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How do I export my America Online (AOL) Address Book and Email?

How can I convert my AOL files, favorites and Address Book info from the America Online (AOL) program to MSN? I am switching from AOL dialup to a new high-speed connection. Please let me know.


Dave's Answer:

While America Online (AOL) is quite popular with a large group of people, it's also a common place for people to learn about the Internet then "graduate" to a more traditional Internet Service Provider.

The problem is, AOL has lots of proprietary data formats and their entire AOL software suite seems custom designed to make it hard for you to switch to another service, as you're now realizing. There's no convenient "Export Address Book" function, for example. Search for that phrase in the AOL 9.0 help system and you'll get clear details on how to export from other programs and import those addresses into AOL Mail, but not a word about how to export from AOL Mail.

All hope isn't lost, however. There are a number of different solutions that might be able to help you, ranging from the Java-based (and apparently obsolete) AOLeave suite to the inexpensive ($25) commercial application ePreserver.

With the kind permission of the developers, I was sent a copy of ePreserver, which let me test out this simple application, and though you might only use it once in your life, it's incredibly fast and easy, probably well worth avoiding the hours of fiddling with free software (at least in my opinion).

Here's how easy it was for me to export my address book, favorites and folders (file drawers) from my AOL account into a generic data format suitable for importing into Outlook Express (a format that MSN Mail can import, as I recall)...

The first step is to pick which of your screen names you want to copy all the data from:

ePreserver

A word of warning here: if you use more than one screen name, ePreserver appends the subsequent data to the previous, which might well not be what you're expecting. If that's not what you want to have occur, move the files elsewhere before you do the second or third run.

Once you've picked the account, you can choose which data you want to export into an Outlook or Outlook Express compatible format:

ePreserver AOL export options

Next, choose between the two possible output formats:

ePreserver Output Format

If you're not sure, choose Outlook Express as it's the more commonly used of the two email programs and can be imported into a wide variety of Windows and Web based email programs (even Google's Gmail, actually).

The last step might make you a bit anxious if you're not expecting it: it'll ask for your AOL password. Once you've entered your correct account credentials, the program will then actually log in to your AOL account and grab all of the information and data you specified. In my experience, this took just a few seconds, and the end result was a status report featuring the cheery Successfully imported messages:

ePreserver AOL data export success

That's all there is to it with this program. Again, please realize that there are doubtless other free or lower cost applications out there, I just chose the one that appeared the most professional, since I'd rather have it work right the first time. If $25 is too expensive for your budget, then searching for "aol address book export tool" will doubtless lead you to some other choices, but Connected Software does tell me that ePreserver is the only third-party app that can read the encrypted AOL Address Book (nice of them, eh?).

I hope this helps you out!









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Comments

I really am having a hard tiem in what should be an easy access to my aol email since it is supposed to be available to me even though I am no longer a member. No matter what name I sign on with I cannot not get through to my e,mail Perhaps you could transfer it to grje46@verizon.net or at least email the reason I cannnot get it. I would very much like to view my mail.

Posted by: Jean at November 5, 2005 5:42 PM

Question about ePreserver.
After exporting AOL files into ePreserer, all those AOL files are simply copied onto ePreserver or completely removed from the AOL cashe?

How about importing procedure for AOL files in ePreserver?

Thanks Dave.

Eric Yamada

Posted by: Eric Yamada at November 17, 2005 10:01 AM

Eric,

ePreserver doesn't make any changes to the original AOL files. This is discussed in the "Common Questions" for ePreserver at http://www.connectedsw.com/Questions/57266

ePreserver can only copy from AOL to something else, it cannot copy anything into AOL.

Posted by: Connected Software at November 17, 2005 10:51 PM

Okay! Now how 'bout the reverse? How do export files from msn then import them into aol email folders?
itching to know,,,thnx!
Debbie

Posted by: debbie at November 28, 2005 7:33 AM

What was the answer to importing into AOL.
I was an earthlink customer and want to send my
addresses to AOL

Posted by: Peggy at December 7, 2005 3:14 AM

i was promised that my address book and emails would be transfered from aol to earthlink and i took you at your word

Posted by: gerald h hetrick at December 23, 2005 5:27 PM

Why am I unable to send. receive. forward e-mail from friends and family who have an AOL address? I would appreciate yor assistance.
Thank you,
Adele Merrill

Posted by: Robert Merrill at January 3, 2006 10:50 AM

Rob, what actually happens when you try to email someone on AOL? A lot of AOL users now have an anti-spam system where they automatically reject all mail from people not in their address book: could that be the problem?

