After installing WLM it automatically migrated my OE filders and messages to
WLM Storage Folder, but ended with incompleted conversion message. I tried to
import messages manually by renaming the Storage Folder and restarting WLM,
but it keeps bringing my old folders rather than starting fresh with a new
Storage Folder. Please advise how to get the task completed or how to refresh
my Storage Folder with manually imported messages. Thank you.

I think what you are saying is that when you first installed WLMail, it threw an error and failed to complete the auto-import of your OE accounts/messages/contacts/settings etc., and that WLMail now tries to complete the auto-import process whenever it is restarted but again fails.

If WLMail keeps trying to complete the auto-import process, renaming the WLMail Message Store alone will not help, as you have discovered.

What you need to do is either make WLMail think the import process is complete, or else give WLMail nothing to import.

So for the first method, you could use Regedit to navigate to the Registry Key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows Live Mail, then to the Registry Value 'First Run Done'. Now change its Value Data from '0' to '1'. Hopefully this will prevent WLMail from again attempting to auto-import the messages from OE.

You can rename your WLMail Message Store before using the following method:

Alternatively, you could rename your OE Message Store before restarting WLMail. To allow WLMail to start up without error, you would need to restart OE first in order to recreate your OE Message Store 'tabula rasa' before restarting WLMail. WLMail will then auto-import your accounts and contacts from OE, however WLMail will find no messages in OE to auto-import.

If you want neither accounts nor messages to be imported, you can create a new Identity in OE and set it as the default Identity under Manage Identities. WLMail will auto-import that default OE Identity, which contains no accounts or messages to import. To allow WLMail to start up without error, you would first need to Switch to the new Identity in OE (to create your new OE Identity's Message Store).

--
Cheers,
Peter.R
(Windows Vista Home Premium SP2 with IE7 & Windows Live Mail 2009 14.0.8089.726)
"There are more things in Heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy." - Shakespeare

"aashomlo" <aasinc@xxxxxx> wrote in message news:1827BE3C-343F-4AB8-8107-3301D4A24C7B@xxxxxx

> After installing WLM it automatically migrated my OE filders and messages to WLM Storage Folder, but ended with incompleted conversion message. I tried to import messages manually by renaming the Storage Folder and restarting WLM, but it keeps bringing my old folders rather than starting fresh with a new Storage Folder. Please advise how to get the task completed or how to refresh my Storage Folder with manually imported messages. Thank you.

Peter,

Let me clarify my situation and provide some feedback to your suggestions:

1. You are correct that the initial run of WLM ended with an error message
stating incomplete conversion. I have a 20 GB hard-drive and it was near
full, unable to accommodate both the OE identities and WLM Storage Folders. I
immediately deleted my Inbox.dbx to free up some 2.5 GB (13%) before
executing my second run of WLM. However, all subsequent runs of WLM did not
indicate whether it attempts to complete the OE conversion, nor giving any
error message stating this attempt has failed. How can I verify and tell if
WLM tried to continue to complete the auto-import process of my OE data?

2. The Registry Value 'First Run Done' is already '1'. You expected it to
be '0'. What's wrong or what do we do with this?

3. I am afraid to run OE because I know I don't have enough disk space for
migrating my Hotmail Inbox messages. How can I verify and assure in advance
that OE will not transfer messages from my Hotmail account? (It was supposed
to stop functioning on September 1st.)

NOTE: I don't have a backup for my OE Identities folder with all the local
messages. I don't have an external hard-drive either, so I must preserve the
integrity of my existing data until I complete my WLM import/conversion
process.

Looking forward for your answers on how to pursue safely with this process.
Thanks, A.

"Peter.R" wrote:

