SillyDog701

[Jonathan]

Hi all!

To make a long story short, I've got e-mail files from NS 3.0, 4.79, and 6.0 all sitting on my new WinXP box. NS6 is installed and (mostly) working. If I have to, I can reinstall 4.79 and upgrade back to NS6, but I'd prefer not.

Is there any way to move my accumulated e-mail all up to the NS6.0 level? After getting everything in one spot, then I'll think about something else as an e-mail client, but for now, NS6 is it. I can see the directory from inside NS6, but not the files or contents. Sigh.

Please feel free to direct me to a FAQ file somewhere (I haven't had much luck finding anything).

Thanks!

UserAgent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:0.9.4.1) Gecko/20020508 Netscape6/6.2.3

[Antony]

Jonathan,

Welcome to SillyDog701.

So you have Netscape 3, 4.79 and Netscape 6.2.3 installed? And you want to combine your all your emails into one mail profile?

A place you can get started is http://home.att.net/~cherokee67/index6.html

OR please feel free to ask your questions (with a bit more detail) here.

UserAgent: Mozilla/5.0 (Macintosh; U; PPC Mac OS X; en) AppleWebKit/412.6 (KHTML, like Gecko) Safari/412.2

[Jonathan]

I actually have NS6.2.? installed and running. Well mostly - I'm not happy with the USENET setup but I've got more important fish to fry.

I have all the old files from NS 4.79 and NS3 copied into my ns\user\ directory. I do not have 4.79 or 3 installed though I might resort to that if I have to. The folders appear in NS6, but no contained e-mail items. During the course of fiddling around this weekend, I also managed to accidentally delete some of my NS6 folders. (I also have trouble with some sharp objects too )

So, that's where I'm at. I'll take a look through the site you provided and come back with some, I hope, better questions.

Thanks!
Jonathan

UserAgent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:0.9.4.1) Gecko/20020508 Netscape6/6.2.3

[Jonathan]

More information. I am running 6.2.3. I had to restore from backup the stuff I accidentally deleted (not a biggie, thank goodness for tape drives!). Once the restored files were in the proper folders, NS6 did something automagically which looked like it read through each file and bingo, all my lost mail was back. So, one issue resolved.

I have an OldMail folder which has my 4.7.9 mail in it. There are subfolders under it and many files without an extension. I recognize the files - they are named as like the netscape local folder names I was using to segregate my mail. There are matching <file>.snm and <file>.msf files. The .msf files are much newer than the .snm files, but weren't created on any date I recognise as a date I was trying to move mail around. I tried renaming .snm and .msf to something else in order to get NS6 to read the no-extension files, to no avail. I can't get anything to appear in the folders from inside NS6. I also tried renaming Oldmail to oldmail.sbd - no soap.

I also have a 98Mail folder with subfolders which has my 3.0 mail stashed in it. There are no snm files, the .msf files in this folder are new, and look like NS6 created them as I was trying to move in old mail. The folder structure appears accurate, but again, I can't see any of the mail from inside NS6.
Where can I look next? Thanks!
Jonathan

UserAgent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:0.9.4.1) Gecko/20020508 Netscape6/6.2.3

[Fulvio]

I have not had a NS6.x installed in ages, it seems, and it was also installed in a Win98, and not in a Winxp, which you seem to have. I am saying all this because the accessibility of folders in WinXP is different, and the folders are hidden, by default, for NS7 profiles, at least.
But, not knowing your set up it is a bit hard to point you in the right direction. So, before going into long explanations, which may not apply, I would like to know if you can find the NS6 user's profile. I remember that it was in a path of this type: Application Data|User50,etc. In WinXP these are hidden files: To see hidden files:
1. On the Tools menu in Windows Explorer, click Folder Options
2. Click the View tab
3. Under Hidden files and folders, click Show hidden files and folders
4. Disable "Hide File Extensions for Known Files."
5. Click OK.
The rest which you say for the older mail makes some sense, location wise, if the program is installed. Not sure how they got there, in WinXP, without installing the programs, unless you put them there.
If you had said that you had files with no extention, and files with .snm extention, I would understand. However, I don't understand the .msf files, if located in the same ns|user directory.
Since you don't have the original programs, I would say that you will have to work manually. But you will have to rename the Inboxes and Sents to avoid overwriting. You can make a copy of each file, and rename it Inbox4.79, or Inbox3.0, as applicable, then copy the renamed file, and paste them in the mail folder of NS6.2.1. The .snm files are header files of the old format, and .msf are header files of the new format, but you don't want to mess with them. If you have a file with no extention, and get it in the right place, and, with Netscape closed, you will get folders in 6.x and they will contain your old mail. But we are working against some bad odds, trying to get a program which is no longer used to operate in WinXP, if you don't know the location of the profile. So, look around, with the info. I gave you, and let's try to proceed.
I just hope that things did not get hopelessly messed up.
Then going to a newer Netscape may be opening another can of worms.
Good luck.