Posted by: Dave Taylor at January 3, 2006 11:23 AM

AOL is the biggest bunch of spam and crapware
available to your PC. Install anything that has
anything to do with AOL and it's splattered all
over your pc and when you open you browswer you
also have a new tool bar thanks to Aol.....
JUNK

Posted by: Tom at January 31, 2006 5:30 PM

Dave,
I am reading your information about exporting aol address book..I am a MAc OS X user though, and suspect that I need to work differently. Any tips?

Posted by: Andrea at March 14, 2006 1:21 PM

Bad news, Andrea. I don't know of any way you can export the data from the Mac version of AOL.

Posted by: Dave Taylor at March 14, 2006 10:52 PM

I'm helping a friend move from Mac OS9 AOL 5 to Mac OS/X 10.4, AOL for Mac OS/X. New machine, no version 9 on it.

It turns out Apple had a tool to extract the address book to a text file - see
http://www.info.apple.com/support/oldersoftwarelist.html
and look for "AOL3_0Addressextractor.sea.bin" This worked fine on AOL 5's address book.

Hat tip to EMailman, http://www.emailman.com/aol/

Posted by: JohnS at March 25, 2006 2:10 AM

Free software from AOL that converts AOL address book to most PDA's and also to Outlook

http://aolsync.aol.com/

Posted by: Jeff at April 1, 2006 7:07 AM

Hi:

I discovered a better (and free)way. Use the AOL Intellisync program (free download on AOL) to sync to Outlook or Outlook Express. Then you can easily import that file to another email service. I did it with Yahoo. If you search sync (or Intellisync)on AOL you get complete directions.

Posted by: Nancy at April 1, 2006 4:18 PM

Please help! I am not sure of my aol e-mail address. I think it's something like tutante1. Because they don't have an opening for your choice of e-mail addresses I can't remember which it was. also can you advise me of a carrier that is friendly and gives tech support. Thank you

Posted by: edwina howard at April 2, 2006 9:09 AM

ePreserver is ace! From viewing your page to thinking about buying and then buying ePreserver, downloading the program and, finally, transferring my aol info took less than half an hour! I've finally got the courage to leave aol and save a lot of money. Thanks

Posted by: Les Leckie at June 25, 2006 8:08 AM

Once I use epreserver to transfer my emails from AOL to Outlook, how do I then get them transferred to my gmail account? And will the "From" fields still look like they originally did? Thanks!

Posted by: Richie at June 28, 2006 12:45 PM

i don't even have an address book once i got on rr and transfered the address book to outlook express -- i went back to aol and don't have an address book how do i get it back?

Posted by: don mikulski at September 14, 2006 8:38 PM

As of May 31, 2006, AOL IntelliSync will no longer export your AOL address book. AOL sends you to the Plaxo website, but so far it only imports other address books (Outlook, etc.), and does not import AOL's.

Posted by: Joan at October 3, 2006 12:56 PM

You can find AOL Downloads since beginning of the year :

http://downloads.channel.aol.com/windowsproducts
http://downloads.channel.aol.com/macproducts

I'm a Mac OS X user and I tried AOL Service Assistant. It converts aol archive to Apple Mail. It works good.

I try to convert my old AOL Windows version PFC to MBOX format. I tried AOL-Dump, AOL Leave,... frewares. But there several problems with date format and characters, because I'm French. I don't find any solution with Windows version. I'll give informations if I succeed. See you soon.

Posted by: Yves at October 18, 2006 7:40 AM

How can I copy or transfer my info in my old AOL screen name to a new screen name in same account to a new aAOL screen name?
Both old and new are "main" accounts

Posted by: Carla at December 28, 2006 12:01 PM

Hi Dave. I am a grandmother, and am not sure what URL means and 9+12. One is my Aol and the other is my Comcast and the latter is the code for my aol address. What else do I need to do?

Posted by: Marybeth T. Dow at February 3, 2007 1:20 PM

I SIGNED UP FOR AOL.COM AIM MAIL AND IT DIDN'T BRING MY MAIL FROM AOL OVER TO THIS NEW ONE AND I HAVE TO HAVE ALL MY NEW, OLD AND SENT MAIL. HOW DO I GET IT???

Posted by: Debbie at February 15, 2007 10:14 AM

I want to transfer my AOL filing cabinet from my old PC (windows XP)to my new PC (Vista) where I already installed AOL. What should I do?

Posted by: Christine at March 8, 2007 11:29 PM

I just removed myself from paid email (earthlink) to yahoo. I need to transfer my address book to yahoo. how am I able to do this for free?
thank you in advance for any help in this matter!