>
> I think what you are saying is that when you first installed WLMail, it
> threw an error and failed to complete the auto-import of your OE
> accounts/messages/contacts/settings etc., and that WLMail now tries to
> complete the auto-import process whenever it is restarted but again fails.
>
> If WLMail keeps trying to complete the auto-import process, renaming the
> WLMail Message Store alone will not help, as you have discovered.
>
> What you need to do is either make WLMail think the import process is
> complete, or else give WLMail nothing to import.
>
> So for the first method, you could use Regedit to navigate to the Registry
> Key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows Live Mail, then to the
> Registry Value 'First Run Done'. Now change its Value Data from '0' to
> '1'. Hopefully this will prevent WLMail from again attempting to
> auto-import the messages from OE.
>
> You can rename your WLMail Message Store before using the following
> method:
>
> Alternatively, you could rename your OE Message Store before restarting
> WLMail. To allow WLMail to start up without error, you would need to
> restart OE first in order to recreate your OE Message Store 'tabula rasa'
> before restarting WLMail. WLMail will then auto-import your accounts and
> contacts from OE, however WLMail will find no messages in OE to
> auto-import.
>
> If you want neither accounts nor messages to be imported, you can create a
> new Identity in OE and set it as the default Identity under Manage
> Identities. WLMail will auto-import that default OE Identity, which
> contains no accounts or messages to import. To allow WLMail to start up
> without error, you would first need to Switch to the new Identity in OE
> (to create your new OE Identity's Message Store).
>
> --
> Cheers,
> Peter.R
> (Windows Vista Home Premium SP2 with IE7 & Windows Live Mail 2009
> 14.0.8089.726)
> "There are more things in Heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in
> your philosophy." - Shakespeare
>
> "aashomlo" <aasinc@xxxxxx> wrote in message
> news:1827BE3C-343F-4AB8-8107-3301D4A24C7B@xxxxxx
>

> > After installing WLM it automatically migrated my OE filders and

> messages to WLM Storage Folder, but ended with incompleted conversion
> message. I tried to import messages manually by renaming the Storage
> Folder and restarting WLM, but it keeps bringing my old folders rather
> than starting fresh with a new Storage Folder. Please advise how to get
> the task completed or how to refresh my Storage Folder with manually
> imported messages. Thank you.
>

Thanks for the clarification aashomlo, I had the wrong idea.

The Value Data being '1' for the registry Value 'First Run Done' indicates that it is done with the auto-import from OE process.

To re-initiate the auto-import process from OE, simply delete the entire Registry Key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows Live Mail and restart WLMail.

To prevent OE or WLMail downloading any messages upon opening either program, in Internet Explorer: File->Work Offline or (on the Toolbar: Tools->Work Offline).

If OE/WLM asks you to go online, select 'No'.

--
Cheers,
Peter.R
(Windows Vista Home Premium SP2 with IE7 & Windows Live Mail 2009 14.0.8089.726)
"There are more things in Heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy." - Shakespeare

"aashomlo" <aasinc@xxxxxx> wrote in message news:418AD78C-3A64-4138-8E86-F74E5F90C5B2@xxxxxx

> Peter,
>
> Let me clarify my situation and provide some feedback to your suggestions:
>
> 1. You are correct that the initial run of WLM ended with an error message stating incomplete conversion. I have a 20 GB hard-drive and it was near full, unable to accommodate both the OE identities and WLM Storage Folders. I immediately deleted my Inbox.dbx to free up some 2.5 GB (13%) before executing my second run of WLM. However, all subsequent runs of WLM did not indicate whether it attempts to complete the OE conversion, nor giving any error message stating this attempt has failed. How can I verify and tell if WLM tried to continue to complete the auto-import process of my OE data?
>
> 2. The Registry Value 'First Run Done' is already '1'. You expected it to be '0'. What's wrong or what do we do with this?
>
> 3. I am afraid to run OE because I know I don't have enough disk space for migrating my Hotmail Inbox messages. How can I verify and assure in advance that OE will not transfer messages from my Hotmail account? (It was supposed to stop functioning on September 1st.)
>
> NOTE: I don't have a backup for my OE Identities folder with all the local messages. I don't have an external hard-drive either, so I must preserve the integrity of my existing data until I complete my WLM import/conversion process.
>
> Looking forward for your answers on how to pursue safely with this process.
>
> Thanks, A.
>
> "Peter.R" wrote:
>

>>
>> I think what you are saying is that when you first installed WLMail, it threw an error and failed to complete the auto-import of your OE accounts/messages/contacts/settings etc., and that WLMail now tries to complete the auto-import process whenever it is restarted but again fails.
>>
>> If WLMail keeps trying to complete the auto-import process, renaming the WLMail Message Store alone will not help, as you have discovered.
>>
>> What you need to do is either make WLMail think the import process is complete, or else give WLMail nothing to import.
>>
>> So for the first method, you could use Regedit to navigate to the Registry Key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows Live Mail, then to the Registry Value 'First Run Done'. Now change its Value Data from '0' to '1'. Hopefully this will prevent WLMail from again attempting to auto-import the messages from OE.
>>
>> You can rename your WLMail Message Store before using the following method:
>>
>> Alternatively, you could rename your OE Message Store before restarting WLMail. To allow WLMail to start up without error, you would need to restart OE first in order to recreate your OE Message Store 'tabula rasa' before restarting WLMail. WLMail will then auto-import your accounts and contacts from OE, however WLMail will find no messages in OE to auto-import.
>>
>> If you want neither accounts nor messages to be imported, you can create a new Identity in OE and set it as the default Identity under Manage Identities. WLMail will auto-import that default OE Identity, which contains no accounts or messages to import. To allow WLMail to start up without error, you would first need to Switch to the new Identity in OE (to create your new OE Identity's Message Store).
>>
>> --
>> Cheers,
>> Peter.R
>>
>> "aashomlo" <aasinc@xxxxxx> wrote in message news:1827BE3C-343F-4AB8-8107-3301D4A24C7B@xxxxxx
>>

