I've just upgraded my microsoft outlook, and it hasn't transferred my address book or emails - help!

[Aranea]

I was using the free cutdown version of MS office which came with my laptop, and have just installed the proper version of Office (really so I could use word97, I hadn't thought about the email handling).

It said it was going to upgrade from my existing accounts, so I clicked OK and put in all my email account settings. But now although my email is working fine, I can see no trace of my address book or my email folders. Can anybody help me? I would like to just set them all up for use within the new program.

So you were using Windows Mail (Vista) or Windows Live Mail (Windows 7)? Can you still get into that program as well as into Outlook? Can you see your contacts and emails in Windows Mail/Windows Live Mail?

Um, I think it was Outlook . But a previous or cutdown version. And I can't see how to get into that now at all.

Oh, no, it was Windows Mail and I can open it and see all my folders (phew). Can I transfer them across? Is it worth it, or should I just keep using Windows Mail? [luddite emoticon]

I'd keep on using Windows Mail. Outlook is a big resource hungry application that's overkill for doing your personal email.

To be honest, if you were happy with Windows Mail then I would just stick with that.

If you do want to go over to Outlook we can talk you through exporting contacts and emails, though.

Thank you both. I think I will just carry on using Windows Mail, then. When you say Outlook is resource hungry, will it affect my computer's operating speed even if I'm not using it? Should I uninstall it or if I just don't open it, will it not make a difference?

If you're not running it then the only thing it will take up is disk space. So unless you're pushed for that I wouldn't worry about uninstalling it.

Phew. Thank you!