Posted by: alicia at March 11, 2007 12:20 AM

I cannot get on my aol mail because it says my screen name is expired and I was just on my aim mail early this morning. I would like to transfer all existing aim mail to another email, help!

Posted by: Cindi at March 15, 2007 5:54 PM

Hi - I have an aol email address, and have a new one that I am going to be using. I've had my email account for quite some time, and it would be so much work to input all of the data on my new AOL email address. Is there a function that will allow me to transfer from one AOL account to another that anyone is aware of? Please let me know!!! Thanks so much!!!

Tressa

Posted by: Tressa at March 23, 2007 10:46 AM

I have the AOL icon on my PALM TREO desktop, and I can get to my email from there just fine, but my AOL address book is not there ...how can I get it there? my contacts are in the "contact list" on the TREO, but I can not get to them when in "write mail" in the AOL area....how do I get the AOL address book into the AOL icon area????

Posted by: s at March 23, 2007 2:20 PM

I lost some of my aol email when I had to downloaded AOL 9. I accidentally downloaded it twice. I didn't realize it. I apparently downloaded over emails. Is there software that can retrieve deleted emails?

Posted by: Jackie at March 29, 2007 11:34 AM

I want to transfer my AOL filing cabinet from my old PC (windows XP)to my new PC (Vista) where I already installed AOL. What should I do?

Thanks,
Eric

Posted by: Eric at April 5, 2007 2:01 AM

Found this Q&A. Went to the Plaxo.com site. Took awhile to get through the download, install and setup. Once I did that, getting my AOL address book into my Plaxo contacts and then synchronizing the Outlook address book to Plaxo was pretty easy. Took about an hour from start to finish, which is a lot shorter than typing everything in by hand, and now I don't have to worry about it ever again since I can keep it synchronized online. Looks like there are some other features that I'll need to try, like automatically notifying all your contacts when your own information changes.

Posted by: Matt at April 14, 2007 5:39 PM

Dear Dave: When you are discussing epreserver you say: "If you use more than one screen name, ePreserver appends the subsequent data to the previous...If that's not what you want to have occur, move the files elsewhere before you do the second or third run."
Where do you move them to and how do you do that?
Thanks, Larry

Posted by: Larry Marshall at April 15, 2007 11:03 AM

How do we get this done'???

Have new Screen Name, Unable to use as Have No
Access to my Address Book ????

Posted by: Richard W.Houghton at April 19, 2007 11:24 AM

Please note that specific questions about how ePreserver works or whether it can accomplish specific tasks are far better directed to the programmers / company than to me.

Posted by: Dave Taylor at April 19, 2007 12:02 PM

please tell me how to get my addresses from Juno email to aol. thank you

Posted by: Nelda at May 10, 2007 4:33 PM

hello... i have now dsl high speed.. opening the aol page by using internet explorer. i dont see my favorites list. how i am able to open my favorites from the explorer page...

Posted by: SashkaPR at May 23, 2007 9:09 AM

AOL Filing Cabinet Files are in Windows XP and using AOL 9, are located in

C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\AOL\C_AOL 9.0\organize

C_AOL 9.0 may contain an A B C, etc after it, depending how many AOL 9 upgrades you have done. To figure out which installation you are using, right click the AOL icon in you Windows Quick Launch Task bar, on the START Bar, choose Properties, and the Link to the AOL folder location AOL 9.0 a b c, etc, will be noted.

The organize folder contains the default backup of the Personal Filing Cabinet. AOL's default is to back it up every 4 weeks.

To manually back it up, load AOL, and sign off.

Click on the Read mail icon on the top left of the screen (or hit CNTL + R, on the keyboard)

On the top right of the mail window, choose, Mail Options, and then Set Mail Preferences.

Choose the Managed Saved mail link on the top right of the window, and choose Backup. To adjust default setting, select Preferences, after selecting Backup from the Managed Save Mail link.

Once backed up, the most current file is actually saved at

C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\AOL\C_AOL 9.0\backup

When backing up, when I have to reload my OS, move my Filing Cabinet to another computer, etc, I copy both the Organize, and the Backup folder, Just in case.

On the new computer, or new version of AOL, I manually place the copied Backup and Organize Folders, back in the default AOL Folder

C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\AOL\C_AOL 9.0


So, If you think you lost your files, go ahead and copy them from the aforementioned locations, and place them in the currently run location of your AOL software.

