended Answers

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Member Avatar for Kraai

Hi

As far as I know, outlook express only let you export/save adress book, and not account settings, calender and such.

Outlook, on the other hand, let you import all the stuff you ask for.

But, because you are on different machines, I can see this is not going to happen, so I suggest:

Export your outlook express addressbook to a portable disk.flashdrive.
Connect the portable drive or flashdrive to your outlook machine, and import.

Set up account settings in outlook manually.

I know it sounds like the long way, but this is what I can think of know,

Member Avatar for mjdodd

other solution is to temporarily remove the hard disk and put it into the second machine and then ask outlook to import.
Equally though the exporting to an external drive or memstick shoudl work as Outlook is OK on importing.
M

Member Avatar for mjdodd

to continue, an other way is to network the two machines simply using a CROSSOVER ethernet cable and then import.
M

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