Vista - Moving Win Mail data folder so multiple RTM Vistas can access it?

I have several Vista boots on different partitions. If I install Outlook into
Vista and then transfer messages and whatever else will transfer from Outlook
into Windows Mail, will I be able to move the folder containing this data to
one of my data partitions and then direct each instance of Windows Mail in
each Vista RTM instance to read the mail data files from that data partition
(so that all versions are sending, receiving and otherwise modifying the same
data pool)? I want to do this so that I can test how Win Mail performs under
different configurations.

If I can do this, what is the name of the folder I should move and will a
simple cut and paste do it?

If I do this and then need to do a fresh install when I buy Vista (in
February, I hope) am I correct that I will then be able to just point my new
Windows Mail installation to that data partition location and have Windows
Mail read it just fine (without any additional importing or other
gymnastics)? -thanks

See what I just stuck up on my website. That should answer most of your
questions:

www.oehelp.com/backup.aspx

The messages themselves are just eml files that you can drag around. But
you have to backup the registry keys if you want settings and message rules
and the like.

steve

"Edwin" <edwin@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:5F367C16-6B0F-4AB6-AA7E-58365DD45730@microsoft.com...
>I have several Vista boots on different partitions. If I install Outlook
>into
> Vista and then transfer messages and whatever else will transfer from
> Outlook
> into Windows Mail, will I be able to move the folder containing this data
> to
> one of my data partitions and then direct each instance of Windows Mail in
> each Vista RTM instance to read the mail data files from that data
> partition
> (so that all versions are sending, receiving and otherwise modifying the
> same
> data pool)? I want to do this so that I can test how Win Mail performs
> under
> different configurations.
>
> If I can do this, what is the name of the folder I should move and will a
> simple cut and paste do it?
>
> If I do this and then need to do a fresh install when I buy Vista (in
> February, I hope) am I correct that I will then be able to just point my
> new
> Windows Mail installation to that data partition location and have Windows
> Mail read it just fine (without any additional importing or other
> gymnastics)? -thanks

I read what is posted at your website. This seems like a tortuous and
perilous process that can lead to errors and destruction if not done just
right in each of its steps. I can't imagine that a significant percent of
non-technical Outlook users, world-wide, will want to switch to Windows Mail
if this is the only way they can transfer their messages, rules, notes, and
contacts. My guess is that transferring one's data to the new Vista Calendar
program is likewise techy and frightening.

I think I should be able to install Outlook into Vista and then do an
"import all" or an "export all" that would automatically put my calendar into
the calendar program and my messages, notes, and contacts into Windows Mail.
Am I asking too much?

Paying the high cost of Vista Premium or Ultimate is attractive if one can
use the new Calendar and Mail programs and thus save on not having to buy the
new version of Outlook. My guess is that a large number of dedicated Outlook
users will learn about this impediment to data transfer and decide to stay
with XP for as many years as it takes for a software solution to this problem
to surface. What do you think?

I appreciate your help. -thanks

"Steve Cochran" wrote:

> See what I just stuck up on my website. That should answer most of your
> questions:
>
> www.oehelp.com/backup.aspx
>
> The messages themselves are just eml files that you can drag around. But
> you have to backup the registry keys if you want settings and message rules
> and the like.
>
> steve
>
> "Edwin" <edwin@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:5F367C16-6B0F-4AB6-AA7E-58365DD45730@microsoft.com...
> >I have several Vista boots on different partitions. If I install Outlook
> >into
> > Vista and then transfer messages and whatever else will transfer from
> > Outlook
> > into Windows Mail, will I be able to move the folder containing this data
> > to
> > one of my data partitions and then direct each instance of Windows Mail in
> > each Vista RTM instance to read the mail data files from that data
> > partition
> > (so that all versions are sending, receiving and otherwise modifying the
> > same
> > data pool)? I want to do this so that I can test how Win Mail performs
> > under
> > different configurations.
> >
> > If I can do this, what is the name of the folder I should move and will a
> > simple cut and paste do it?
> >
> > If I do this and then need to do a fresh install when I buy Vista (in
> > February, I hope) am I correct that I will then be able to just point my
> > new
> > Windows Mail installation to that data partition location and have Windows
> > Mail read it just fine (without any additional importing or other
> > gymnastics)? -thanks
>

You can't expect Windows Mail to replace Outlook. If you want Outlook, then
you have to buy it.

That said, Windows Mail should not have the problems it does.

The actual steps on my website are very, very simple procedures.

steve

"Edwin" <edwin@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:4151B6FE-30A6-40C1-B5A7-59B50BC735F0@microsoft.com...
>I read what is posted at your website. This seems like a tortuous and
> perilous process that can lead to errors and destruction if not done just
> right in each of its steps. I can't imagine that a significant percent of
> non-technical Outlook users, world-wide, will want to switch to Windows
> Mail
> if this is the only way they can transfer their messages, rules, notes,
> and
> contacts. My guess is that transferring one's data to the new Vista
> Calendar
> program is likewise techy and frightening.
>
> I think I should be able to install Outlook into Vista and then do an
> "import all" or an "export all" that would automatically put my calendar
> into
> the calendar program and my messages, notes, and contacts into Windows
> Mail.
> Am I asking too much?
>
> Paying the high cost of Vista Premium or Ultimate is attractive if one can
> use the new Calendar and Mail programs and thus save on not having to buy
> the
> new version of Outlook. My guess is that a large number of dedicated
> Outlook
> users will learn about this impediment to data transfer and decide to stay
> with XP for as many years as it takes for a software solution to this
> problem
> to surface. What do you think?
>
> I appreciate your help. -thanks
>
> "Steve Cochran" wrote:
>
>> See what I just stuck up on my website. That should answer most of your
>> questions:
>>
>> www.oehelp.com/backup.aspx
>>
>> The messages themselves are just eml files that you can drag around. But
>> you have to backup the registry keys if you want settings and message
>> rules
>> and the like.
>>
>> steve
>>
>> "Edwin" <edwin@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:5F367C16-6B0F-4AB6-AA7E-58365DD45730@microsoft.com...
>> >I have several Vista boots on different partitions. If I install Outlook
>> >into
>> > Vista and then transfer messages and whatever else will transfer from
>> > Outlook
>> > into Windows Mail, will I be able to move the folder containing this
>> > data
>> > to
>> > one of my data partitions and then direct each instance of Windows Mail
>> > in
>> > each Vista RTM instance to read the mail data files from that data
>> > partition
>> > (so that all versions are sending, receiving and otherwise modifying
>> > the
>> > same
>> > data pool)? I want to do this so that I can test how Win Mail performs
>> > under
>> > different configurations.
>> >
>> > If I can do this, what is the name of the folder I should move and will
>> > a
>> > simple cut and paste do it?
>> >
>> > If I do this and then need to do a fresh install when I buy Vista (in
>> > February, I hope) am I correct that I will then be able to just point
>> > my
>> > new
>> > Windows Mail installation to that data partition location and have
>> > Windows
>> > Mail read it just fine (without any additional importing or other
>> > gymnastics)? -thanks
>>