Delete all the contents of this folder, but not the folder, which will now be empty.

Navigate to the location you just copied by pasting (Ctrl+V) it into the text box above the start button.

Use your mouse to select the entire content shown in that window, Ctrl+C to copy it.

Click the Advanced tab, now Maintenance, Store folder.

In WLM, click the tiny arrow icon on the nearly top left.

Start your newly installed WLM and ignore all messages.

If you do not use groups, download WLM 2012 from the Microsoft site The main advantage of the 2011 version is that Groups do not work in 2012. this is the 2011 version which works better than the 2012 one. Once Windows is re-built and all is working, download WLM 2011 from: The re-builder can copy that Mail folder to the right place in your “new” system and all of your mail, contacts, calendars and ever the way you have WLM set up, will be in effect in the new computer. The reason to do this is that if ever your system needs to be re-built, The reason you should do this is that in the future you will be following the back up procedure above, BUT also you will be backing up that Mail folder to your external hard drive as well.

When you next open WLM, it will take longer because that is when it actually moves your mail folder.

Type your name followed by the word mail, click OK, Click OK.

Now navigate to the C: line, click once on it.

A navigation list of your hard drive pops up.

Click on Options then Mail, the Advanced tab, Maintenance, Store folder.

With WLM open, click on the little blue rectangle with the arrow in it on the top left of the WLM window.

Now, make backing up that folder a regular part of your regular backup procedure. Once you do it, you will never have to do it again. Not to move it to a more accessible location on your hard drive. Windows Live Mail (WLM) sets itself up in a very inconvenient place.

On the next screen choose which data elements to backup.

Click the browse button and navigate to your external hard drive folder for this backup and create yet another folder named address book yourname dd-mm-yy.

On the top towards the right, find the Export icon.

Open the address book (Contact list) portion of Windows Live Mail.

Create another folder inside your backup drive folder for this entire backup and name it email yourname dd-mm-yy

Open the mail portion, click on the down pointing arrow in the top left corner, choose Export Email, then choose Email Messages, then choose Windows Live Mail.

Backup your Windows Live Mail mail and contacts

Backup windows live mail