Import Outlook Express Messages Into Thunderbird
Changing to a new email program doesn't mean you have to lose all of your old email messages or Address Book.
Nearly all downloadable email clients have an 'import' function.
If you used to have Windows XP and Outlook Express was your email program and now you have Windows Vista with the 'new' Windows Mail, you may have decided to try out another email program.
I personally find Windows mail and Windows Live mail a tad buggy. A popular and free email program is Mozilla's Thunderbird.
If you would like to use Thunderbird, but want to keep all of your email messages and Address Book from Outlook Express, here is how to do it. (This will work in both Windows XP and Vista.)
First make sure you know where your Outlook Store folder is located and you have enabled viewing hidden files and folders.
To change the Outlook Express Store location, first make a new folder in your Documents and name it 'OE Store'. Open Outlook Express and click Tools/Options/Maintenance. Then click the Store folder button and select Change. Browse to the new folder named OE Store and click OK. Screenshot You should then see a message saying 'Your store location will not be changed until you shutdown and restart Outlook Express.
Now open Thunderbird and click Tools/Import. Screenshot
Select Outlook Express and then browse to the Store folder in Documents. Thunderbird will import all your messages and folders.
Screenshot All imported!