Transferring WLM across Windows installs

Hello, I have been searching for the answer to this question and have come
very close to some answers but I have not found anything addressing this
issue as directly as I'd like.

I have been a long time user of Outlook (not OE) and satisfied with it for
the most part. I also frequently re-install Windows on my machine, about 2
to 3 times per year on my main machine. With Outlook I have been very
satisfied that all I have to do is copy the Outlook.pst off the machine and
upon re-installation of Office, simply copy the file back into place and I'm
done. I'm really hoping to find that WLM could be this easy. I don't want
to have to deal with a lot of Importing and Exporting of multiple files and
encountering unreliability among the relationships of these files as I try to
set up WLM on a clean Windows install. I'd like to be able to have my
messages, calendar and contacts be restored as easily as they were in
Outlook. Is this possible? Is there an explicit procedure outlined that
defines how to accomplish this task? The ease of this procedure will
determine whether I switch to WLM or not.

Thank you community,
Ben Moses

"bmoses" <> wrote in message
news:1430A73A-1590-4381-B84D-...
> Hello, I have been searching for the answer to this question and have come
> very close to some answers but I have not found anything addressing this
> issue as directly as I'd like.
>
> I have been a long time user of Outlook (not OE) and satisfied with it for
> the most part. I also frequently re-install Windows on my machine, about
> 2
> to 3 times per year on my main machine. With Outlook I have been very
> satisfied that all I have to do is copy the Outlook.pst off the machine
> and
> upon re-installation of Office, simply copy the file back into place and
> I'm
> done. I'm really hoping to find that WLM could be this easy. I don't
> want
> to have to deal with a lot of Importing and Exporting of multiple files
> and
> encountering unreliability among the relationships of these files as I try
> to
> set up WLM on a clean Windows install. I'd like to be able to have my
> messages, calendar and contacts be restored as easily as they were in
> Outlook. Is this possible? Is there an explicit procedure outlined that
> defines how to accomplish this task? The ease of this procedure will
> determine whether I switch to WLM or not.


There is a program called Static Backup which will make a complete backup of
your user profile including address books, message rules, settings, message
database, and more. It's available here:
http://www.staticbackup.com/downloads.htm where you'll find 2 versions a
free version and full version. The free version is fully functional as far
as making backups, it just lacks some of the features of the full version.
Things like backup scheduling, writing backups to a cd and there's just one
nag screen when first run.

One nice thing about this program is that you can make a backup of your WLM
that's on a WinXP box, then do a restore on a Win7 box and everything still
goes to the correct place despite the changes between the two folder
structures.


--

Roy Smith
Windows XP Pro SP3

I don't think the Static Backup program handles Contacts or
calendar data. It does handle pretty much everything else.
If you sign-in with a Live ID, the contacts and calendar data can
be re-synced via the automatic backup from the same Live account
on the server.

--
Gary VanderMolen, Microsoft MVP (Mail)
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/def...le/vandermolen


"Roy Smith" <> wrote in message news:OBRVS%...
>
> "bmoses" <> wrote in message
> news:1430A73A-1590-4381-B84D-...
>> Hello, I have been searching for the answer to this question and have come
>> very close to some answers but I have not found anything addressing this
>> issue as directly as I'd like.
>>
>> I have been a long time user of Outlook (not OE) and satisfied with it for
>> the most part. I also frequently re-install Windows on my machine, about
>> 2
>> to 3 times per year on my main machine. With Outlook I have been very
>> satisfied that all I have to do is copy the Outlook.pst off the machine
>> and
>> upon re-installation of Office, simply copy the file back into place and
>> I'm
>> done. I'm really hoping to find that WLM could be this easy. I don't
>> want
>> to have to deal with a lot of Importing and Exporting of multiple files
>> and
>> encountering unreliability among the relationships of these files as I try
>> to
>> set up WLM on a clean Windows install. I'd like to be able to have my
>> messages, calendar and contacts be restored as easily as they were in
>> Outlook. Is this possible? Is there an explicit procedure outlined that
>> defines how to accomplish this task? The ease of this procedure will
>> determine whether I switch to WLM or not.
>
>
> There is a program called Static Backup which will make a complete backup of
> your user profile including address books, message rules, settings, message
> database, and more. It's available here:
> http://www.staticbackup.com/downloads.htm where you'll find 2 versions a
> free version and full version. The free version is fully functional as far
> as making backups, it just lacks some of the features of the full version.
> Things like backup scheduling, writing backups to a cd and there's just one
> nag screen when first run.
>
> One nice thing about this program is that you can make a backup of your WLM
> that's on a WinXP box, then do a restore on a Win7 box and everything still
> goes to the correct place despite the changes between the two folder
> structures.
>
>
> --
>
> Roy Smith
> Windows XP Pro SP3
>
>
>

