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Computer help thread
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Computer help thread
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All, especially computer gurus. I need help with my PC.  Can anyone advise please? While I was away, I had my laptop and accumulated many emails, that I want to transfer to my desktop.  I've
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Computer help thread

posted at 18/8/2012 6:23 PM BST on bmj.com
Posts: 2054
First: 12/3/2010
Last: 23/5/2013
All, especially computer gurus.
I need help with my PC.  Can anyone advise please?

While I was away, I had my laptop and accumulated many emails, that I want to transfer to my desktop.  I've searched on line, even at Microsoft, and can't find any advice that fits my setup or works.
I have a laptop running Outlook 2000 and a desktop running Outlook Express 6, both (obviously) under Windows, version XP.   I have tried the "Import/Export" options on both and neither makes sense.
Outlook 2000 offers a number of export options inc. to a file or a Timex watch(!)
If I choose Export to a file, it then asks which type, Comma or Tab separated, or to various Ms Office programmes.   I have put various copies on a flash drive to transfer to my desktop.  Also I've found and copied the '.pst. file from the hard drive to the flash.

Outlook Express 6 offers import from Address Book, another Address Book, Messages, Mail Account settings, News Account settings.
If I choose the 'Messages' which seem logical, Captain, it then asks which email prog to import from, inc. Outlook, but not 2000. Select that and it goes through the motions, tells me that it has been successful and nothing happens.  It doesn't even ask from where or what file to import from.

I've found many online advice threads, but none get me abny further than the above.

Help, please?
John

Re: Computer help thread

posted at 18/8/2012 11:24 PM BST on bmj.com
Posts: 2948
First: 10/3/2009
Last: 23/5/2013
I had the same problem recently, John when I bought a new laptop to do Skype consults. I have a computer man. I just ring him and it all happens.

I don't service my own car (I am sure you do) or do my own plumbing. I am just coping with doctoring. The money I pay him is well worth it.

Re: Computer help thread

posted at 19/8/2012 12:47 PM BST on bmj.com
Posts: 2054
First: 12/3/2010
Last: 23/5/2013

Recently, I had probs with first my laptop and then desktop.  Neither would boot up at all (because we had had a lightning strike nearby??).  I took the laptop to PC World, told them that there were no files on it to save, and they just deleted the hard disk, and "Returned it to factory condition, Sir"  for £50.  So when the desktop did similar, I took it to a local independent PC store, who cured the problemand preserveded the Gbytes of data on the hard disk, thank goodness.  Also for £50, which relatively was a bargain.

But modern cars are as impenetrable to me as a PC.   Ever looked under the bonnet?  You need special, 'antitamper' screwdrivers to get the covers off the engine, and anyway, all the tuning is in the electronic engine management system - which needs a PC to read!!!!  And they need so little 'maintenance', just change of fluids, unless you need to, say, put in a new light bulb.  On a Vauxhall Corsa a new side light requires the removal of the front bumper and side valance.   Even in the dealer's workshop, that's one hours work, and £100 please Sir!

Give me a classic car any day, except that I can't guarantee that it'll get me to work!

Sorry, back to PCs?
John

Re: Computer help thread

posted at 19/8/2012 6:27 PM BST on bmj.com
Posts: 1286
First: 9/12/2011
Last: 23/5/2013
John,   as a side bit of computer advice,   I have a dual boot on one of my machines,  #1-Windows 7,  Boot #2-to Ubuntu Linux,   Linux is extremely hard core, and virus resistant.   I have a Mac pro Laptop, with OS-X Lion,  and Apple is extremely resistant to viruses, and easy to recover.   I keep an external hard drive, 1-terabyte capacity, and Mirror all my systems, for the eventuality of crash!    Hope this helps.  By the way, Windows 7 is pretty good,  64 bit Rocks,   and I use power shell too,   just be carefull with Powershell, if your not expert you can screw things up pretty fast.    DuaneF

Re: Computer help thread

posted at 20/8/2012 12:50 AM BST on bmj.com
Posts: 4
First: 9/8/2012
Last: 4/12/2012
John, 
Have you tried the steps in this link

Essentially, you need to do a 'copy by transfer' the Outlook Express store folder on the laptop to the Outlook Express in the Desktop.

The second step is use the OUTLOOk on the Desktop to import the content of Outlook Express already in the Desktop from step above.

Hope that helps.

Re: Computer help thread

posted at 20/8/2012 9:43 PM BST on bmj.com
Posts: 2054
First: 12/3/2010
Last: 23/5/2013
Thank you, cokimon, that looks very useful!

Trouble is that Microsoft assumes that both email progs Outlook and Outlook Express are in the same computer.   I have Outlook on my laptop and OE on the desktop, and would need to use a flashdrive to transfer the appropriate files.   If I copy the laptop file to the same place that stores the Desktop's OE files, it would overwrite the original!

Or do I misunderstand?
John

Re: Computer help thread

posted at 21/8/2012 12:22 AM BST on bmj.com
Posts: 4
First: 9/8/2012
Last: 4/12/2012
John,

Outlook messages are stored in a file with the extension .pst or .ost
whereas OE are stored in .mbx files.

What they are suggesting for 'When Outlook and Outlook Express are installed on different computers' is 

1- Copy OE (laptop) to OE (desktop)* 
2 - Import OE (desktop) into Outlook (desktop)

*This is of course that we are assuming that you are not already using OE on your desktop so when you carry out step 1, and therefore you are not overwriting any existing data on your OE (desktop).

Are you already using Outlook Express on your desktop?

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