>> > After installing WLM it automatically migrated my OE filders and messages to WLM Storage Folder, but ended with incompleted conversion message. I tried to import messages manually by renaming the Storage Folder and restarting WLM, but it keeps bringing my old folders rather than starting fresh with a new Storage Folder. Please advise how to get the task completed or how to refresh my Storage Folder with manually imported messages. Thank you.

Hi Peter,

I just realized that I forgot to add some relevant information to my
situation:

a) I only have one OE identity for my original Hotmail account, which is now
comes up under Windows Live (Hotmail).

b) Over 10 years, I built up my OE account, organized messages and contacts
in folders, etc., but I never synchronized it with Windows Live or my Hotmail
account. Now I realize this was a short-sight on my part because I could
access my WL Hotmail from any computer and kept all these private folders
organized on the WL Hotmail server as well.

I want to take the opportunity now to convert my OE data (messages, folders
and contacts) both to WLM and WL Hotmail. With all your good input I know
what to do regarding starting fresh and migrating my OE contacts and messages
to WLM. Please help me with the following questions:

1. Would it work best if I first synchronize my OE messages, folders and
contacts over to WL Hotmail before doing anything with WLM? Can I still do
it from OE now that it is decommissioned? If not, what is the best way to
accomplish this task? What is the procedure/sequence considering I also want
to auto-import again everything from OE to WLM?

2. OE contacts that were under a named groups migrated as a separate
category to WLM Contacts. So it appears that if I move them from their
sub-folders into groups they will stay together in one category. Do you see a
reason why this may not work?

3. I run into another mishap in OE when I copied a long list of contacts
into a new group (created under my main identity folder), then I deleted the
original folder to find out all the contacts were also deleted from their new
group. So now all my lost contacts are still scattered in my current WLM
Contacts folder and I would like to preserve/save this folder, but I don’t
know where it is or how to find it. the WLM Store Folder has a folder named
WLM Contacts. Is this the folder I should copy and save under a new name? (-
- - Microsoft/Address Book folder has 4 files as follws: two [UserName].wa~,
Main Identity.wab and [UserName].wab. is any of then used by WLM?)

Thanks,
A.


"Peter.R" wrote:

> [Inline...]
>
> "aashomlo" <aasinc@xxxxxx> wrote in message
> news:E2EB0A63-3FBC-4CC5-8A4C-D0201B8BB92C@xxxxxx
>

> > Hi Peter,
> >
> > Thank you for presenting your instructions in a list of steps. I can
> > work with such a user-friendly presentation of procedures/processes. I
> > am nearly 100% comfortable I follow all your steps, with the exception
> > of the following I would like you to clarify for me:
> >
> > 1. <<If you did rename the OE Message Store, rename it back to the
> > original name (unless you would prefer to do a manual import of
> > messages).>>
> >
> > OE has Identities folder. Is this what you are referring to or is it a
> > specific OE folder created by the WLM Auto-Import? I have not renamed
> > any OE files. I only deleted the Inbox.dbx. Is there anything I need to
> > do on the OE end prior to restarting the Auto-Import process?
> >

> Okay, there is nothing you need to do with the OE Message Store, or in OE.
> What I was referring to was indeed the Storage Folder for your OE
> Identity. It is the folder where you found and deleted your 'Inbox.dbx'.

> >
> > 2. What you call "WLMail Message Store" is actually what shows as
> > "Storage Folder" in my C:\Documents and Settings\[UserName]\Local
> > Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Windows Live Mail. Is that correct?
> >

> It is the folder called 'Windows Live Mail' at that location. Calling it
> the Message Store is accurate and avoids confusion with the 'Storage
> folders' within WLMail itself. It is referred to as 'Store Folder' (i.e.
> Message Store Folder) in WLMail at: Tools->Options...->Advanced
> [tab]->Maintenance and Troubleshooting [section]->Maintenance...
> [button]->Store Folder... [button].