Thank you both for the information.

So, the Windows Live service will automatically copy/store/sync my contacts
and calendar information such that when I would set up WLM on a new build and
open it and log in to Windows Live for the first time on the new Windows
install I would see my calendar and contacts be populated with my information
correctly?

If this is the case, is it safe to say that I would only have to
backup/store my messages locally to save them?

I will continue to experiment with WLM.

"Gary VanderMolen" wrote:

> I don't think the Static Backup program handles Contacts or
> calendar data. It does handle pretty much everything else.
> If you sign-in with a Live ID, the contacts and calendar data can
> be re-synced via the automatic backup from the same Live account
> on the server.
>
> --
> Gary VanderMolen, Microsoft MVP (Mail)
> http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/def...le/vandermolen
>
>
> "Roy Smith" <> wrote in message news:OBRVS%...
> >
> > "bmoses" <> wrote in message
> > news:1430A73A-1590-4381-B84D-...
> >> Hello, I have been searching for the answer to this question and have come
> >> very close to some answers but I have not found anything addressing this
> >> issue as directly as I'd like.
> >>
> >> I have been a long time user of Outlook (not OE) and satisfied with it for
> >> the most part. I also frequently re-install Windows on my machine, about
> >> 2
> >> to 3 times per year on my main machine. With Outlook I have been very
> >> satisfied that all I have to do is copy the Outlook.pst off the machine
> >> and
> >> upon re-installation of Office, simply copy the file back into place and
> >> I'm
> >> done. I'm really hoping to find that WLM could be this easy. I don't
> >> want
> >> to have to deal with a lot of Importing and Exporting of multiple files
> >> and
> >> encountering unreliability among the relationships of these files as I try
> >> to
> >> set up WLM on a clean Windows install. I'd like to be able to have my
> >> messages, calendar and contacts be restored as easily as they were in
> >> Outlook. Is this possible? Is there an explicit procedure outlined that
> >> defines how to accomplish this task? The ease of this procedure will
> >> determine whether I switch to WLM or not.
> >
> >
> > There is a program called Static Backup which will make a complete backup of
> > your user profile including address books, message rules, settings, message
> > database, and more. It's available here:
> > http://www.staticbackup.com/downloads.htm where you'll find 2 versions a
> > free version and full version. The free version is fully functional as far
> > as making backups, it just lacks some of the features of the full version.
> > Things like backup scheduling, writing backups to a cd and there's just one
> > nag screen when first run.
> >
> > One nice thing about this program is that you can make a backup of your WLM
> > that's on a WinXP box, then do a restore on a Win7 box and everything still
> > goes to the correct place despite the changes between the two folder
> > structures.
> >
> >
> > --
> >
> > Roy Smith
> > Windows XP Pro SP3
> >
> >
> >
> .
>

Yes, mostly correct.
However, if you back up your messages locally, you will not be saving
the other data such as account information, program settings, lists of
blocked and safe senders, etc.

