Member Avatar for arnewank

I recently reformatted my computer, and saved my Outlook Express Inbox, Sent, and addresses . The only way I could find to save them was in .dbx files, which I cannot seem to find a way to open!! In looking on line, I find programs ...to buy...that will open them, but surely there must be a "better" (cheaper, more accessable) way ? I keep thinking that if that is the common way to save these, I must be missing the common way to open them. Please tell me how to proceed . Thanks very much

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by thomaspatel

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A short, practical summary and safe next steps.

Outlook Express stores each folder as a .dbx mailbox file (Inbox.dbx, Sent Items.dbx, etc.). Those files are not meant to be opened or edited directly; the first action is to make a complete backup copy of every .dbx (and any .bak) to a separate drive before you try anything. This avoids making a small problem irreversible. (learn.microsoft.com)

A reliable, low-cost workflow that avoids paid converters:

  • If you still have the old machine with Outlook Express, import from there into a modern client (or use OE on that machine as the bridge).
  • If you only have .dbx files, use the free UnDBX tool to extract all messages as individual .eml files (it also has a recovery mode for corrupted DBX files). Once you have .eml or mbox files, import them into Thunderbird using the ImportExportTools NG add-on. Thunderbird’s built-in DBX import can be hit-or-miss (and sometimes relies on OE being present), so extracting to .eml first is the safest route. (manpages.debian.org)

An easy alternative is MailStore Home (free for personal use): it will read Outlook Express stores and export messages to formats or clients you can use today (PST, EML, etc.), so it works as a bridge if you just want an archive you can open in Outlook or Thunderbird. (cbsnews.com)

Troubleshooting and cautions: check file sizes (0 KB means empty); Folders.dbx is the index/master file — if that is corrupt, follow Microsoft’s guidance rather than tinkering blindly (rename it or work on copies). Try UnDBX’s recovery mode before buying commercial recovery tools; if you do try paid software, work only on copies and verify results before replacing originals. ’s Thunderbird route and ’s OE-based idea are valid starting points — but always back up first and prefer extraction-to-EML/mbox as the least risky path. (learn.microsoft.com)

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Member Avatar for rproffitt

It's a shame folk don't look into this before formatting.
http://kb.mozillazine.org/Import_from_Outlook_Express notes how to get to Thunderbird and that is cross platform and a lot safer to keep backups.

Of course you could install Outlook Express (it came with some OSes) and bring it back in then off to Thunderbird then from one bird to the next?

But I should write there is no common way but many ways.

Member Avatar for thomaspatel
  1. Open Outlook Express
  2. Click "Local Folders" in the left side navigation
  3. Select New Folder and name it TEMP
  4. If possible move all of the email from your Inbox to the TEMP folder
  5. Go to menu bar and select Tools -> Options -> Maintenance -> Store Folder and then write down the location of your inbox
  6. Close Outlook Express
  7. Use My Computer to go to the location is step 5 and then delete the file inbox.dbx
  8. Open Outlook Express - The Inbox folder should be auto recreated.
  9. Move your email from the TEMP folder back to your Inbox
  10. Apply professional software for .dbx files http://www.dbx.openfiletool.com/ DBX Open File Tool
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