> >
> > 3. Since I want to do a new-fresh Auto Import, can I just delete the
> > existing WLM Storage Folder? (There is nothing worth saving there and I
> > don't see the reason for renaming it.)
> >

> Yes, you can just delete the existing WLMail Message Store.

> >
> > 4. All my OE Contacts were migrated the first time. I assume a full
> > Auto-Import will place duplicates on my WLM side. How do I prevent this?
> >

> Yes, duplicates will be created when the auto-import is re-initialised.
> For your Windows Live ID, you can deal with any duplicate Contacts via:
> http://people.live.com (Manage->Clean up contacts->Clean up duplicate
> contacts [button]).
> However, to prevent WLMail from auto-importing your OE Contacts, you can
> rename the Windows Address Book Store* for your User Profile to 'Address
> Book (old)'. A new empty WAB will be created during the auto-import (or if
> you open OE), but you can restore your original at any time.
>
> *The Windows Address Book Store is located at: C:\Documents and
> Settings\[UserName]\Application Data\Microsoft\Address Book
>
> Also, be aware that just prior to the auto-import, WLMail may Sign In to
> Windows Live using the WLHotmail address that you have in OE (when it is
> the only Hotmail account in OE), and so your OE contacts (for all
> identities) will be imported into the Windows Live Contacts for that
> Windows Live ID. This means that if you were to sign out of Windows Live
> in WLMail (Tools->Options...->Connection [tab]->Stop signing in [button]),
> you will find the Default Contacts empty.
>
> Also, be aware that WLMail may not import all additional e-mail addresses
> for a Contact in OE, so if you have a Contact in OE that has several
> e-mail addresses filed, the default address will be imported into WLMail's
> Contacts, but only two others will import (into 'Work e-mail' and 'Other
> e-mail'). However, we can copy any extra addresses into the Notes Section
> of an OE Contact ('Other' tab) before we import them into WLMail. Since
> your OE Contacts are already imported, you will need to manually add any
> extra e-mail addresses (if any) that WLMail did not import. In any case,
> it is probably best not to delete your OE Contacts after you are finished
> with OE (or keep a backup of your Windows Address Book), just in case.

> >
> > Further, can you outline a procedure to migrating my OE contacts in
> > their original folders and sub-folders? It appears that WLM put them all
> > in one list, ignoring their original folder-organization in OE.
> >

> I am afraid that WLMail cannot import Groups or Folders from OE Contacts,
> so you will have to create 'Categories' for them in WLMail's Contacts.

> >
> > 5. How do I verify if my Hotmail account is set up as a HTTP account or
> > POP3) in OE? I believe it is set as HTTP. How can I change it to POP3
> > prior to starting my Auto Import to assure I end up with the DeltaSynch
> > server?
> >

> In both OE and in WLMail: Tools->Accounts...->Properties [button]->Server
> [tab]->Server Information [section] will indicate whether your Mail
> Server is POP3 or HTTP.
>
> If it is HTTP in Outlook Express, its Server URL (possibly:
> http://services.msn.com/svcs/hotmail/httpmail.asp) will actually still
> work (just confirmed with a test) when it is imported into WLMail. WLMail
> will actually use the DeltaSync Server
> (http://mail.services.live.com/DeltaS....0.0/sync.aspx) for that
> account, although it does not change the Server URL in the Account
> Properties (WLMail simply overrides it). Thus, I recommend that you still
> edit the Server URL (to the DeltaSync address indicated above) in that
> Hotmail account's properties. Consider editing the Hotmail account's HTTP
> Server URL (to the DeltaSync address) in OE before the auto-import into
> WLMail.
>
> So basically, if your Hotmail account in OE is HTTP protocol, you really
> don't *need* to do anything, as it will work in WLMail. If it is a POP3
> protocol account, it will work in WLMail as a POP3 account. A POP3 account
> will normally only download your Inbox from the server, whereas a HTTP
> account will 'synchronise' all your folders for that account.

> >
> > Thanks,
> > A.

>
> --
> Cheers,
> Peter.R
> (Windows Vista Home Premium SP2 with IE7 & Windows Live Mail 2009
> 14.0.8089.726)
> "There are more things in Heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in
> your philosophy." - Shakespeare
>

This earlier post answers some of question 1.
--
Ron Sommer
MVP-Mail

There is no way to get them directly from OE into Windows Live Hotmail(web
interface).
The messages you see in OE are stored in OE proprietary dbx format. Windows
Live Hotmail is not capable of accepting an import, drag, drop, whatever.

Messages can be imported into Windows Live Mail(WLM) from OE, then copied
from WLM's Storage folders(the imported location) into the same Hotmail
account(once setup) in WLM. Once copied, they will be available in the
Hotmail web interface.

