Restore Vista Windows Mail data from a backup

How about slaving the hard drive . Have you formatted the drive?
it's still has Vista onboard and all the stuff? regardless if it is a non boot slaving it it does not require windows
No need to go to the backup if everything is still there
I have not used this method with a Vista machine only XP to XP but it should work the same
Find another Vista or Xp desktop
is this a laptop or desktop Laptops differ

anyway using a dekstop
power off both systems remove the hard drive, do you need help there?
Or get a professional to do it
On the other desktop take off the side case and unplug  the ide and power from the master DVD rom, I use a pointy nosed pliers
you can use this dvd rom's ide and power connector to slave the hard drive to

Plug into the hard drive and sit it ontop of the tower, hopefully you have a nice case that's easy to access
power in again
wait till windows finds new hardware, you should now see the drive inplace of the DVD rom
By default, this storage folder is placed on the C drive, under your username in the AppData\Local\Microsoft\ Windows Mail directory.

If you're on an XP system using Outlook express
http://www.experts-exchange.com/Software/Internet_Email/Email/Email_Clients/Outlook_Express/Q_24349005.html

Import messages into Windows Mail from Outlook Express
http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-AU/help/53e5df86-5ffb-43cf-a0c8-164e3fe7994f1033.mspx

if your on a Vista machine using another windows mail
importing contacts
http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/help/65fbffa9-0ba5-45d8-a60f-ded4e86f01de1033.mspx#EY
To make Windows Mail use an existing archive,
http://www.ocmodshop.com/ocmodshop.aspx?a=848

Let me know if you need more help

Merete,

thanks for your reply BUT it is not helpful.

First regarding your remark about a "get a professional to do this" I AM A PROFESSIONAL, I have owned a PC repair business for the last 4 1/2 years. I concede that I should have mentioned that somewhere in the Quesiton.

#1 IT IS A LAPTOP plus the other working PC I have available IS ALSO a laptop. So this is not so easy as with two desktops.

# 2 I thought I made it clear that the questions was the full path names to relevant folders and a break down of what is in those folders. AND THAT I ALREADY KNEW HOW TO HAVE THE DATA AVAILABLE AFTER I REINSTALL VISTA when I said in my Question "I want to backup all Vista Windows Mail data (i.e mail and contacts and calendar etc) to an external HD, resintall Vista, and bring in the email and contacts  and calendar from my backup."

IN detail: I remove the laptop HD (sata), connect it to a Sata to usb connector, connect that to the 2nd working laptop and ALSO connect an external USB HD to the 2nd working laptop AND COPY ALL THE RELEVANT WINDOWS MAIL DATA from the laptop HD (sata to usb connector) to the external HD. Then after I reinstall Vista on the first (non-booting) laptop I attach the external HD and copy all the Windows Mail stuff to the desktop (if I am going to Import later) or directly to the Windows Mail folders .

THE QUESTION REMAINS: What is the structure of what is in the C:\Users\username\AppData\Local|\Microsoft\Windows Mail folder
AND
where are the Windows Mail contacts (i.e again a full path name to the file and the structure there too).

If I am going to Import where exactly do I Import from, the above path name OR a subfolder of that path name and ditto for the Contacts.

Regards,
  Mike

Zivitam,

NONE of the Vista Repair functions at your llink (Startup Repair, System Repair, and Recovery) are available; one gets a BSOD Stop error when one clicks Repair This Computer at the F8 startup screen.

The Windiws PE requires (based on a quick scan of your link) WRITING A SCRIPT. It is easier to follow the directions in the paragraph starting with "In Detail" in MY post immediately above yours ALTHOUGH that is not easy either BUT it is VERY STRAIGHTFORWARD (if you have the SATA to USB converter which costs about $20 at Microcenter and on the internet).

Please change
Backup the folder %userprofile%\Contacs
TO
Backup the folder %userprofile%\Contacts
in your post (Minor Spelling error).

Zivitam, you did NOT answer my question about what is inside %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Mail\, noting that my Question ALREADY provided the same pathname you have provided, right ?. You also did not answer the other MAIN question I had "DO I IMPORT SOMETHING OR DO THE SWITCHEROO" where my terms are defined earlier in my Question.

I have awared you 100 points for the (mis-spelled) pathname to the Contacts folder.

Mike