When Microsoft overhauled Windows XP and created Windows Vista, it also renovated the Windows email client. Microsoft scrapped Outlook Express and replaced it with Windows Mail, which offers new features including improved junk mail filters and enhanced search capabilities. Combined, these features make Windows Mail a safer, easier-to-use email program than Outlook Express.

Switching from Windows XP to Vista and from Outlook Express to Windows Mail doesn’t mean you have to lose all of your email history. If you are simply upgrading your operating system from WinXP to Vista (using the same computer), your emails will automatically be transferred from OE to Windows Mail. If you bought a new machine that runs Vista, you will have to transfer your emails manually.

To begin the transfer, you will first need to view the hidden folder that contains your OE emails on your computer running WinXP.

• Open the Start menu and then select the Control Panel.
• Choose Appearance and Themes and then open Folder Options.
• Select the View tab and then click Show Hidden Files And Folders located under Hidden Files And Folders.
• Click OK.

Next, you will need to find the Outlook Express folder.

• Open your local C: drive, and then select Documents And Settings.
• Locate the folder with your username, open it, and then choose Local Settings.
• Open the Application Data folder and locate Identities.

In the Identities folder, look for the folder with your Windows user identity number, and then open Microsoft. Here you will find the Outlook Express folder. Copy all of the files located in the Outlook Express folder to the Documents folder of your Vista computer. You can do this by putting the information on a removable storage device (such as a USB drive) or via network if the computers are both hooked up to the same network.

Once all of the Outlook Express folder items are copied to the Vista Documents folder,

• Open Windows Mail via the Start menu and All Programs.
• Open the File menu, rest  your cursor on Import, and then select Messages.
• Click to highlight Microsoft Outlook Express 6 and then click Next. Import Mail From An OE6 Store Directory should be selected, but if not, be sure to select it. Click OK.
• Click the Browse button, locate the OE6 folder, and then click it once to highlight it.
• Click the Select Folder button and then click Next. To import the folders, choose All Folders or choose Selected Folders to manually pick and choose which message folders you would like to import.
• Click Next and then Finish.