My hard drive in my latptop crashed. I removed it and hooked it up via USB to my desktop computer. I"ve been able to save all of my data files but I don't know how to access the email files that I had acquired using Outlook Express. I know they are saved as DBX files - but I have looked in directories and sub directories and can't find any DBX files. I do know they are fairly well hidden even thru XP. Is there some way to find them so that I can copy them to my desktop.

I have to strictly rely on the DOS command prompt thru my desktop in order to access any files on my notebook drive. The drive isn't ruined, but when my laptop fell - it apparently crashed the XP structure. I don't have any restore options other than the recovery disks which came with the computer and they are an "all or nothing" recovery. There is no option to repair.

Any suggestions? I'm ready to reformat and reinstall the system as soon as I can get my email files and addresses.

Thanks in advance!
Susie

Welcome to Dal

Your dbx files are located under
C:\Documents and Settings\YOURNAME\Local Settings\Application Data\Identities\Microsoft\Outlook Express

Address Book under
C:\Documents and Settings\YOURNAME\Application Data\Microsoft\Address Book

Hello,

Thanks for the reply. I know my C: outlook express files are located there but I'm trying to find the ones on the "G" drive which are now inaccesible after the crash. The drive that I'm trying to get stuff from is NOT my main drive on my desktop. It's a 60gb drive that used to be in my laptop until it crashed. I removed the drive. hooked it up to my desktop computer. I've had to use the DOS *.* copy command to get the files. In this case it would be G: *.* C:

I"ve managed to get all of my data files, but I cannot find my email files. If the computer had not crashed they would be somewhere with a REALLY long name and if using the "store" folder in windows the path would be "C:\Documents and Settings\avatrx\Local Settings\Application Data\Identities\{E8C191CA-FEB6-409C-BF02-1B79727BA3F9}"
however when I follow that path using dos on my USB drive - I can't find anything.

Is there a DOS search syntax I can use which will check all the files on the USB drive to find the DBX files? I'm sure there is a way but I've forgotten how and my DOS book has long since disappeared. I think I tossed it.

thanks,
Susie


Your dbx files are located under
C:\Documents and Settings\YOURNAME\Local Settings\Application Data\Identities\Microsoft\Outlook Express

Address Book under
C:\Documents and Settings\YOURNAME\Application Data\Microsoft\Address Book[/QUOTE]

I'm very rusty on Dos, this is the only one I can think of.

Syntax:

DIR [d:][path][filename] [/A:(attributes)] [/O:(order)] [/B][/C][/CH][/L][/S][/P] [/W]

Purpose: Displays directory of files and directories stored on disk.

Discussion

In addition to files and directories, DIR also displays both the volume name and amount of free storage space on the disk (if there are files stored in the current directory). Note that both of these are for the entire DISK, not just for the path you specified.

The DIR command is also useful if you want to know what directories have been created on the specified disk. The directories will be displayed along with the files on the disk. They can be identified by the DIR label that follows the directory name.

Wildcard characters (? and *) can be used to specify groups of files.
For more information on using the DIR command, refer to Chapter 2, Using Common DOS Commands.

When you use the DIR command, it will display all files that match the path and filename specifications, along with their size in bytes and the time and date of their last modification. If you don`t enter one of the options, the entire list will be displayed, even if the list is too long to fit on one screen. To limit the amount of data displayed, use either of the two options described below.