UserAgent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:1.8b3) Gecko/20050712 Firefox/1.0+

[DJGM]

Jonathan,

While your main enquiry is regarding the e-mail components of the versions of Netscape you're
using, I would strongly recommend upgrading to a newer internet browser. Netscape 6.2.3
contains a number of security vulnerabilities that have since been patched and fixed in
subsequent releases of Netscape and other Mozilla based browsers.

The best option is Firefox, a standalone browser (with no e-mail client) which I'm sure you've
heard of. But if you're more comfortable with Netscape, then Netscape 8.x.x is worth a look.
Netscape 8.x.x is built upon Firefox, and is also a standalone browser.

UserAgent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.0; en-GB; rv:1.7.10) Gecko/20050717 Firefox/1.0.6

[beanboy89]

In addition to DJGM's recommendations, I'd recomend Mozilla Application Suite. Mozilla App-suite includes a web browser and email client, very similar to Netscape 6's. In fact, Netscape 6 is based on an old version of Mozilla App-suite. Additionally, if you do decide to use Mozilla App-suite, all of your Netscape 6 settings will be carried over to the app-suite, including email and bookmarks.

Edit: Fixed one minor grammatical error.

UserAgent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:1.7.11) Gecko/20050728

[Jonathan]

I have not had a NS6.x installed in ages, it seems, and it was also installed in a Win98, and not in a Winxp, which you seem to have. I am saying all this because the accessibility of folders in WinXP is different, and the folders are hidden, by default, for NS7 profiles, at least.
But, not knowing your set up it is a bit hard to point you in the right direction. So, before going into long explanations, which may not apply, I would like to know if you can find the NS6 user's profile. I remember that it was in a path of this type: Application Data|User50,etc.

I actually set the profile to point back to my Program files | Netscape | Users | User1 profile.

The rest which you say for the older mail makes some sense, location wise, if the program is installed. Not sure how they got there, in WinXP, without installing the programs, unless you put them there.
If you had said that you had files with no extention, and files with .snm extention, I would understand. However, I don't understand the .msf files, if located in the same ns|user directory.
Since you don't have the original programs, I would say that you will have to work manually. But you will have to rename the Inboxes and Sents to avoid overwriting. You can make a copy of each file, and rename it Inbox4.79, or Inbox3.0, as applicable, then copy the renamed file, and paste them in the mail folder of NS6.2.1.

Pate them into netscape itself (on the GUI? Where??) or just drop them into the Users | User1 | <mumble> | Mail folder?

The .snm files are header files of the old format, and .msf are header files of the new format, but you don't want to mess with them. If you have a file with no extention, and get it in the right place, and, with Netscape closed, you will get folders in 6.x and they will contain your old mail. But we are working against some bad odds, trying to get a program which is no longer used to operate in WinXP, if you don't know the location of the profile. So, look around, with the info. I gave you, and let's try to proceed.
I just hope that things did not get hopelessly messed up.
Then going to a newer Netscape may be opening another can of worms.
Good luck.

I'll see If I can get a better layout of what's where and post it.

UserAgent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:0.9.4.1) Gecko/20020508 Netscape6/6.2.3

[Jonathan]

Jonathan,

While your main enquiry is regarding the e-mail components of the versions of Netscape you're using, I would strongly recommend upgrading to a newer internet browser.

I do have Firefox installed and it's working fine. I heven't done much time with it yet, since I've been working on this 8-(*&^%$#@!) e-mail thing in between other high-priority projects. Once I've gotten all the mail at one level of NS, then I'll look seriously into upgrading to something else.

UserAgent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:0.9.4.1) Gecko/20020508 Netscape6/6.2.3

[Fulvio]

I actually set the profile to point back to my Program files | Netscape | Users | User1 profile.

That is path for the earlier Netscapes. It should work, if you created a profile from the 6.2.3 Profile Manager.

drop them into the Users | User1 | <mumble> | Mail folder?

if you get it to work. Mail does not belong in the GUI. I don't think it ever did.
Anyway, good luck.