Posted by: Matt Z at May 27, 2007 12:11 PM

I've been an AOL customer for probably 15 years but now also have high speed internet thru my cable company. However, I am leary about changing my email accounts and losing emails, contacts and info. My curiosity about this whole AOL 'free' email is growing as it would save money I'm still wasting as I keep my AOL service to keep my AOL email accounts in 'bringing my own service'. The 'free' email is also very confusing to me. Can I actually use (or keep) the same email addresses I currently have with AOL's 'free' email as well as AIM screen names??? Or will I be forced to change them as they would be 'currently in use'? I'd really like to drop AOL service but not my emails.

Posted by: Nancie K at July 11, 2007 6:00 PM

My HD crashed and I reloaded AOL 9.0, but my ADDRESS BOOK is gone! (I thought it was AOL-based not computer-based.) It IS available on AOL via the Web, but I don't see a utility for transfering my AOL Address Book from Web back to my Computer. Any ideas? Thanks.

Posted by: Jeff at July 24, 2007 2:44 PM

HI
I read with interest your comments on saving aol email to outlook express using epreserver. I want to dump aol for another isp. can I use epreserver to export to what ever I choose other than out lookexpess

Posted by: Dave at August 2, 2007 1:15 AM

I was hoping when I transferred my AOL account from Windows 98 to XP, the Address Book, emails, etc. would transfer but they didn't.

How can I transfer those files to my new AOL? Where do I look? What do I do first?

Posted by: Apres Ski at September 9, 2007 11:02 PM

If you want to use an email software as Outlook, Thunderbird, Eudora, Entourage,... instead as AOL interface, do as follow :

- Open Outlook Express (for example)
- create a new account
- choose IMAP type (not POP)

Name : Jo White (for example)
Address : Jo@aol.com
account ID : jo
IMAP server : imap.aol.com (imap.fr.aol.com for France)
password : *******

SMTP server : smtp.aol.com (smtp.fr.aol.com for France)

IMAP port : 143 (not default port)
SMTP port : 587 (not default port) (authentification requiered)

Like this, you use standard mailbox as eml or mbox format.

In Windows platform, to import your AOL PFC mails and adress book, I think ePreserver is the best one, but you can try freewares like :

http://webpages.charter.net/bobalston/Documents/email-extract-and-archive.htm/
http://members.aol.com/pfcviewer/
http://members.aol.com/fvongordon/pfc/

Posted by: Yves at October 12, 2007 10:53 AM

How can I get my juno e-mail sent directly to my aol address
Thanks,
Uncle Allan

Posted by: allan immerman at November 22, 2007 6:08 PM

just found your site and "booked" lotsa good stuff here. I have a imac, and was wondering if your knowledge extends past PCs to us Apple folk?

Posted by: jack at December 15, 2007 11:06 PM

Quite so, Jack. Actually I much prefer the Mac and have been using 'em for many, many years!

Posted by: Dave Taylor at December 16, 2007 9:38 PM

Question. I am presently on the slow method, using the phone..now I am changing to a high speed very shortly but the question is ..it is with a different ISP than AOL..I would like to transfer my address book and other saved documents from this ISP to my new one..I have paid AOL for a year so this is still good until March 19th..my new highspeed will be installed this Thursday, so I will have two providers, one AOL and the other one which happens to be my TV cable company..can you help me to transfer this data to my new highspeed? Regards Harry

Posted by: Harry Tucker at December 23, 2007 11:55 AM

PLAXO PLAXO PLAXO.......I am seeking to get my dad's favorites from AOL to his new iMac and I thought I'd mention what I did to get his contacts.

In short, check out www.plaxo.com. It's FREEEEEEE. I setup his plaxo account w/his aol (on Windows) about a year ago. When he just got his new iMac, I logged into his mac; downloaded plaxo for the mac; setup the account and synced!!!! That's it. It just doesn't get much easier than that. I also did the same for my gmail account on my mac....Plaxo works & it doesn't get much easier than that.

Not to mention I could "clean up" my dad's contacts finally in Mac's address book a lot easier than in AOL's terrible interface.

I hope this helps someone.

If anyone has any working free solution for aol favorites (version 9) to any bookmark.htm format, I'd like to know.

Terry

Posted by: Terry Lee at January 21, 2008 10:25 AM

I solved the AOL 9 Favorites export!!!

1. Login to AOL from a regular (ie, firefox, safari) at http://www.aol.com.

2. Go to "my aol", usually in the top left corner

3. When prompted to "Import AOL Class Favorite Places", say "yes". this imports your AOL favorites.

4. At the bottom of the menu, there's an "export" function which will export to bookmarks.html.

5. Import the file into your favorite browser and clean-up all the AOL specific stuff that you don't want to keep.

Voila!!!! You are done and it's free!!!!

