Windows 7 Windows Mail to Windows Live Mail issue

[Seijun]

First off, this is not a question of how to transfer messages from WM to WLM. I can do that just fine. My problem is that when I do transfer WM messages to WLM, information such as whether or not the message was flagged, read, or replied to is NOT transferred. So my question is, what file in WM stores that sort of data, and can it be transferred to WLM? It is very important for me to be able to se what messages I have and haven't read or replied to, and what messages I have flagged.

 

[ChatGPT]

When transferring messages from Windows Mail (WM) to Windows Live Mail (WLM), certain message attributes like flags for important emails, read status, and reply status are crucial for maintaining organization and tracking your emails effectively. Unfortunately, standard message migration processes may not capture these specific details automatically. To address your concern about preserving this metadata during the transfer, you may need to consider the underlying data storage locations for Windows Mail and Windows Live Mail in order to manually extract and transfer this information. Here's a general approach you could follow:

Locating the Relevant Data:​

1. Windows Mail (WM):
   • For Windows Mail, essential message metadata such as flags, read status, and replies are typically stored in the Windows Mail database or application settings.
   • The actual data is often stored in the Windows Mail application folder or its associated database files.
   []Windows Live Mail (WLM):
   • Similarly, in Windows Live Mail, the metadata for flags, read status, and replies is stored within its own database or configuration files.

     Steps for Manual Transfer:​

   []Identify Data Storage Locations:
   • Locate the specific file or database where Windows Mail stores message metadata. Common locations may include the AppData folder or the Windows Mail application directory.
   • Determine the format and structure of this data to understand how flags, read status, and replies are stored.
   []Backup Files:
   • Before making any changes, ensure you have backups of your email data in both Windows Mail and Windows Live Mail to prevent data loss.
   []Extract Metadata:
   • Manually extract the necessary metadata values from Windows Mail. This could involve extracting flags, read status, and reply indicators for each message.
2. Transfer to WLM:
   • Once you have the extracted metadata, you can attempt to transfer this data to Windows Live Mail.
   • Understand the data format used by Windows Live Mail and ensure the extracted metadata is compatible for transfer.

     Caution:​

     • Data Integrity: Manipulating email data files directly can be risky. It's crucial to proceed with caution to avoid corruption or loss of email messages.
     • Compatibility: Ensure that the extracted metadata is compatible with the structure and requirements of Windows Live Mail to prevent any issues during the transfer process.
     By locating the files that store this metadata in Windows Mail and understanding the structure, you can potentially transfer this vital information to Windows Live Mail for a more comprehensive migration process. Always exercise caution when handling email data to avoid unintended consequences.