# Preserving AOL info after reformat

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preserving-aol-info-after-reformat/119274>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [July 16, 2002, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preserving-aol-info-after-reformat/119274 "2002-07-16T18:47:22Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![AV8R](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/898d66/32.png) [@AV8R](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AV8R)\
**Post date:** [July 16, 2002, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preserving-aol-info-after-reformat/119274/1 "2002-07-16T18:47:22Z")

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I would like to reformat my hard drive, reinstall Windows 98, and then reinstall all of my other applications.

I have backed up all of the documents and data that I want to save, but I’m not sure what to do about the American Online stuff.

I would like to preserve my Favorite Places, Address Book, Personal Filing Cabinet, etc.  
What directories and/or files should I back up, and what do I do with them?

Any AOL gurus out there who have done this?

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**Author:** ![sleestak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/919ad9/32.png) [@sleestak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sleestak)\
**Post date:** [July 16, 2002, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preserving-aol-info-after-reformat/119274/2 "2002-07-16T23:30:03Z")

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I don’t know which version of AOL you are using but in vs 6.0 and previous you had to backup the \aol\organize directory and the addrbk.ind. The organize directory holds your PFC and favorites. The ADDrbk had your address book. Also check the \aol\donwload directory to see if there is anything you want to keep. I think it changed with 7.0 but I don’t have it on my machine.

If you have a cd burner burn the files to a CD or put them on a tape-zip drive. The PFC can get to be like 15 megs or so for each user. If you can’t do that use WinZip to zip the files to multiple disks. It is a pain and takes some time but it works.

I used to work at AOL so I know that you have to keep the organize directory and the Addrbk on vs 5 or earlier. I have 6 on my machine and it looks the same. I don’t have 7.0 yet so I cannot say anything about that version.

No matter which version you are using, when you reinstall expect to get a lot of TODs (Tools on Demand) automattically downloaded to your computer.

Slee

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**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\
**Post date:** [July 16, 2002, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preserving-aol-info-after-reformat/119274/3 "2002-07-16T23:36:51Z")

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Be sure to save the main.idx file out of the \idb folder. This saves all the information that associates the software with your account.

If you’re using AOL 6.0 or above, your address book is stored on our servers, and you won’t have to worry about them.

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**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\
**Post date:** [July 16, 2002, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preserving-aol-info-after-reformat/119274/4 "2002-07-16T23:37:40Z")

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If you burn the files to a CDR, you’ll have to remember to change their attributes back from “read-only” when you copy it back to your hard drive.