One of the most important things to create backup copies of, is your email messages. Here's a short guide on how to do this if you use the Outlook Express mail client.

Copy the following folder:

C:\Documents and Settings\username\Local Settings\Application Data\Identities\{long sequence of numbers and letters}\Microsoft\Outlook Express

to a backup location (blank CD, Zip disk, backup HD, etc.).

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To import the email back into OE:

1) Open Outlook Express
2) Click File - Import - Messages
3) Highlight Microsoft Outlook Express 6, and click Next
4) Choose Import mail from an OE6 store directory, and click OK
5) Browse to the location (folder) where you backed up your email and click OK.

That's it. You've now imported all your old emails.

This is especially useful for clean installs of your operating system, or moving emails to a different machine.