Export messages fails using Windows Live Mail 16.4.3528.0331 on Windows 8.1

Anonymous
2016-02-12T21:45:50+00:00

I am using Windows Live Mail Application Version 2012 (Build 16.4.3528.0331) on a Windows 8.1 laptop.

I am buying a new laptop which will come with Windows 10.  I am trying to export the emails from two of the three accounts I have in the current application to back them up and to hopefully import to the Windows 10 email application.  (The third account is a web based account so it does not need to be backed up locally.)  I want to keep the communications on my local computer and back up drives.  

I am following the Microsoft directions for exporting the emails from the application.  Although I had no problems exporting the contact files from the application, I am not able to export the emails.  A couple of different things have happened.

1 - At first I received a message indicating the data had been exported, but when I went to the folder to which it should have gone, the folder was empty.  (I tried this several times.)

2 - Then I was able to get as far in the process as browsing to find the folder I wanted to put the emails in, I was able to select the folders I wished to export, I was able to click on "next" and a split second later (way too short a period of time for the number of emails involved) to click on "finish." None of the emails were exported to the new file.

3 - I repeated the process as in step 2 above twice and instead of attempting to export only selected files, I attempted to export all files.  I had the same results - no emails were exported or in one case only one draft email was exported.

I feel confident I am following Microsoft's directions for this process as depicted in their Microsoft Essentials part of their website.  Would appreciate some advice.  I know I can simply copy the files from the section on my hard drive where they are stored.  My concern about using that approach is that importing them to the Windows 10 email application may not work.

Windows for home | Other | Email and communications

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments

66 answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2016-02-16T19:05:05+00:00

    Hi,

    I do appreciate your efforts and time, and will assist you with the issue.

    I suggest you to try the drag and drop method to export email messages in Windows Live Mail and check.

    Please follow the steps provided below and check if it helps:

    • Create a new folder on desktop (Name the folders once created as inbox, sent, drafts etc to avoid confusion).
    • Go to Windows Live Mail.
    • Open Inbox.
    • Select all emails (click on any email and press Ctrl + A).
    • Drag and drop into the folder created on desktop.
    • Repeat the same procedure for all email folders.

    In future, if you have any issues related to Windows Live Mail, do get back to us. We will be happy to assist you.

    Was this answer helpful?

    3 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2016-02-17T14:18:14+00:00

    Hi Alan,

    Thank you for posting your query in Microsoft Community.

    We understand how you feel about the situation. We're sorry for the trouble.

    I suggest you to follow the suggestions provided by the ¡Firedog from the below link & check if it helps.

    http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windowslive/wiki/livemail-files/export-and-import-messages/97e1f967-6ea7-4aac-94c9-e95ea8e740c3

    Thank you.

    Was this answer helpful?

    1 person found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2016-02-16T16:40:29+00:00

    In the past, I could export all my email in various folders.  Now, it will only export one email.

    I am using Windows Live Mail Build 16.4.3528.0331 and Windows 8.1 and Internet Explorer 11.  I have installed all the Windows 8.1 updates.

    I uninstalled McAfee.

    I uninstalled Windows Live Mail with the following command:

    c:\program files (x86)\windows live\installer\wlarp.exe" /cleanup:all /q

    I reinstalled Windows Live Mail from Microsoft's web site.

    I created a new administrative user in Windows 8.1.  I started email and did not setup any email accounts.  I typed three draft emails and saved them in the storage folders drafts folder.  When I try to export all the folders, only one mail gets exported.

    I performed a clean boot of Windows:

    https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/929135

    I disconnected from the wireless network.

    Here's how I do an export:

    For a successful export, follow these guidelines:

    1.Set Windows Live Mail to Work offline¹ before starting.

    2.Create a temporary folder on your desktop² to contain the exported messages.

    3.In the Export wizard, select the temporary folder and select All folders ³.

    4.When it's finished, check that the number of files in each folder within the temporary folder is one more than the number of messages in the corresponding folder in Windows Live Mail.

    5.Copy the temporary folder to its final destination

    In Windows Live Mail when I click on Working Online on the status bar, it changes to Working Offline.  Then I click on File, Export Email.  But when I click on Email Messages, the status bar changes to Working Online.

    How can I get it to export all my email?

    Was this answer helpful?

    1 person found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2016-02-15T16:55:44+00:00

    I have exactly the same problem as anita02110.

    I have been using the export messages process successfully on a monthly basis for the last few years to backup messages to a desktop folder which I then copy to a memory stick. All worked fine.

    Then in the last couple of weeks each time I have run exactly the same process it ends almost instantaneously saying "Your messages were successfully exported using the Microsoft Windows Live Mail format" but no messages are exported.

    It is almost as if an automatic update has corrupted the process. Any ideas anyone?

    Was this answer helpful?

    1 person found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  5. Anonymous
    2016-02-12T22:40:23+00:00

    I feel confident I am following Microsoft's directions for this process ...

    You're not alone in failing to make this work. You'll find some tips for a successful export in this article: Export and import messages

    Was this answer helpful?

    1 person found this answer helpful.
    0 comments