Terry

Posted by: Terry Lee at January 21, 2008 11:36 AM

Because AOL does not offer DSL (Broadband) or whatever the term is for FAST DIAL UP, I had to go with QWEST. I would have PREFERRED TO STAY WITH AOL BUT dial up was becoming too bothersome.
BUT NOW....How do I retrieve my AOL Favorites List? I am lost without that list.
PLEASE????

Posted by: Lila Hidell at January 22, 2008 6:23 AM

Had to wipe my drive and reload aol...how can I get my address book back...its on the web version of aol by not on my pc version????

Posted by: Ray Neiland at February 12, 2008 12:18 AM

I want to import my address book and favorites list FROM Juno to Yahoo. Will you tell me how to find those instructions? Please.

Posted by: Earl Cotten at March 11, 2008 5:05 PM

My wife is staring an online business and wanted to migrate all of her AOL addresses to a new gmail account - I can see how this software does it for PC's but she has an iMAC - is there any way we can do this on a mac?

Posted by: David Palmer at April 5, 2008 8:42 AM

As of April 2008, ePreserver supports converting AOL to Gmail.

For ePreserver to work, you must be using the AOL client, such as AOL 8 or AOL 9 (but not AOL 10.)

Posted by: Connected Software at May 23, 2008 10:25 AM

HI,
IT'S ALL NEW TO ME.LETS HOPE 4 THINGS BETTER.

Posted by: ABHISHEK VERMA at May 27, 2008 1:55 AM

HI.

Posted by: ABHISHEK VERMA at May 27, 2008 1:57 AM

AOL WHAT THIEFS. BOUGHT GATEWAY LT HSN JULY 20/08 CALLED ALO FOR FREE 6 MONTTH TRIAL? JULY 22 08 THY BILLED MY BEBT CARD A MONTHLY CHARGE. I CALLED 40 MIN. LATER GOING BACK&FORTH I KEEP BEING

Posted by: mark lerner at July 22, 2008 4:32 PM

hi dave,

after reading your interesting article about ePreserver, i went ahead and purchased it.

on the first screen, it doesn't seem to allow me to type in my screename and at the bottom it tells me: "aol &/or compuserve not installed on this computer" or sthing to that matter as it is in french.

is that a software glitch or do i need to re-install aol to be able to use ePreserver to get my adress book (i.e. being connected & logged in to aol isn't enough..)

thank you in advance for your prompt response.

Posted by: olivier janssens at July 28, 2008 6:51 AM

That seems very odd, Olivier. I would suggest that you reinstall AOL, making sure you have the latest version, then also ensure that you have the latest version of ePreserver. If that fails, contact the company and see what they can suggest.

Posted by: Dave Taylor at August 14, 2008 3:23 PM

can you tell me how to export my address book from AOL to Bento box?

Posted by: Nick at September 13, 2008 8:04 PM

how do i take this aol screen name (htorres428@aol.com) and make a new aol account with it. I no longer want to be connected with the same aol account as my ex wife. thanks

Posted by: harry at September 22, 2008 10:11 PM

Nick, I'm afraid I haven't even heard of Bento box, other than in Japanese restaurants. :-)

Harry, call AOL support, I am pretty sure there's a way to do that but they need to be involved.

Posted by: Dave Taylor at October 9, 2008 10:07 PM

Somehow my Aol address book changed. Here is what happened. When putting in an address all I need to do is put in a letter of the alphabet and a person's email name pops up, except when I get to S. When I click on S each and every one of the people in my address book pops up, including my S people. I recently deleted all my contacts in hopes of "curing" this problem. I re-did the address book last night and the problem is still there! Why?? I don't understand! Please, tell me how to resolve this.
Thank you,
~Noreen
PS
It used to work perfectly.

Posted by: Noreen at October 10, 2008 11:36 AM

My suggestion for exporting aol address book: Open a Yahoo email account. they have a feature to import the address book from aol. they also have the ability to export to csv file.

Posted by: Bernard Nevas at October 12, 2008 2:52 PM

I reinstalled aol 9.1 on my computer and now I can't retrieve my saved emails and favorite places. How do I get them back?

Posted by: techconfused at October 29, 2008 3:15 PM

Question - A friend has a MAC computer and I asked if I could use the computer for a few minutes to look up some info on sprint phones. He said sure and booted up the computer with password, etc. He left the room and I was about to type Sprint into the google browser and all of a sudden his aol email opened up and all the pending emails, etc. were right on the screen - I told him that happened and he said I must have gotten his password or something, that it wouldn't just "pop up" like that and it started a feud. Can you offer an explanation of how that could happen. Obviously neither of us are that computer savvy but I did not know the email password or even how to access it. Any advise would be appreciated.

