Vista - Windows Live Mail backup and other questions...

Our small business has been using Outlook Express as our primary email client
for years and has rarely had any issues. This all changed with Vista's
Windows Mail and the subsequent Windows Live Mail releases.

Our primary problem is with backups and restores. First of all, there is
nothing in the documentation (that I can find) on how to do a proper backup.
I have simply configured our backup agent to backup the entire Windows Live
Mail folder.

Our problems occur when we import messages from a backup folder. The
messages import, but often with incorect folder names and structure. Folders
that have been moved in the email client are not reflected in the import. I
have noticed this on the file system as well. If you create a folder, and
then drag to move the folder and it's contents inside of Windows Live Mail,
the coresponding file system folder stucture on the disk often doesn't match.
It also frequently gives folders truncated names like "Business Dev39P"
instead of "Business Development."

I have also tried using the "export" function and importing it's results.
Still get the same results as just importing from the backup folder copy.

What is the deal? Anyone that can shed some light on the following issues?

1.) What is the best way to backup Windows Live Mail emails and contacts
from a 3rd party backup application (I cannot and will not have my users do a
"file->export" each day)? Why is there no documentaiton on this?

2.) Why doesn't the Windows Live Mail file system folder structure match the
folder tree inside the application? Why does it sometimes truncate folder
names?

3.) How does one upgrade from Windows Live Mail initial release to the
Windows Live Mail 2009 release?

4.) How does one import contacts from Windows Live Mail initial release to
the 2009 release? We have the original contacts folder backed up, but don't
have the original release installed anymore. Tried copying the contact files
into the new "Windows Live Contacts" folder to no avail. Of couse, there is
no "Import from Windows Live Mail Contacts Folder" option (that would just be
to easy).

5.) Why doesn't Windows Live Mail just use the Vista contact store?!

Sorry for all the questions and ranting. I'm hoping I'm just doing something
incorrectly and these issue aren't inherint problems in WLM. Thanks in
advance for any help that can be provided!

Gabe Hudson

[Inline...]

"Gabe Hudson" <GabeHudson@xxxxxx> wrote in message news:4470C4A0-148C-40AB-8917-209A6B07AC9B@xxxxxx

Backing up the entire Message Store via a backup program is usually satisfactory only as an 'all or nothing' approach when restoring.
One should not use a backup program to 'restore' only part of the Message Store (such as specific folders or messages).
However, one can 'import' specific folders into WLMail using File->Import->Messages...->Windows Live Mail->Browse [button]->Browse to the backed up Message Store->
Or one can drag messages from a backup directly onto the GUI of WLMail.

Folder names (longer than 15 characters - including spaces) are truncated and coded in the Message Store. Since the export process does not interact with the database, the compact folder names in the Message Store are used.

Similarly, it appears that the location of the folders when exported using WLMail, are taken from their location within the Message Store rather than the location recorded by the database for the UI in WLMail.

It is *not* a good idea to move folders about in WLMail for the reasons you described, which can also cause problems with the indexing in the database, and a messy folder structure within the Message Store.

Also, renaming a folder in WLMail does not change the folder name in the Message Store.

There are backup programs specifically designed to work with Windows Live Mail, but as I indicated, restoration should be an all or nothing process.

The only two that I know of are:

Genie Backup Manager (http://www.genie-soft.com/products/g...s/default.html) with WLMail plugin (http://www.genie-soft.com/Scripting/...&CategoryID=75).

Static Windows Live Mail Backup (http://www.staticbackup.com/windows-live-mail-backup/)

For WLMail 14x, the Contacts Store does need to be backed up separately (C:\Users\<User_Name>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Live Contacts\) if one uses the Default Contacts.

The database for WLMail indexes the location of a folder within the WLMail UI, but points that index to the true location of the folder in the Message Store. WLMail does not move a folder in the Message Store when it is moved within WLMail.
So rather than move folders about within WLMail, create a new folder and move the messages into it.

Folders with names over a certain length are truncated and coded to make it easier for the database to index it.
For long folder names, you can avoid the truncation/coding by initially making the name less than 15 characters. You can then rename it with a longer name (the longer name will not be reflected in the Message Store).

Installing over the top of the older version is usually satisfactory. But making a backup first (including an OS image + System Restore) is a good idea. WLMessenger must be upgraded at the same time if it is installed.

If you use a Windows Live ID for your contacts, they should be automatically synchronised with WLMail when you sign-on to Windows Live within WLMail.

If you are only using the default contacts, then they should have been transferred to the database in the new Contacts Store. If that fails, and you have Vista, you can follow this procedure (based on post by GK in news:90EB54C4-1A53-4E24-B3ED-34458B23BC71@xxxxxx):

1. Open an explorer window and navigate to the old Default Contacts folder C:\Users\<User_Name>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Live Mail\Contacts\Default\real. You will see all the contacts that previously existed in WLMail as <Contact_Name>.Contact files.

2. Select all the .Contact files that you want to import, then copy them to the Windows Contacts folder (C:\Users\<User_Name>\Contacts).

3. In WLMail, open the Contacts window.

4. From the File menu of the Contacts window, select Import->Address Book for Current Windows User->

5. The system should import all the contacts in the Windows Contacts folder and you will now have access to them in WLMail.

--
Cheers,
Peter.R
(Windows Vista Home Premium with Windows Live Mail 14.0.8050.1202)
"There are more things in Heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy." - Shakespeare