Outlook wont import outlook xp email

I have just installed win7 64bit
I previously ran winXP
I had set my outlook express email in folder to a seperate hard drive , just in case my C drive ever crashed , that way my emails were safe.

I did not know at the time that win7 did not come with an email. I installed Office 2007 and used Outlook, I instaled ok and is receiving emails.

But when I try to ipmort the emails from where outlook express stored then, Outlook fails. This is what I do.
In Outlook I go to Files/Import andExport
an import wizard export wizard opens and I am given several option but only three appear to apply to me.
1. Import from another program or file.
2. Import Internet Mail Account Settings.
3. Import Internet Mail and Addressess.
I select number 3 and Outlook Import tool box appears with two options
Eudora or Outlook Express. I choose OE./ImportMail and Import Address Book
I click next and have 3 options I select "Do not import duplicate items.
and click FINISH......Browse for Folder
I select the folder that housed my OE emails and click OK

All the three options Fail

Any Idears anyone ?

Welcome to the forums Tony . It's a bit of a pain to go from an old Outlook Express to Outlook 2007, as the import method you tried looks for an existing Outlook Express / Windows Live installation rather than the datafiles (using option #1).

Can you try downloading Windows Live Mail (http://download.live.com/wlmail) and then using the import option to get your old messages in to that, and then try the import from Outlook 2007 again and it should work. Essentially you are importing from file > WLMail > Outlook 2007.

Thanks for the tip Ian
I will try it tomorrow and let you know if it worked , Its getting a bit late here in OZ

Hi Ian

I'm a bit new to this procedure and need a little guidance.
I downloaded from http://download.live.com/wlmail as you sugested and installed it.

Thats when my problem started I could not find the installed program "Windows Live Mail" to open it. I think it may be the envelope icon in the top menu bar, this is the address on the bar http://mail.live.com/ when I select it Outlook opens? I was expecting a differant email program.

But when I use the import / export on that the same thing happens.

Could you explain a simple step by step instruction for me as I would greatly appreciate it.

I am realy desperate now to get my OE emails into Outlook. How could Microsoft have made such a huge B**ls Up .
TIA

Ian
None of the simlar links at page bottom were any help.

Hi Tony,

If you have installed Windows Live Mail, it should appear on your start menu under that name. If you type in "wlmail" in to the start menu search, does it appear on the list and can you open the application? The mail.live.com address is the webmail component and not something that can be used to help import messages.

Hi Ian

I found it wlmail, but I dont see an import or export function anywhere ?

Ah, I know what that could be - the menu bar could be hidden . Can you try pressing the "ALT" key on your keyboard, then go to File > Import > Messages.

Hi Ian
I am sending an image snap of wlmail.
There is no "File " on the menu bar before or after I press Alt ?

see image attached

Place a check beside "Show menu bar" or Press the "Alt key" to temporarily show the menu bar as Ian suggested.