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Getting Along With Your Computer Column Archive

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Browsing the "Tips" Folder

By Cate Eales

Appeared November 9, 2006 on castanet.net

When a client asks how to do something, or I come across a useful tip somewhere else, I put it in a folder for use on a rainy day. As luck would have it, there is a whole lot of "30% POP" coming down right now. I hope these tips come in handy for you some rainy day.

Back Up and Recover Outlook Express Messages and Addresses
Is your email important to you? Most of us would answer yes, but not everyone feels that way. If you don't mind taking on chance on losing your email, skip over this tip!

Backing up your email messages involves copying them to another folder. If you are then going to save them on a CD or DVD, follow the steps below first, and then follow the prompts in your CD/DVD burning software to transfer the backup onto your CD/DVD. Let's get started:

	Open Outlook Express as you normally do
	Click Tools \| Options \| Maintenance \| Store Folder
	Move your mouse cursor until the entire Store Folder field is highlighted (It's a long file name!)
	Press CTRL+C at the same time to copy the location
	Click Cancel
	Click Cancel again to close the dialog box
	Click Start \| Run
	In the Open box, press CTRL+V to paste in the Store Folder location you copied
	Click OK
	Click Edit \| Select All
	Click Edit \| Copy
	Close the window
	Right-click any empty space on your desktop, click New \| Folder
	Type something informative (like Mail Backup) for the folder name
	Press ENTER
	Double-click the Mail Backup folder to open it
	Click Edit \| Paste
	Close the Mail Backup window

Saving your email addresses is easier. You're going to export them to a file, save the file, and add it to the CD/DVD or other storage location. Here we go:

	Open Outlook Express as you normally do
	Click File \| Export \| Address Book.
	Click Text File (Comma Separated Values)
	Click Export
	Click Browse
	Locate the Mail Backup folder that you created
	In the File Name box, type address book backup
	Click Save \| Next
	Click to select the check boxes for the fields that you want to export
	Click Finish.
	Click OK \| Close

To restore your Outlook Express messages, you just import them. If you've burned them to a CD/DVD or copied them onto a USB or other drive, you need to copy them back to your Desktop first. After that:

	Open Outlook Express
	Click on File \| Import \| Messages
	In the Select an e-mail program to import from box, click Microsoft Outlook Express 5 or Microsoft Outlook Express 6
	Click Next
	Click Import mail from an OE5 store directory or Import mail from an OE6 store directory
	Click OK
	Click Browse
	Navigate to the Mail Backup folder on your desktop and click on it
	Click OK \| Next
	Click All folders \| Next \| Finish

Now you can import your saved address book:

	Click File \| Import \| Other Address Book
	Click Text File (Comma Separated Values)
	Click Import
	Click Browse
	Navigate to the Mail Backup folder on your desktop and double-click to open it
	Select the address book backup.csv file
	Click Open \| Next \|Finish
	Click OK \| Close

There is more information about saving rules and account settings in an article here. Please remember that Outlook Express is not the same as Outlook. Here is an explanation of the differences.

Convert files without installing software
Zamzar is a very useful tool that will let you convert a file from one type to another without having to go through the trouble of finding and installing a conversion program. I tried this and it worked for me. I asked it to convert a Word document to a PDF file. It did that and within a few minutes emailed me a link to my converted file. I downloaded the file and it opened perfectly in Foxit PDF viewer. Check out Zamzar here. Zamzar will convert documents, images, videos and music file types. The service is free. Be aware that your file is stored on their server for at least 24 hours, so use your judgment when it comes to sensitive or copyrighted material.

Change the picture on the Start Menu
Tired of looking at that chess piece when you log on and in your Start menu? You can change that picture easily.

	Click Start to open the Start menu
	Click on the picture itself to open User Account settings
	Choose a new picture from the ones displayed, or click Browse to use a picture located anywhere on your computer
	Select the picture
	Close the User Accounts dialog box

Thank you to everyone who sends comments, questions and suggestions. Please email cate@rlis.com and keep them coming! Don't forget, you can access the column archives at any time. See you next week!

Links
How to back up and recover Outlook Express data http://support.microsoft.com/kb/270670
Differences between Outlook and Outlook Express http://support.microsoft.com/kb/257824/EN-US
Zamzar file conversion http://www.zamzar.com/
Foxit Reader http://www.foxitsoftware.com/downloads/
Getting Along With Your Computer Column Archives http://rlis.com/column.htm
Get Cate's column by email http://www.feedblitz.com/f/?Sub=20618
RSS Feed: http://rlis.com/rlis.xml

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Cate Eales has been helping people make online computing safe, accessible and fun for over 20 years. She lives in Kelowna with her husband, Eric, and her dog, Sandy. Cate is a partner in Real Life Internet Solutions, helping individuals and small businesses with virus, spyware and malware eradication; personal computer training and management; digital image management; music transfer; and website design, hosting and management. Email Cate at cate@rlis.com with your comments, suggestions, or questions. To browse the column archives, visit the Real Life Internet Solutions website at www.rlis.com.