Posted by: Judy Baker at December 15, 2008 3:28 PM

Dave,

I'm a PC tech and am working with a client to retrieve several years of messages from AOL, but can only retrieve messages in the AOL INBOX.

I have set a POP3 account on Outlook that successfully downloads messages in his AOL INBOX folder, but am unable to download messages in the SAVED MESSAGES, SENT MESSAGES, or SAVES ON MY PC folders. I've tried moving one of the folders in AOL to make it a subfolder of the INBOX, but no luck there.

I called AOL to ask about this and the AOL support person said it couldn't be done.

I've read about an AOL sync utility, but can't locate any info about whether or not it will sync folders other than the AOL INBOX and don't want to waste my time and my client's money on this if it is just another dead end. Do you know if there is a way to retrieve the messages in these folders?

Having assisted many clients using AOL, any comments I have about AOL have already been said a thousandfold over, and none of them are favorable. Even Apple is dropping DRM, but the AOL seems to resemble a black hole - they will gladly import messages into their system, but once in there is no way out.

Thank you,

Philip

Posted by: Philip at January 12, 2009 10:22 AM

I am using Eudora as my e-mail program. Can I export my AOL 9.1 saved mail (AOL PFC)to Eudora directly, or do I have to first export it to Outlook Express and then to Eudora. Also, can I export my AOL favorite places (bookmarks)from AOL to Internet Explorer using ePreserver.
Thanks in advance for any assistance

Posted by: sheldon palmer at February 18, 2009 10:03 AM

One easy way to save your AOL address book is to install a generic printer (LPT1:) and specify text only as the output. Use the printers control panel to change the properties so it prints to a file. Now anything you send to this printer, including the AOL 9.1 address book will land in easy to read text format in the file you specify. There is always more than one way to skin a cat.
-AAK

Posted by: a. kinsman at March 30, 2009 7:39 AM

"I have been using 9.0 optimized (canada) for a few years,and have continued to save everything in various folders in the "saved on my PC" section. Over all the years, the Screen Name file size has grown to over 2.0 gb. There are over 22,000 saved files there! Each time it hits this magic 2 gb, it stops working properly, and I have had to load an older screen name file over it (that has less than 2gb). In the last week, I have had to contact aol tech service 5 times and have spent many hours dealing with this. I have asked each of them if the large screen name size is what causing it....they won't admit that may be the cause....they always say there must be a corrupted file in there somewhere, where it cannot be found. Yesterday the fix, after trying everything else, was to uninstall all the old versions I had on the computer, including the excellent Canadian version of 9.0 Optimized. I did that, and downloaded 9.0 VR (I think), as that was all I found readily available. Terrible! The new mail, old mail, and sent mail tabs in the mailbox window all are blank....no name, address, subject or date is displayed....only that there are about 900 emails in the new box.
I used E-preserver to convert all the stuff over to Outlook (pst?) files, but because it was functioning badly when I did it, I don't think everything came across. I'm thinking, that if maybe I can get it to open the mailbox and the Saved on my pc files, I can go in there and start deleting all the old stuff, one by one....my question is: Would this reduce the screen name file size? What do you think of the older 6.0 and 7.0 versions....do you think they would have the problem with the large amount of stored data? Might I be better off with one of those? I cannot find the Canadian version of 9.0 right now.
My computer is a pentium 4, 3.0 gb, 2gb Ram and a 250 gb hd. My other computer is newer and faster, and I'm having the same problem with aol on it, as well....Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated."

Bruce

Posted by: Bruce at April 17, 2009 4:58 PM

simple and free way of exporting your aol address book:


I've spent nearly 4 hours trying to figure out some way to trasfer contacts from aol to outlook but aol simply doesn't give u this option!!!!!
I suggest this was made to discourage people from switching from Aol proprietary system which became just a bunch of crapware.

People mentioned these solutions online:

1) aol communicator - which how I found out was discontinued and i wasn't able to find it anywhere online.
2) aolsync outlook plugin - simply didn't work for me.:( Throws an error when I tried to sync. Later someone mentioned that this service no longer works two-ways. - it only sync outlook contacts into aol. Gee - i wonder why?
3) aoleave.com - discontinued. mentions aol 6.0 software on that website :(
4) epreserver.com - has a software that transfers everything from aol account - though it's like 25 bucks which i had absolutely no intention to pay.

And finally - HERE IS HOW TO BACK UP YOUR AOL ADDRESS BOOK FOR FREE! :))


1) Go to Plaxo.com website and sign up - it's free.

plaxo.com - it's sort of universal online address book and social networking site. I've never heard of it before but I think I'll definitely use it in the future cuz it proved to be the only simple and FREE way of transferring aol contacts:)

2) During the sign up process it'll ask you to add contacts from various services like gmail or aim/aol. - so - just enter your aol credentials.