Hotmail and Windows Live Mail are not new. What has changed is that OE no
longer supports WebDAV in OE(most likely what you were
using in the past).

--
...winston
ms-mvp mail

"aashomlo" <aasinc@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:767545C8-761A-4765-8A8A-CCB91FFFABF5@xxxxxx

> Hi Peter,
>
> I just realized that I forgot to add some relevant information to my
> situation:
>
> a) I only have one OE identity for my original Hotmail account, which is
> now
> comes up under Windows Live (Hotmail).
>
> b) Over 10 years, I built up my OE account, organized messages and
> contacts
> in folders, etc., but I never synchronized it with Windows Live or my
> Hotmail
> account. Now I realize this was a short-sight on my part because I could
> access my WL Hotmail from any computer and kept all these private folders
> organized on the WL Hotmail server as well.
>
> I want to take the opportunity now to convert my OE data (messages,
> folders
> and contacts) both to WLM and WL Hotmail. With all your good input I know
> what to do regarding starting fresh and migrating my OE contacts and
> messages
> to WLM. Please help me with the following questions:
>
> 1. Would it work best if I first synchronize my OE messages, folders and
> contacts over to WL Hotmail before doing anything with WLM? Can I still
> do
> it from OE now that it is decommissioned? If not, what is the best way to
> accomplish this task? What is the procedure/sequence considering I also
> want
> to auto-import again everything from OE to WLM?
>

snipped

[Inline...]

"aashomlo" <aasinc@xxxxxx> wrote in message news:767545C8-761A-4765-8A8A-CCB91FFFABF5@xxxxxx

>
> Hi Peter,
>
> I just realized that I forgot to add some relevant information to my situation:
>
> a) I only have one OE identity for my original Hotmail account, which now comes up under Windows Live (Hotmail).
>
>

So your OE Contacts were imported into your Windows Live Contacts for your Hotmail account and you can see them at http://people.live.com I thought that might be the case... They will be available for you in WLMail as long as you sign into Windows Live in WLMail with that same Windows Live ID.

>
>
> b) Over 10 years, I built up my OE account, organized messages and contacts in folders, etc., but I never synchronized it with Windows Live or my Hotmail account. Now I realize this was a short-sight on my part because I could access my WL Hotmail from any computer and kept all these private folders organized on the WL Hotmail server as well.
>
> I want to take the opportunity now to convert my OE data (messages, folders and contacts) both to WLM and WL Hotmail. With all your good input I know what to do regarding starting fresh and migrating my OE contacts and messages to WLM. Please help me with the following questions:
>
> 1. Would it work best if I first synchronize my OE messages, folders and contacts over to WL Hotmail before doing anything with WLM? Can I still do it from OE now that it is decommissioned? If not, what is the best way to accomplish this task? What is the procedure/sequence considering I also want to auto-import again everything from OE to WLM?
>
>

You won't be able to use your HTTP Hotmail account in OE, because it will no longer work there. Even if you convert it to the POP3 protocol, you will not be able to synchronise your folders/messages in OE with the Windows Live Hotmail server, because POP3 is only one-way (Inbox download only).

Your user-created 'Local Folders' in OE will be imported into the 'Storage folders' of WLMail. After the auto-import is complete, look for imported messages in all the folders under 'Storage folders'.

There is nothing you need to do inside WLMail before the auto-import, since you will be deleting the Message Store and main Registry Key. So just follow the steps outlined for the auto-import and go from there.

Once WLMail is set up and you have downloaded (Synchronised) your HTTP Hotmail account's folders into WLMail, you can create folders within that account and move or copy archived messages into any folders in your HTTP Hotmail account to synchronise them with the WLHotmail server. Do *not* move folders about in WLMail (only move messages), because moving folders about creates 'organised chaos' in the Message Store and Database.

>
>
> 2. OE contacts that were under a named groups migrated as a separate category to WLM Contacts. So it appears that if I move them from their sub-folders into groups they will stay together in one category. Do you see a reason why this may not work?
>
>

Are you sure that your OE Contact Groups migrated to your WLMail Contacts as Categories, or did you create those Categories in Windows Live Contacts yourself (via WLMail, WLMessenger or people.live.com)? My tests (in the latest version of WLMail) show that they don't migrate/import from OE to WLMail, so any Groups in OE will need to be recreated as Categories in WLMail Contacts. You can certainly try, but you might be wasting your time. And remember that you want to avoid duplicating your contacts during the auto-import.

