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Outlook vs Outlook Express Backup

Unlike outlook, you don't have a handy menu option to backup the outlook express blocked senders and mail rules. This information is stored in the registry so you'll need to extract the information using regedit. If you follow the steps outlined here you will be fine, but be careful not to make any other changes to the registry when doing your outlook express backup. Changes to your registry can cause serious problems that may not be possible to resolve without re-installing your operating system.

Backup the Outlook Express Blocked Senders List

1. Click Start then Run.

2. At the Open box, type regedit, then click the OK button.

3. Go to the following registry key:HKEY CURRENT USER\Identities

4. You will see a list of Identity Numbers, when you select them there will be Username with the name of that identity

5. When you have identified the correct Identity Number that you want to backup, go to:

HKEY CURRENT USER\Identities\(Identity Number)\Software\Microsoft\Outlook Express\5.0\Block Senders

6. Select the Block Sender subkey,

7. From the Registry menu click Export Registry File.

8. Use the Save In box to change the location to your desktop.

9. In the File Name box type "blocked senders.reg" then click the Save button.

10. From the Registry menu click exit.

Backup the Outlook Express Mail Rules

1. Click Start then Run.

2. At the Open box, type regedit, then click the OK button.

3. Go to the following registry key: HKEY CURRENT USER\Identities

4. You will see a list of Identity Numbers, when you select them there will be Username with the name of that identity

5. When you have identified the correct Identity Number that you want to backup, go to:

HKEY CURRENT USER\Identities\(Identity Number)\Software\Microsoft\Outlook Express\5.0\Rules\Mail

6. Select the Block Sender subkey,

7. From the Registry menu click Export Registry File.

8. Use the Save In box to change the location to your desktop.

9. In the File Name box type "mail rules.reg" then click the Save button.

10. From the Registry menu click exit.

Restoring Backup of Outlook Express Blocked Senders or Other Mail Rules

If the Identity already exists your computer:

1. Right click on the "blocked senders.reg" or the "mail rules.reg"

2. Select "Merge"

If the Identity does not exist on your computer:

1. Open outlook express and use the Internet Connection Wizard to set up your Identity.

2. Click Start then Run.

3. At the Open box, type regedit, then click the OK button.

4. Go to the following registry key: HKEY CURRENT USER\Identities

5. You will see a list of Identity Numbers, when you select them there will be Username with the name of that identity.

6. Identified the Identity Number associated with the Identity you've set up.

7. From the Registry menu click exit.

8. Go to your desktop and hold the shift key down while right clicking on the "blocked senders.reg" or the "mail rules.reg" (whichever you are planning to restore)

9. Select open with > Choose Program

10. Uncheck "Always use this program tho open these files"

11. In the "Choose the program you want to use" select notepad then click OK

12. Replace the Identity Number in this file with the one you found in the registry.

13. From the File menu select Save.

14. From the File menu select Exit.

15. Right click on the file you just modified and select Merge.

Daniel Jones is a contributor at Free-backup.info -- the home of the popular Amazon S3 based online backup solution -- Back2zip. This article is also at http://free-backup.info/how-to-backup-outlook-express-blocked-senders-and-mail-rules.html