It might ask u if u would like to send invitation to the people in ur address book - just click on skip when that happens.

3) When u pass setup process - click on "More" and than select "Address book". At this point you should see all aol contacts over there. (luv u plaxo:)

4)Scroll down to the veryy bottom of the page and click on "+ Add sync points". "Sync wizard" window will popup.

5) click on the option that says export address book (alternatively plaxo offers plugin for automatic sync with ms outlook:) - and it's free)

6)From the drop down list u can either select .csv or .ldif or .vcf format. I've just selected .csv because i was transferring the address book into MS outlook.

That's it - just save that .csv file on ur desktop and import it into your program of choice.

Mission accomplished.


P.S> plaxo.com kick's ass. I was so f**cking happy to find it cuz otherwise - I'd have to manually transfer 450 contacts.

Posted by: Andrei at April 26, 2009 5:07 PM

Hey Dave -

I just bought a MACBook Pro and downloaded AOL for MAC; however, my managed folders do not show up. Is there any way for me to see my folders with saved mail with MAC? I can't file any emails or read any emails that I've filed. Thanks! Jason

Posted by: Jason at May 15, 2009 8:15 AM

from
Re: importing AOL favorites (bookmarks) to Safari or firefox
Posted by: PW (IP Logged)
Date: May 1, 2009 08:36PM

I found this info in a simple google search (export AOL bookmarks safari):

If you use Mac OS X, you only need one program -- the free, blissfully simple AOL Service Assistant ( [downloads.channel.aol.com] ), which will transfer your AOL e-mail, address book, favorites and calendar to Apple's Mail, Address Book, Safari and iCal programs.

I may add - IT WORKS GREAT!!!!!

Posted by: photodave at June 2, 2009 7:44 PM

How can I transfer mail from an old AOL screen name to another newer one I have? When I updated to AOL 9.1 somehow it was lost and I cannot retrieve my mail. Can't get ahold of AOL by phone. Anyone know of their mailing address/phone number to talk to a live person? They really, really stink.

Posted by: Marge at June 17, 2009 2:32 PM

This is my question also.....

I've been an AOL customer for probably 15 years but now also have high speed internet thru my cable company. However, I am leary about changing my email accounts and losing emails, contacts and info. My curiosity about this whole AOL 'free' email is growing as it would save money I'm still wasting as I keep my AOL service to keep my AOL email accounts in 'bringing my own service'. The 'free' email is also very confusing to me. Can I actually use (or keep) the same email addresses I currently have with AOL's 'free' email as well as AIM screen names??? Or will I be forced to change them as they would be 'currently in use'? I'd really like to drop AOL service but not my emails..

Posted by: Geri Vigrass at June 28, 2009 3:29 PM

To all of you posting to this thread. Please cancel your AOL accounts, unplug your computers completely, and store them in a closet. Please don't even think about going online again. Think of the children!

Thanks in Advance

signed,
the rest of the Interwebs.

Posted by: THEInterwebs at August 4, 2009 12:59 PM

I agree with THEInterwebs

Posted by: abdul at August 22, 2009 9:36 AM

How can I reach my favorites sites?

Posted by: Carol at October 1, 2009 6:55 PM

While adding a name to an AOL email group list, I accidently hit something that removed the list. Can I get it back?

Posted by: Sally at October 24, 2009 10:57 AM

Is this info still relevant or are there new tools for exporting AOL mail?

Posted by: Victor Steel at October 25, 2009 1:42 PM

My HD crashed and got a new one. It had outlook express which I have never used. I put in my email addy and password, now it has taken over my aol email. It gives me a 556 error. All my mail is now going to outlook express and I don't want it. I can not send from outlook as it has the error. I put in the imap and smtp, the deleted it hoping it woudl give me my aol back, it wont. I need help. thanks

Posted by: robin at November 2, 2009 10:10 AM

EXPORT AOL ADDRESS BOOK AND EMAIL

Based on web comments, today I purchased ePreserver. The total with fees was $29.40. It was worth every cent!

Within one hour, I had transfered over 5000 saved emails and 100 contacts into Outlook 2003. It brings over attachments as individuals documents in MS Office format. All exported without an error.

Okay, so it cost me 30 bucks, but now I am free of AOL forever...

Posted by: Steve S at December 10, 2009 12:50 PM

Hi, I need to export some of my contacts from both my Yahoo account and my Gmail account into an Outlook file so my business partner can enter them into her Contant Contact newsletter. I have Outlook Express on my computer. I tried to follow the directions given in my Yahoo account but it didn't work. My husband was there and he's pretty good at this stuff. Is it us, or is there a better way?