>
>
> 3. I ran into another mishap in OE when I copied a long list of contacts into a new group (created under my main identity folder), then I deleted the original folder to find out all the contacts were also deleted from their new group. So now all my lost contacts are still scattered in my current WLM Contacts folder and I would like to preserve/save this folder, but I don’t know where it is or how to find it. the WLM Store Folder has a folder named WLM Contacts. Is this the folder I should copy and save under a new name? (- - Microsoft/Address Book folder has 4 files as follows: two '[UserName].wa~', 'Main Identity.wab' and '[UserName].wab'. Is any of them used by WLM?)
>
>

I see... In your OE Address Book, you need to move any OE 'Folder' contacts into the Main Folder (called [IdentityName's] Contacts) before you put them in a new Group and delete the Folder. Because deleting a Folder also deletes the Contacts within it.

Not to worry... From what you have indicated, all your contacts are safely in the Windows Live Contacts for your Hotmail account (found at http://people.live.com). These Contacts will be available in WLMail when you sign into Windows Live in WLMail with that same Windows Live ID.

You will have to manually assign Contacts into Categories from within WLMail (or within WLMessenger, or at people.live.com using: Categories->Manage Categories).

There is no folder named 'WLM Contacts' in the WLMail Message Store. Older versions of WLMail had a folder called 'Contacts' in the WLMail Message Store (which remains but is redundant after upgrading to WLMail 14x). However, the latest 14x versions of WLMail (http://download.live.com/) use a (non user-friendly) database within sub-folders at (for XP): C:\Documents and Settings\[UserName]\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Windows Live Contacts

In any case, there is no point in trying to interact with the Contacts Store for WLMail. You can export your contacts from within WLMail Contacts (or at people.live.com using: Manage->Export).

'Main Identity.wab' is probably from an old version of OE, so OE would have been currently using '[UserName].wab' (you can double-click a .wab file to open it). When there are two such Windows Address Books in same Address Book Store, WLMail probably (I haven't tested...) only imports '[UserName].wab', but does not later use any .wab files at all for its Contacts Database. To be sure that WLMail does not import your contacts again during the auto-import, rename your User Profile's 'Address Book' Store Folder as I instructed in my previous post.

>
>
> Thanks,
> A.

--
Cheers,
Peter.R
(Windows Vista Home Premium SP2 with IE7 & Windows Live Mail 2009 14.0.8089.726)
"There are more things in Heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy." - Shakespeare

Peter,

I made a huge progress and nearly ready to try the whole thing. Last item to
clarify regarding Contacts. I understand that the same Contacts are showing
in WL and WLM and they are synchronized between these two programs. What I am
trying to understand is -

1. Which environment is the "source" of my Contacts? Is there a primary
driver or it doesn't matter where I update/edit/manage them, they will be
synchronized in all other environments?

2. What about People? Can you condense the Contacts view to one liner
without the Avatars on the side? This is a very combersome display of
contact list and in my case there are dozen of pages to go through all of
them. WLM has a View menu with different display options. Live People seems
to lack this feature.

NOTE: I verified that groups I had in OE converted into WLM in additions to
groups I had in WL Messenger. You should test this again on your system.

Thanks,
A.

"Peter.R" wrote:

> [Inline...]
>
> "aashomlo" <aasinc@xxxxxx> wrote in message news:767545C8-761A-4765-8A8A-CCB91FFFABF5@xxxxxx

> >
> > Hi Peter,
> >
> > I just realized that I forgot to add some relevant information to my situation:
> >
> > a) I only have one OE identity for my original Hotmail account, which now comes up under Windows Live (Hotmail).
> >
> >

> So your OE Contacts were imported into your Windows Live Contacts for your Hotmail account and you can see them at http://people.live.com I thought that might be the case... They will be available for you in WLMail as long as you sign into Windows Live in WLMail with that same Windows Live ID.

> >
> >
> > b) Over 10 years, I built up my OE account, organized messages and contacts in folders, etc., but I never synchronized it with Windows Live or my Hotmail account. Now I realize this was a short-sight on my part because I could access my WL Hotmail from any computer and kept all these private folders organized on the WL Hotmail server as well.
> >
> > I want to take the opportunity now to convert my OE data (messages, folders and contacts) both to WLM and WL Hotmail. With all your good input I know what to do regarding starting fresh and migrating my OE contacts and messages to WLM. Please help me with the following questions:
> >
> > 1. Would it work best if I first synchronize my OE messages, folders and contacts over to WL Hotmail before doing anything with WLM? Can I still do it from OE now that it is decommissioned? If not, what is the best way to accomplish this task? What is the procedure/sequence considering I also want to auto-import again everything from OE to WLM?
> >
> >