UserAgent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:1.7.11) Gecko/20050728

[Jonathan]

OK, some more detail. I have the folder structure below set up under my Local Folders portion of netscape 6.2.3. I can see each folder listed (actually, there's more folders than this, so I removed a bunch of similar items) in Netscape. The folder structure under Windows Explorer matches what I see in Netscape's window for folders, there just aren't any mail items *in* the folders...

Based on the discussion to date, this is a vast hodgepodge of conflicting items (in terms of netscape function), so any ideas on what I can safely weed out are desirable.

I do have a normal profile set up with a rule which transfers all incoming mail from my profile's inbox to Local Folder\Mail\Inbox and it's working just fine. New mail isn't the issue, it's seeing all the old mail which I'm trying to accomplish.

Jonathan

---------------------------------------------------------------
[tt]
C:\PROGRAM FILES\NETSCAPE\USERS\USER1
| (null)
| abook.nab
| ACCTSET.DAT
| bookmark.htm
| cert7.db
| CONFIG.INI
| cookies.txt
| custom.dic
| FIA.bat
| FIAprefs.js
| key3.db
| launch.aim
| liprefs.js
| netcenter.na2
| netscape(1).hst
| netscape.hst
| pab.na2
| prefs(1).js
| prefs.js
| proxy.cfg
| secmod.db
| Shortcut to FIA.bat.lnk
| Shortcut to UnFIA.bat.lnk
| signed0.db
| signedapplet0.db
| SignedAppletDB0
| summary2(1).dat
| summary2.dat
| UnFIA.bat
| UnSpamprefs.js
| verisign.na2
|
+---archive
+---Cache
|
+---Mail
| | Drafts
| | Drafts.msf
| | Drafts.snm
| | Inbox
| | Inbox.msf
| | Inbox.snm
| | ISP
| | ISP.msf
| | ISP.snm
| | Jonathan
| | Jonathan.msf
| | Jonathan.snm
| | mailfilt.log
| | Pam
| | Pam.msf
| | Pam.snm
| | popstate.dat
| | rules.dat
| | Sent
| | Sent.msf
| | Sent.snm
| | spam
| | spam.msf
| | spam.snm
| | Templates
| | Templates.snm
| | Trash
| | Trash.msf
| | Trash.snm
| | Unsent Messages
| | Unsent Messages.msf
| | Unsent Messages.snm
| | z98Mail.msf
| | z98Mail.snm
| | z98UMail.msf
| | z98UMail.snm
| | zN31Mail.msf
| | zN31Mail.snm
| |
| +---Inbox.sbd
| +---Jonathan.sbd
| | | Book
| | | Book.snm
| | | MBA
| | | MBA.snm
| | | Organizations
| | | Organizations.msf
| | | Organizations.snm
| | | People
| | | People.snm
| | |
| | +---Organizations.sbd
| | | | slnet
| | | | slnet.msf
| | | | slnet.snm
| | | |
| | | \---slnet.sbd
| | | | Contacts
| | | | Contacts.snm
| | |
| | \---People.sbd
| | | K Mom and Dad
| | | K Mom and Dad.msf
| | | K Mom and Dad.snm
| | |
| | \---K Mom and Dad.sbd
| |
| +---OldMail
| | | Drafts
| | | Drafts.snm
| | | Inbox
| | | Inbox.snm
| | | Jonathan
| | | Jonathan.snm
| | | Unsent Messages
| | | Unsent Messages.snm
| | |
| | \---Jonathan.sbd
| | slnet
| | slnet.snm
| |
| +---Trash.sbd
| | OldMail.msf1
| | OldMail.msf1.msf
| | Templates
| | Templates.msf
| |
| +---z98Mail
| | AAHOLD
| | AAHOLD.snm
| | INBOX
| | INBOX.snm
| | K
| | K.snm
| |
| +---z98UMail
| | k
| | k.snm
| | popstate.dat
| |
| \---zN31Mail
| INBOX
| INBOX.snm
| K
| K.snm
|
\---News[/tt]

UserAgent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:1.7.10) Gecko/20050716 Firefox/1.0.6

[Fulvio]