Posted by: Jo at January 16, 2010 7:26 PM

Is this still valid? I have aol 9.0 security edition. Need to export, for many reasons, probably moving, but also, worried about the size of my data base of e-mail in aol, that it will exceed it, and then I'll lose it altogether!
Thanks.

Posted by: el at March 8, 2010 7:45 AM

I've been trying to figure out how to save my aol stuff for a few days now and want to thank you for all the good info. I'm moving on to a faster service and had no idea how tough it would be to save my aol fav.'s etc. Thanks again, hopefully I'll figure it all out.

Posted by: Tom at April 5, 2010 9:47 AM

I want to Know how to set up an address book as I tried and then when I got back on line it wasn't there for me to use I need help or some answeres I was on AOL for yeares and did'nt have all the troubel I'm having now so please help. Genevieve Brous

Posted by: Genevieve Brous at May 30, 2010 7:19 PM

I reinstalled aol 9.1 on my computer and now I can't retrieve my saved emails and favorite places. How do I get them back?
i know this has already been asked by someone else, but I see no reply.
On the other hand my address list is unaffected.

Posted by: Elizabeth Hull at July 4, 2010 7:22 AM

You're brilliant Dave!
Thanks. You saved my sanity.
I followed your great notes on how to retrieve all my folders, contacts etc from AOL using ePreserver and it was great!

Posted by: Jenny at November 6, 2010 5:30 AM

Brilliant and so simple! Thank you very much. I'm not changing to my new ISP until 26th September - can I run the program again so the transfer is right up to date?

Posted by: Peter Sonksen at September 16, 2011 5:23 AM

Dave--By now is there a way to export my aol address book to gmail on a mac? Aol runs on Safari.

Posted by: Al at September 25, 2011 11:29 AM

Is there a way to make a hard copy (print) all my AOL addresses - both name and email address?

Posted by: Bets at October 16, 2011 12:01 PM

Hello dear,

I am Jerry Clinton the son of late Jerry Wilson major general in us, I have decide to sale my late father company in west Africa country Ghana, Now I have sale the company and deposited the money in U.B.A Bank of Ghana, And I also want to use the money to establishing a new company in your country which I don’t know the type of company we can invest $40 million on, I want you to look for type of company we can invest $40 million on there in your country, Thank God you are a good business partner, I hope to hear a good plan from you, If you are interested in my proposal then fill this form,

Your full name...............

Your age...............

Your home address.............

Your office address..............

Your office number...............

Your phone number...............

Your fax number....................

Your occupation.....................

Your private E-mail...............
You can also contact me with this email (c_jerry78@hotmail.com)

Posted by: JERRY at October 31, 2011 3:29 PM

I am using pcpro4 macmini os10.4.11. overnite my bill pay thru Wells Fargo stopped letting me
pay online. I can access my entire bill pay screen
but when it asks to submit payment, it is "grayed"
out and won't accept my payment. I was told it is an encrytion error and to notify the bank, who in turn said to notify mac about it. I have just had my
computer checked out and upgraded where required.
Because it is pro series it will only go to 10.5.
I get data coremetrics.com error code -8155, no
one seems able to help.

Posted by: Dede at November 23, 2011 12:40 PM

Hi,

Glad to find this discussion!

I've been successfully using the standalone app AOL 10.3.7 on a Powerbook G4 running Mac OS 10.4.11 for a number of years, with my AOL email account.

Unfortunately, on the Intel MacBook Pro that AOL application can no longer keep a record of Sent Mail on the computer itself, regardless of the OS. (I'm using 10.6.7 currently.)

Can anyone advise me as to an email application, which will allow me to keep a record of all my AOL mail- on the hard drive of the computer?

Incoming/Saved Mail, Mail You've Sent, and Mail Waiting to Be Sent

And to which I can transfer my current Filing Cabinet?

I have many years of records in the Filing Cabinet, which I need to retain and access.

I'd rather not use AOL Desktop, but rather be able to work with my email offline.
And have all the files, new and old, stored to the hard drive of the computer.

I've been putting this off for years.
Your site here got me into action concerning getting it done!

Thanks for your time!

Posted by: Bob Hope at January 3, 2012 2:38 PM

I have something to say, now that you mention it, but ...
Starbucks coffee cup I do have a lot to say, and questions of my own for that matter, but first I'd like to say thank you for all your efforts on this Web site by buying you a cup of coffee!

I do have a comment, now that you mention it!











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