# Recover Outlook Express files from crashed Mac? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 14, 2002, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recover-outlook-express-files-from-crashed-mac/109037 "2002-05-14T16:47:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![fighting\_ignorant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ac8455/32.png) [@fighting\_ignorant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fighting_ignorant)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2002, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recover-outlook-express-files-from-crashed-mac/109037/1 "2002-05-14T16:47:16Z")
Mac powerbook w/OS9 Crashed (booting resulted in sad mac) so re-installed OS. The old system folder is there as are many files, but I can’t recover my email! Any ideas? Ran Norton and TekTools to no avail. Thanks. Dan ---
**Author:** ![obidiah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ed655f/32.png) [@obidiah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obidiah)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2002, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recover-outlook-express-files-from-crashed-mac/109037/2 "2002-05-14T18:29:26Z")
Hi. Was the hard drive wiped out, as well? If not you might try loking at the M$KB (Microsoft Knowledgebase) to see where the email is kept and recover it. ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2002, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recover-outlook-express-files-from-crashed-mac/109037/3 "2002-05-14T19:16:04Z")
What server were you using for your email? Is it through your ISP? If that is the case, it may still reside on the server. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2002, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recover-outlook-express-files-from-crashed-mac/109037/4 "2002-05-14T20:32:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by obidiah \* > If not you might try loking at the M$KB (Microsoft Knowledgebase) to see where the email is kept and recover it. I believe Outlook Express keeps its information in a folder called “Identities”, located in the same place where the Outlook Express application is. On my machine, there’s a subfolder called “Main Identity” with a bunch of files for messages, addresses, etc. ---
**Author:** ![5\_time\_champ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/278dde/32.png) [@5\_time\_champ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5_time_champ)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2002, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recover-outlook-express-files-from-crashed-mac/109037/5 "2002-05-15T01:40:44Z")
**Fighting Ignorant** , **rjung** is on the right track. I really like Outlook Express, but it is sometimes difficult to figure out what Microsoft does with all your data. The ways of the Evil Empire are strange and curious. You need to find your old data file, MS calls it “Microsoft User Data.” Hopefully it is with your old System Folder and other files you said were evidently recovered. Microsoft has decreed that “Microsoft User Data” folder must reside in the Documents folder. If it does not, OE will make a new “Microsoft User Data” folder whenever it is launched. Which is probably why you can’t find your old data So place your pre-crash “Microsoft User Data” folder in the Documents folder. Open Microsoft User Data Open Main Identity You should see some files like Database Messages Address Book The date on these files should be recent, like the day your computer crashed. Double click on one of them, and that should magically launch Outlook Express with your pre-crash data. Assuming you have reinstalled OE Good Luck.