copying e-mails

forest_andy_2

got a virus and wanna back up my e-mail files though safe mode then wipe the hard drive, anyone know how or where to find my e-mails?

Quincy_3

Can you not save them from your e-mail program. File, Save As.

Mmmm I think you can back up the .dbx file aswell, just make sure the virus isnt in an email and wiping a HDD is ness in a lot of cases thats a bit extreme and a virus may return anyway soooooooooooooo.

What virus is it ?

forest_andy_2

not sure on the name, but my mate did this for me last time, only problem is i had an argument with him and knocked him out last week and so i am on my own. just need to know where to find the e-mails to retrive them without going into outlook express on my desktop

Quincy_3

Er how do you know you have a virus if you dont know the name.

Like I say the virus maybe in an e-mail.

scheming_gypsy

forest_andy wrote:

i had an argument with him and knocked him out last week and so i am on my own.

quality !!

Do a search for *.dbx and copy them all. Then search for *.wab (windows address book) and copy that too.

forest_andy_2

ok call me thick if you like but what do you search and how do you do it?

ABH_3

forest_andy wrote:

ok call me thick if you like but what do you search and how do you do it?

Click on Start Button, find Search then click on Files and Folders. In the search box type without the quotes ".wab", that's your Windows Address Book where all your email addresses are stored. Once the file is found, click on it then holding the Right Mouse button down, drag the ghosted image to your desktop and choose Copy Here from the context menu.

Your email are stored in .dbx files in the registry. The location can be difficult to find without opening Outlook Express, but if you find them using the method described above to find the .wab file. Then you can dump them in a folder on your desktop and use DBXtract http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/file_description/0,fid,23383,00.asp to extract the emails to a seperate folder.

Alternatively, you could install Thunderbird http://www.mozilla.com/thunderbird/, its a free email client which is similar to Outlook Express, during the installation it asks if you wan't to copy your Outlook Express emails and settings. It leaves the original files intact, but creates a folder of .txt files of your emails in c:\windows\Application Data\Thunderbird\emails.

If you suspect you have a virus that will activate when you open Outlook Express, depending upon how quick you are. You could open Outlook Express, then immediately press the STOP button on the taskbar. This should stop all activity, then goto File\Work Offline. Then View\Layout and remove the tick from the Preview Pane option. Click Apply and Ok. Now you should be able to download the infected emails and as long as you don't double click on any of the Emails Subject Lines, you should be able to highlight the offending item and press the Delete button or key on your keyboard. This will move the offending email to the Deleted Items folder, you can then Right Click on the folder and choose Empty Deleted Items Folder.

HTH

forest_andy_2

still unabel to find .wab or .dab through windows search. is there anything else i can do?

ABH_3

forest_andy wrote:

still unabel to find .wab or .dab through windows search. is there anything else i can do?

Oops, it's my fault. I forgot that XP protects files of a certain type if they fall into the system files category. Ok, here we go again. This time I've included the options you need to check.

Click on Start Button, find Search then click on Files and Folders. Look for the word Tools, click it, then Folder Options, then the View tab, scroll down the list untill you find Files & Folders, then put a dot in the Show All Files and Folders, then remove the 'tick' from each of the following boxes - be aware you will get a warning box popup, it's nothing to worry about just ok it and carry on:

"Hide extensions for known file types"
"Hide protected operating system files"

Once the ticks have been removed, it should look like this picture:


Now just click the Apply and Ok buttons. Then close the windows untill you get back to the Search window. Now just follow on with the instructions below (taken from my original reply) ...

In the search box type without the quotes ".wab", that's your Windows Address Book where all your email addresses are stored. Once the file is found, click on it then holding the Right Mouse button down, drag the ghosted image to your desktop and choose Copy Here from the context menu.

Your email are stored in .dbx files in the registry. The location can be difficult to find without opening Outlook Express, but if you find them using the method described above to find the .wab file. Then you can dump them in a folder on your desktop and use DBXtract ...

You should now be able to locate your .wab (windows address book) and email storage .dbx files. Also, my appologies for the mix up over the settings.

HTH

Chippy_Minton

In the Search, select 'More Advanced Options' and tick 'Search hidden files and folders'. Make sure 'Search subfolders' is also ticked.

You can search for both file types at the same time by entering ".wab;.dbx" without the quotes in the search box. (NB .dbx, not .dab).

Gavin57

In Outlook Express you can find where your emails are stored under tools - options - click on the maintainance tab and there is a button called store folder, this tells you the folder where your emails are stored. If you navigate to this folder you can then copy the folder/contents. After reinstalling your system you can copy/replace the folder/content back into your email folder.