Jonathan,
all I can do is to interpret what I see, without knowing what is there. Firstly, you seem to have a User folder, in the program file. It is ok, if you created a profile and put it there. I remember very little of NS6.2.3, but my recollection was that in Win98 the Profile folder was in this path: Program Files|Windows|Application Data|Mozilla|User50 or Profiles| profilename. The profile in WinXP should be hidden.
Regardless, I am seeing a mishmash of pre- and post-4.x files, in the Mail folders. Only the files with no extention, such as Inbox, etc, contains the Mail. the .snm files are header files for pre-6.x versions, and the .msf file are the header files for 6.x and later.
I did not go back to find how you got all of them in place, but it is impossible to have one file answering to two different formats of headers.
I must assume that you did things ok, in creating a profile in an unexpected place, but, at the very least, you should delete each file with the extentions, so that the mail-containing file can make up its mind.
But, looking at the rest of the files, it appears that you copied some 6.x files, and pasted them in a older version Profile. Just a quick look tells that it is the case, since you have pre-6.x a bookmarks file, two sets of prefs.js, pre-6.x address book (pab.na2).
I might be mistaken, since my recollection of NS6.2.3 has been poor, but I will download one copy, and see what happens, when I install it.
But, you can look up for the presumed location in WinXP and here, too

UserAgent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:1.7.10) Gecko/20050716 Thundercheetah/1.0.6

[Jonathan]

OK, that's interesting. So in D&S\Jonathan\App Data\Moz\Prof\default\8xilcc6l.slt I have a nice collection of folders:
[tt]
+---Cache
+---chrome
+---Mail
| +---imported.mail
| +---Local Folders
| +---POP.ISP.net
| +---pop3.ISP-1.net
| +---pop3.ISP.net
| \---smtp.ISP.net
\---News
\---news.ISP.net
[/tt]
+---Mail
| +---imported.mail - empty of anything useful
| +---Local Folders - empty of anything useful
| +---POP.ISP.net - empty of anything useful, looks like it might be a leftover from a test profile I've since deleted.
| +---pop3.ISP-1.net - empty of anything useful
| +---pop3.ISP.net - looks sort of like my current inbox
| \---smtp.ISP.net

The first four look like leftovers from something or are unused.

The one which looks like my inbox is confusing, because the profile I use to download has a rule in it to move everything to the Local folders and delete it from the in box, and does appear to be working. Work the Local Folders Inbox looks like it is the most up to date.

smtp.isp.net I expect would hold outgoing mail (there isn't any) or remnants thereof, but it looks like a small version of my profile. It has Drafts, Sent, and Inbox.<blank> files as if it were all it's own connection to my ISP. But the SMTP connection is outbound only from my end...

UserAgent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:1.7.8) Gecko/20050511 Firefox/1.0.4

[Fulvio]

Again, I will try to interpret what you describe. First what does not make sense:It seems to me that smtp.isp.net and pop.isp.net were attempts to set up accounts. You have two choices, POP or IMAP. I have not tried it, but, presumably, if you enter smtp.isp.net, and have POP checked, you may get an abortive folder, with all the required file, but Netscape would not proceed. And, if isp.net requires pop3, pop would be out.
So, we are down to two folders. The po.isp.net should be the first one, and -1 a second attempt. I have never heard that -1,-2,etc. occur spontaneously, and they could represent either two usernames, or two attempts to create an account, for whatever reason. And one "accounts" would not have any mail which is in the other. As for mail in the other folder, i.e. user1, I would first delete all header files, with NS closed, hen open Netscape, and see if any showed. I would just select one of the many, and delete the header files.
If they do appear, then you must have done something to make them appear there.
Remember, that I am just trying to interpret what you are listing, but I cannot make much sense ot it.
Assuming that 6.2.3 behaves like 7.2, you should have a server setting item, which would tell where you directed to , so does the line start with D & S or Program files, but I think that I will have to get a 6.2.3 going, and see what you have. While you wait, you should find the size in Kb of any of the files, especially those which are listed in the previous post. You can copy any file which has no extention, and paste it in another folder.
The folder will appear when you open Netscape again.

UserAgent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:1.7.10) Gecko/20050716 Poweradder/1.0.6

[Fulvio]

I had a great time, trying to work with 6.2.3. I had it, at least twice on this computer.
The beauty was with an old profile, which showed only the toolbars, and nothing in between. I tried the default profile, unused for any other programs, and it works fine. If we can get anything out of this, fine, if not this arthritic thing must go.
I will keep it until tomorrow. I will see if I can import the NS4.x mail.

UserAgent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:1.9a1) Gecko/20050813 SeaMonkey/1.0a