How to import recovered MSN emails

I recently recovered a large number of emails from MSN explorer off a failed hard drive. I'm trying to import them into the MSN local folders on the client's new disk.

I physically put the files in the MSN local folder C:\Documents and Settings\clientname\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\MSN\db. The user's other emails were in that folder too, so I'm pretty sure it was the right one. However, MSN explorer does not list those emails in the stored folders. I went through all the menus but I couldn't find any setting to sync MSN local folders. I guess it's supposed to happen automatically but isn't. Any ideas?

Yitzchak

Posted 2012-06-13T21:59:25.980

Reputation: 4 084

What kind of files are you working with? Is it EML files? Don't you have an option to import e-mails in the MSN Explorer window? Even though, as you say, you moved or copied the email files to that folder where MSN Explorer stores e-mails, it's possible that MSN Explorer doesn't see them because they have not been registered by the program. Why use MSN Explorer in the first place? I thought that product was discontinued by now. What version is it?... – Samir – 2012-06-13T22:13:32.363

It's version 10. It's still in use, much to the dismay of technically minded friends of the ever shrinking user base. – Yitzchak – 2012-06-13T23:00:59.980

Answers

There should be two files titled msn-com.sdf and msn-com_JMF.sdf. You should find them in the database folder you mention above. You can try renaming these two by adding .old at the end of the file names. Then try starting MSN Explorer.

For a more complete coverage on how to backup and how to restore e-mails with MSN Explorer you can see the two links below.

I backed up my e-mail using MSN Explorer and would like to restore it, what should I do?

Email Help Solutions

The MSN Explorer is rarely used these days, so the user base is very small and the support is limited. However, they do have an active forum at MSN Solution Center.

Samir

Posted 2012-06-13T21:59:25.980

Reputation: 17 919

I had a client that lost his MSN password and was unable to get a new one. We ended up creating a new account in MSN Explorer. The db folder contained the .sdf files from the previous account (the one that was locked out) and the new account. I deleted the new .sdf files and renamed the .sdf files from the previous account with the name of the new account. When I re-opened MSN Explorer the old emails and contacts were there.

Alan

Posted 2012-06-13T21:59:25.980

Reputation: 1