--
Gary VanderMolen, Microsoft MVP (Mail)
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/def...le/vandermolen


"bmoses" <> wrote in message news:8289F564-57CF-4AA8-9F13-...
> Thank you both for the information.
>
> So, the Windows Live service will automatically copy/store/sync my contacts
> and calendar information such that when I would set up WLM on a new build and
> open it and log in to Windows Live for the first time on the new Windows
> install I would see my calendar and contacts be populated with my information
> correctly?
>
> If this is the case, is it safe to say that I would only have to
> backup/store my messages locally to save them?
>
> I will continue to experiment with WLM.
>
> "Gary VanderMolen" wrote:
>
>> I don't think the Static Backup program handles Contacts or
>> calendar data. It does handle pretty much everything else.
>> If you sign-in with a Live ID, the contacts and calendar data can
>> be re-synced via the automatic backup from the same Live account
>> on the server.
>>
>> --
>> Gary VanderMolen, Microsoft MVP (Mail)
>> http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/def...le/vandermolen
>>
>>
>> "Roy Smith" <> wrote in message news:OBRVS%...
>> >
>> > "bmoses" <> wrote in message
>> > news:1430A73A-1590-4381-B84D-...
>> >> Hello, I have been searching for the answer to this question and have come
>> >> very close to some answers but I have not found anything addressing this
>> >> issue as directly as I'd like.
>> >>
>> >> I have been a long time user of Outlook (not OE) and satisfied with it for
>> >> the most part. I also frequently re-install Windows on my machine, about
>> >> 2
>> >> to 3 times per year on my main machine. With Outlook I have been very
>> >> satisfied that all I have to do is copy the Outlook.pst off the machine
>> >> and
>> >> upon re-installation of Office, simply copy the file back into place and
>> >> I'm
>> >> done. I'm really hoping to find that WLM could be this easy. I don't
>> >> want
>> >> to have to deal with a lot of Importing and Exporting of multiple files
>> >> and
>> >> encountering unreliability among the relationships of these files as I try
>> >> to
>> >> set up WLM on a clean Windows install. I'd like to be able to have my
>> >> messages, calendar and contacts be restored as easily as they were in
>> >> Outlook. Is this possible? Is there an explicit procedure outlined that
>> >> defines how to accomplish this task? The ease of this procedure will
>> >> determine whether I switch to WLM or not.
>> >
>> >
>> > There is a program called Static Backup which will make a complete backup of
>> > your user profile including address books, message rules, settings, message
>> > database, and more. It's available here:
>> > http://www.staticbackup.com/downloads.htm where you'll find 2 versions a
>> > free version and full version. The free version is fully functional as far
>> > as making backups, it just lacks some of the features of the full version.
>> > Things like backup scheduling, writing backups to a cd and there's just one
>> > nag screen when first run.
>> >
>> > One nice thing about this program is that you can make a backup of your WLM
>> > that's on a WinXP box, then do a restore on a Win7 box and everything still
>> > goes to the correct place despite the changes between the two folder
>> > structures.
>> >
>> >
>> > --
>> >
>> > Roy Smith
>> > Windows XP Pro SP3
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> .
>>

Thanks, Peter. I don't use the calendar so I haven't tested a backup of it.

--
Gary VanderMolen, Microsoft MVP (Mail)
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/def...le/vandermolen


"Peter.R" <> wrote in message news:...
>
> Since the Calendars Store/Caches are within the Message Store, they are backed up by Static Windows Live Mail Backup.
>
> There are other programs that specifically backup WLMail data, apparently including the Contacts Store/Caches, but I have not tested any of them.
>
> But as you indicated Gary, backing up the Contacts and Calendar data is not strictly necessary if we sign into Windows Live in WLMail.
>
> --
> Peter.R
> (Windows Live Mail 2009 14.0.8089.726 on Windows 7 Home Premium)
> "There are more things in Heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy." - Shakespeare
>
> "Gary VanderMolen" <> wrote in message news:uDqjT#...
>>
>> I don't think the Static Backup program handles Contacts or calendar data. It does handle pretty much everything else.
>> If you sign-in with a Live ID, the contacts and calendar data can be re-synced via the automatic backup from the same Live account on the server.
>>
>> --
>> Gary VanderMolen, Microsoft MVP (Mail)
>> http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/def...le/vandermolen
>>
>> "Roy Smith" <> wrote in message news:OBRVS%...
>>>
>>> "bmoses" <> wrote in message news:1430A73A-1590-4381-B84D-...
>>>
>>>> Hello, I have been searching for the answer to this question and have come very close to some answers but I have not found anything addressing this issue as directly as I'd like.
>>>>
>>>> I have been a long time user of Outlook (not OE) and satisfied with it for the most part. I also frequently re-install Windows on my machine, about 2 to 3 times per year on my main machine. With Outlook I have been very satisfied that all I have to do is copy the Outlook.pst off the machine and upon re-installation of Office, simply copy the file back into place and I'm done. I'm really hoping to find that WLM could be this easy. I don't want to have to deal with a lot of Importing and Exporting of multiple files and encountering unreliability among the relationships of these files as I try to set up WLM on a clean Windows install. I'd like to be able to have my messages, calendar and contacts be restored as easily as they were in Outlook. Is this possible? Is there an explicit procedure outlined that defines how to accomplish this task? The ease of this procedure will determine whether I switch to WLM or not.
>>>
>>>
>>> There is a program called Static Backup which will make a complete backup of your user profile including address books, message rules, settings, message database, and more. It's available here:
>>> http://www.staticbackup.com/downloads.htm where you'll find 2 versions a free version and full version. The free version is fully functional as far as making backups, it just lacks some of the features of the full version.
>>> Things like backup scheduling, writing backups to a cd and there's just one nag screen when first run.
>>>
>>> One nice thing about this program is that you can make a backup of your WLM that's on a WinXP box, then do a restore on a Win7 box and everything still goes to the correct place despite the changes between the two folder structures.
>>>
>>> --
>>>
>>> Roy Smith
>>> Windows XP Pro SP3

