# Recovering An E-mail Account Outlook Express

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recovering-an-e-mail-account-outlook-express/271970>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [October 30, 2004, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recovering-an-e-mail-account-outlook-express/271970 "2004-10-30T03:25:56Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Ashkicker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4bbf92/32.png) [@Ashkicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashkicker)\
**Post date:** [October 30, 2004, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recovering-an-e-mail-account-outlook-express/271970/1 "2004-10-30T03:25:56Z")

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I am so ready to pull my hair out. Our computer went down a few weeks ago. We used to have Windows ME, now we changed to Windows XP. Hubby’s e-mail account was Outlook Express. I have a Hotmail account. We haven’t been able to recover his account and was wondering if anyone could point me in the right direction. It wouldn’t be a big deal but we have a few pictures in there that we would like to get. Right now I am hating life. Anyone with any ideas on such little information would be appreciated. I can try and give you more info. Thanks.

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**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\
**Post date:** [October 30, 2004, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recovering-an-e-mail-account-outlook-express/271970/2 "2004-10-30T03:36:39Z")

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When you changed to Windows XP, did you use the upgrade version, or did you format the hard drive and do the complete install?

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**Author:** ![Ashkicker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4bbf92/32.png) [@Ashkicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashkicker)\
**Post date:** [October 30, 2004, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recovering-an-e-mail-account-outlook-express/271970/3 "2004-10-30T03:40:48Z")

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We had took the computer in to a place and had it done. Our hard drive was shot so my guess is hard drive and do the complete install. I’m also guessing that it can’t be recovered. It’s just so frustrating. :mad:

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**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\
**Post date:** [October 30, 2004, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recovering-an-e-mail-account-outlook-express/271970/4 "2004-10-30T03:50:25Z")

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When you look in the Start Menu under **All Programs** , are all your other programs you had before gone?

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**Author:** ![Ashkicker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4bbf92/32.png) [@Ashkicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashkicker)\
**Post date:** [October 30, 2004, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recovering-an-e-mail-account-outlook-express/271970/5 "2004-10-30T03:55:47Z")

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No, all the programs that I had before seem to be there they are in a different layout. It is so foreign to me because I am not used to it. Thank you for helping, but this seems totally worthless to even be trying. I am not a computer wiz. Actually I’m pretty lucky to have even found my way online. 😃