# OE and .dbx files

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oe-and-dbx-files/257850>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 1, 2004, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oe-and-dbx-files/257850 "2004-08-01T17:05:08Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![ArrMatey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/arrmatey/32/3522_2.png) [@ArrMatey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ArrMatey)\
**Post date:** [August 1, 2004, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oe-and-dbx-files/257850/1 "2004-08-01T17:05:08Z")

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Hey all.

I was looking through an old hard drive of mine, and I found that the .dbx files from my old copy of OE are still there. Is there any way to access / read them without screwing up my current OE settings? Keep in mind that I’m pretty tech-illiterate when it comes to these things.

Thanks

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**Author:** ![Number](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/number/32/242_2.png) [@Number](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Number)\
**Post date:** [August 1, 2004, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oe-and-dbx-files/257850/2 "2004-08-01T22:36:32Z")

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Yes. Open Outlook Express and go to **File|Import|Messages**. Select **Microsoft Outlook Express 6** , hit **Next** , and then select **Import mail from an OE6 Store Directory**. Then select the directory where you found the .dbx files. This should pull the messages into your current identity without affecting your email settings.