> You won't be able to use your HTTP Hotmail account in OE, because it will no longer work there. Even if you convert it to the POP3 protocol, you will not be able to synchronise your folders/messages in OE with the Windows Live Hotmail server, because POP3 is only one-way (Inbox download only).
>
> Your user-created 'Local Folders' in OE will be imported into the 'Storage folders' of WLMail. After the auto-import is complete, look for imported messages in all the folders under 'Storage folders'.
>
> There is nothing you need to do inside WLMail before the auto-import, since you will be deleting the Message Store and main Registry Key. So just follow the steps outlined for the auto-import and go from there.
>
> Once WLMail is set up and you have downloaded (Synchronised) your HTTP Hotmail account's folders into WLMail, you can create folders within that account and move or copy archived messages into any folders in your HTTP Hotmail account to synchronise them with the WLHotmail server. Do *not* move folders about in WLMail (only move messages), because moving folders about creates 'organised chaos' in the Message Store and Database.

> >
> >
> > 2. OE contacts that were under a named groups migrated as a separate category to WLM Contacts. So it appears that if I move them from their sub-folders into groups they will stay together in one category. Do you see a reason why this may not work?
> >
> >

> Are you sure that your OE Contact Groups migrated to your WLMail Contacts as Categories, or did you create those Categories in Windows Live Contacts yourself (via WLMail, WLMessenger or people.live.com)? My tests (in the latest version of WLMail) show that they don't migrate/import from OE to WLMail, so any Groups in OE will need to be recreated as Categories in WLMail Contacts. You can certainly try, but you might be wasting your time. And remember that you want to avoid duplicating your contacts during the auto-import.

> >
> >
> > 3. I ran into another mishap in OE when I copied a long list of contacts into a new group (created under my main identity folder), then I deleted the original folder to find out all the contacts were also deleted from their new group. So now all my lost contacts are still scattered in my current WLM Contacts folder and I would like to preserve/save this folder, but I don’t know where it is or how to find it. the WLM Store Folder has a folder named WLM Contacts. Is this the folder I should copy and save under a new name? (- - Microsoft/Address Book folder has 4 files as follows: two '[UserName].wa~', 'Main Identity.wab' and '[UserName].wab'. Is any of them used by WLM?)
> >
> >

> I see... In your OE Address Book, you need to move any OE 'Folder' contacts into the Main Folder (called [IdentityName's] Contacts) before you put them in a new Group and delete the Folder. Because deleting a Folder also deletes the Contacts within it.
>
> Not to worry... From what you have indicated, all your contacts are safely in the Windows Live Contacts for your Hotmail account (found at http://people.live.com). These Contacts will be available in WLMail when you sign into Windows Live in WLMail with that same Windows Live ID.
>
> You will have to manually assign Contacts into Categories from within WLMail (or within WLMessenger, or at people.live.com using: Categories->Manage Categories).
>
> There is no folder named 'WLM Contacts' in the WLMail Message Store. Older versions of WLMail had a folder called 'Contacts' in the WLMail Message Store (which remains but is redundant after upgrading to WLMail 14x). However, the latest 14x versions of WLMail (http://download.live.com/) use a (non user-friendly) database within sub-folders at (for XP): C:\Documents and Settings\[UserName]\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Windows Live Contacts
>
> In any case, there is no point in trying to interact with the Contacts Store for WLMail. You can export your contacts from within WLMail Contacts (or at people.live.com using: Manage->Export).
>
> 'Main Identity.wab' is probably from an old version of OE, so OE would have been currently using '[UserName].wab' (you can double-click a .wab file to open it). When there are two such Windows Address Books in same Address Book Store, WLMail probably (I haven't tested...) only imports '[UserName].wab', but does not later use any .wab files at all for its Contacts Database. To be sure that WLMail does not import your contacts again during the auto-import, rename your User Profile's 'Address Book' Store Folder as I instructed in my previous post.

> >
> >
> > Thanks,
> > A.

>
> --
> Cheers,
> Peter.R
> (Windows Vista Home Premium SP2 with IE7 & Windows Live Mail 2009 14.0.8089.726)
> "There are more things in Heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy." - Shakespeare

[Inline...]

