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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.
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.
Sorry I should have given the versions I am running which are Windows 8.1 version 6.3 (build 9600) and Windows Live Mail version 2012 (Build 16.4.3528.0331).
And yes I am following the steps in your article which are exactly the same steps I have successfully followed on a monthly basis for several years and which no longer export any messages. That's why I wonder if an automatic update has caused the problem.
Hi Noel,
The only difference between the steps I was previously taking and those recommended in the article you shared is that the article suggested setting the mail program to work off line.
When I followed the directions, the results were similar to what happened previously. Although I had opted to export all folders, only a couple moved over. My inbox and sent folders (which contain thousands of emails) did not get exported to the new folder. The process was quick and even the folders that "appeared" to be exported to the new folder were empty.
This process is not working in Windows 8.1. I am inclined to agree with Steve's suggestion that the issue may be due to a problem with the last update for Windows 8.1.
I appreciate your suggestion that I did not select the appropriate folders when I attempted this task. I assure you this is not the case as I am an experienced user, have done this previously, teach IT classes, and know I followed the exact directions provided on the Microsoft website. I will check the article you provided and thanks for that, but if it simply reinforces or reiterates directions already provided by Microsoft, the article will not help.
I will let you know how I make out.
I have exactly the same problem as anita02110.
Also using Windows Live Mail version 16.4.3528.0331 on Windows 8.1?
... no messages are exported ... It is almost as if an automatic update has corrupted the process.
As it happens, I don't think the version is significant in this respect. At any rate, I have no trouble conducting an export using 16.34.3528.0331 on Windows 10 and 16.4.3564.1216 on Windows 7.
A common reason for the quick-as-a-flash export with zero results is that no folder containing messages was selected. Are you sure you followed all the steps in the article I referred Anita to?
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?
