How to Migrate Outlook Explorer Files to Outlook?

If you can install Outlook on the same PC that Outlook Express is on, you can import them using Outlooks import wizard

Other than that, unfortunately MS have not made any direct method into their software to directly accomplish this. The unfortunate thing is you will need to import these file into 'Windows Mail' or Windows Mail Live before importing into Outlook.

Best Way

Export to .csv file from Outlook Explorer first then these files will directly import into Outlook

If You Have 'wab' and 'dbx' files

Outlook 2007 cannot directly import a .WAB file. If you have Vista, you could first transfer the .WAB contents into 'Windows Mail' and then import them into Outlook. With Windows 7, you need to download and install Windows Live Mail, use it to import your .WAB file, then export the contacts to a Comma Separated Values (.CSV) file which Outlook 2007 CAN directly import or it maybe possible to import directly from Outlook.

Using Windows Live Mail or Windows Mail To Manipulate The Files

Getting Contacts into Outlook 2007 from Windows Mail

You need to export from Windows Mail into Outlook ... shshsh ... when is Microsoft ever going to make things simple?

Open Windows Mail | File | Export | Messages | Microsoft Exchange

Open Windows Live Mail. Select 'File'. Go to 'Export' and select 'Accounts.' Under format select 'Microsoft Exchange'. Despite the name not saying so, it also works for transfering to Outlook. Click 'Next'. Select the folders you want copy to Outlook and click Ok. Finish the contacts and the mail should be in Outlook.

Export Contacts Windows Live Mail to Outlook

Select the Contacts button in the left bottom section or press CTRL+SHIFT+C to bring up the Windows Live Contacts window.
File-> Export-> Comma Separated Values (.CSV)
Select a location to store the export in and name you export file.
This can be on your Desktop folder for easy access. You can remove the file once everything has been imported into Outlook.
Press the Next button.
Select all the fields (make sure you scroll down to see all fields).
Press Finish. You'll get notified when the export is done.
Close the remaining open dialogs and continue to the Import Contacts section.

Import Contacts into Windows Live

You import contacts in 'Windows Live Mail' or by 'Windows Mail' by going through the address book. To use "Windows Live" you need to go through 'Windows Live Contacts'. To open Windows Live Contacts, click the address book icon in the bottom left corner of Windows Live Mail's main window. Alternatively, you can quickly open it with the following keyboard shortcut:

Tip: press Ctrl+Shift+C to quickly open the Windows Live Contacts window.

Once inside Windows Live Contacts, click the Show Menu button, and click Import a submenu will expand, listing all the formats in which Windows Live Mail can import contacts. The format you choose will depend on the file or email program whose contacts you would like to import: most email clients can export their contacts as CSV files; so, in doubt, this is a good export format to choose.

To Put It Simply!

In Windows Live Mail, open the Contacts list, hit ALT to bring up the menu bar, go to File, Import, Windows Address Book (.WAB) or Email Folders/emails (.DBX).

Import WAB or DBX Files into Windows Live Mail

Select Go | Contacts from the menu in Windows Live Mail.

You may have to hold down Alt to see the menu bar.
If you want to import Outlook Express contacts from a different computer or old Windows installation:
Copy the desired .wab file from the computer or installation to the computer running Windows Live Mail.
Select File | Import | Windows address book (.WAB) from the menu in Windows Live Mail.
If you want to import contacts from Outlook Express installed alongside Windows Live Mail:
Select File | Import | Address book for current Windows user from the menu in Windows Live Mail.

How to Import Outlook Express Contacts into Outlook WITH OE & Outlook on the Same Machine

The following scenarios assume that you have Outlook Express and Outlook installed on the same computer.

Do one of the following:

Import Outlook Express contacts into the Outlook Contacts folder

In Outlook, on the File menu, click Import and Export.
Under Choose an action to perform, click Import Internet Mail and Addresses.
Under Select the Internet Mail application to import from, click Outlook Express 4.x, 5.x, 6.x.
Clear the check boxes for Import Mail and Import Rules. Only the Import Address Book check box should be selected.
Click Next.
Select one of the following:

'Replace duplicates with items imported' Existing data will be overwritten with the information in the file that is being imported.

'Allow duplicates to be created' Existing data will not be overwritten, and duplicates will be added to the current Outlook folder.

'Do not import duplicate items' Existing data will be kept, and the duplicate information in the file will not be copied to the current Outlook folder.

Click Finish.
After the export is complete, click Save in Inbox if you want a message in your Inbox that logs what was exported, or click OK.

Outlook Express Contacts & Folder/Email Location

C:\Documents and Settings\user_name\Application Data\Microsoft\Address Book\user_name.wab!!Outlook Express Folder & Email Location C:\Windows\Application Data\Outlook Express\{GUID}
or
C:\Documents and Settings\<User>\Local Settings\Application Data\Identities\{GUID}\Microsoft\Outlook Express

Researching

All Experts - Retrieved 23 Sep 2010
Microsoft Office - Retrieved 23 Sep 2010

Further Research

How To Outlook - Retrieved 23 Sep 2010
PC Authorities - Retrieved 23 Sep 2010
Vista For Beginners - Retrieved 23 Sep 2010

All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License
Privacy Policy | About Wikitec | Disclaimer | Copyright

ImportOEToOutlook

Table of Contents