"aashomlo" <aasinc@xxxxxx> wrote in message news:BCC63FA6-D37D-4529-84B6-C83DFCED9817@xxxxxx

> Peter,
>
> I made a huge progress and nearly ready to try the whole thing. Last item to clarify regarding Contacts. I understand that the same Contacts are showing in WL and WLM and they are synchronized between these two programs. What I am trying to understand is -
>
> 1. Which environment is the "source" of my Contacts? Is there a primary driver or it doesn't matter where I update/edit/manage them, they will be synchronized in all other environments?
>
>

Your Windows Live Contacts are stored on Microsoft's server so that they will be available to you from any computer anywhere as long as you are online. Windows Live Mail and WLMessenger share a common database that resides on the computer, and they can access your Windows Live Contacts when you are signed in with your Windows Live ID.

Your Windows Live Contacts are stored on your computer so that they do not have to be downloaded every time you sign into WLMail or WLMessenger, and any changes you make in WLMail or WLMessenger will be synchronised with your WLContacts on the server. Any changes to your contacts that you make on the server via your Web Browser, will be synchronised with your local WLContacts Store on your computer via WLMail and WLMessenger.

You can (recommended) export your WLContacts for backup purposes...

>
>
> 2. What about People? Can you condense the Contacts view to one liner without the Avatars on the side? This is a very cumbersome display of contact list and in my case there are dozen of pages to go through all of them. WLM has a View menu with different display options. Live People seems to lack this feature.
>
>

I am afraid that you cannot view the contacts list how you want at people.live.com. We can only view 25 contacts per page in a Web Browser.

WLMail is my preferred Interface for interacting with WLContacts.

>
> NOTE: I verified that groups I had in OE converted into WLM in additions to groups I had in WL Messenger. You should test this again on your system.
>
>

Okay, thanks...

>
>
> Thanks,
> A.

--
Cheers,
Peter.R
(Windows Vista Home Premium SP2 with IE7 & Windows Live Mail 2009 14.0.8089.726)
"There are more things in Heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy." - Shakespeare

Sorry, the sync between my computer and the server in either direction is
confusing and I need you to clarify your last two sentences for item 1:

1-a) When do changes made to my contacts on WL on the server are being
synchronized with the WLM/WLMessenger database on my computer? Is it done
automatically or do I need to click on either sync or import?

1-b) When does the sync happen in the opposite direction (from my computer
to the WL server)? And again, do I need to click on sync or export?

1-c) The exports you recommend for backup purposes, are they to be done
manually from WLM to the server? Isn't there any automatic sync in that
direction (from my computer to the server)?

A.

"Peter.R" wrote:

> [Inline...]
>
> "aashomlo" <aasinc@xxxxxx> wrote in message
> news:BCC63FA6-D37D-4529-84B6-C83DFCED9817@xxxxxx
>

> > Peter,
> >
> > I made a huge progress and nearly ready to try the whole thing. Last

> item to clarify regarding Contacts. I understand that the same Contacts
> are showing in WL and WLM and they are synchronized between these two
> programs. What I am trying to understand is -

> >
> > 1. Which environment is the "source" of my Contacts? Is there a primary

> driver or it doesn't matter where I update/edit/manage them, they will be
> synchronized in all other environments?

> >
> >

> Your Windows Live Contacts are stored on Microsoft's server so that they
> will be available to you from any computer anywhere as long as you are
> online. Windows Live Mail and WLMessenger share a common database that
> resides on the computer, and they can access your Windows Live Contacts
> when you are signed in with your Windows Live ID.
>
> Your Windows Live Contacts are stored on your computer so that they do not
> have to be downloaded every time you sign into WLMail or WLMessenger, and
> any changes you make in WLMail or WLMessenger will be synchronised with
> your WLContacts on the server. Any changes to your contacts that you make
> on the server via your Web Browser, will be synchronised with your local
> WLContacts Store on your computer via WLMail and WLMessenger.
>
> You can (recommended) export your WLContacts for backup purposes...

> >
> >
> > 2. What about People? Can you condense the Contacts view to one liner

> without the Avatars on the side? This is a very cumbersome display of
> contact list and in my case there are dozen of pages to go through all of
> them. WLM has a View menu with different display options. Live People
> seems to lack this feature.

> >
> >

> I am afraid that you cannot view the contacts list how you want at
> people.live.com. We can only view 25 contacts per page in a Web Browser.
>
> WLMail is my preferred Interface for interacting with WLContacts.

> >
> > NOTE: I verified that groups I had in OE converted into WLM in additions

> to groups I had in WL Messenger. You should test this again on your
> system.

> >
> >

> Okay, thanks...

> >
> >
> > Thanks,
> > A.

>
> --
> Cheers,
> Peter.R
> (Windows Vista Home Premium SP2 with IE7 & Windows Live Mail 2009
> 14.0.8089.726)
> "There are more things in Heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in
> your philosophy." - Shakespeare
>