It's not that easy...
Why not use Outlook on the Win7 machine ?

WLM does not support the Outlook calendar data.
Contacts can be exported in Outlook to a csv file then imported into WLM

Messages are not directly exportable from Outlook to WLM or importable in WLM from Outlook.


--
...winston
ms-mvp mail

"bmoses" <> wrote in message news:1430A73A-1590-4381-B84D-...
> Hello, I have been searching for the answer to this question and have come
> very close to some answers but I have not found anything addressing this
> issue as directly as I'd like.
>
> I have been a long time user of Outlook (not OE) and satisfied with it for
> the most part. I also frequently re-install Windows on my machine, about 2
> to 3 times per year on my main machine. With Outlook I have been very
> satisfied that all I have to do is copy the Outlook.pst off the machine and
> upon re-installation of Office, simply copy the file back into place and I'm
> done. I'm really hoping to find that WLM could be this easy. I don't want
> to have to deal with a lot of Importing and Exporting of multiple files and
> encountering unreliability among the relationships of these files as I try to
> set up WLM on a clean Windows install. I'd like to be able to have my
> messages, calendar and contacts be restored as easily as they were in
> Outlook. Is this possible? Is there an explicit procedure outlined that
> defines how to accomplish this task? The ease of this procedure will
> determine whether I switch to WLM or not.
>
> Thank you community,
> Ben Moses
>

"...winston" <> wrote in message
news:#...
> Contacts can be exported in Outlook to a csv file then imported into WLM
>

No need AFAIK - in WLM Contacts do File-Import-Microsoft Office Outlook
Address Book....

Gordon,
Yes that will work and is actually a cleaner method to retain additional email fields used in Outlook. An Outlook contact's 'Email
2' email address will import to WLM's 'work e-mail' field, Email 3 to WLM's 'Other e-email' field.

On the other hand, the op did indicate that this was a clean install and did not clarify if Outlook was actually installed.
" as I try to set up WLM on a clean Windows install. I'd like to be able to have my messages, calendar and contacts be restored
as easily as they were in Outlook"

Afaik, 'as they were' may also imply the Outlook is not installed on the 'clean Windows install' with WLM. To use WLM's option to
import contacts from the Outlook address book, Outlook would first need to be installed and with its contact list intact.

If Outlook is not installed with its contact list intact, then WLM's option[File-Import-Microsoft Office Outlook Address Book] will
not work.

Maybe the op has figured this out or will further clarify.

--
....winston
MS-MVP[Mail]

"Gordon" <> wrote in message news:...
>
> "...winston" <> wrote in message news:#...
>> Contacts can be exported in Outlook to a csv file then imported into WLM
>>
>
> No need AFAIK - in WLM Contacts do File-Import-Microsoft Office Outlook Address Book....