Tech: How do I......back up my address book

Subject: Tech: How do I....
From: Bobert
Date: 05 May 11 - 05:54 PM

...back up my address book or will it just stay where it is???

We're going to shut down or service and don't want to lose any email addresses...

I know... Dumb question but I'm dumb when it comes to pudders...

B~

Subject: RE: Tech: How do I....
From: Tangledwood
Date: 05 May 11 - 06:00 PM

What software are you running?

Subject: RE: Tech: How do I......back up my address book
From: Joe Offer
Date: 05 May 11 - 06:01 PM

Where's your address book, Bobert? There are ways to back up almost every kind of address book, from online and on-computer address books to cell phone address books. I think I'd look under "file" or "tools" for a backup option.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Tech: How do I......back up my address book
From: artbrooks
Date: 05 May 11 - 06:17 PM

If you use Firefox/Thunderbird, there is a freeware program called MozBackup that will backup your address book, saved mail, bookmarks, etc. I'd suggest that you either save to a thumb drive or transfer the saved files to one.

Subject: RE: Tech: How do I......back up my address book
From: Tootler
Date: 05 May 11 - 07:40 PM

Most email software has some method of exporting (and importing) address books. You can then save the file in a safe place. Once you are back up again, retrieve the file and import it into your email software.

Subject: RE: Tech: How do I......back up my address book
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 06 May 11 - 03:16 AM

If you're just using your browser and reading your email as html pages, your address book probably is reasonably safe on your ISP's servers, and may not actually exist on your computer.

If that's the case, there probably is an option to export a "local copy" so that you can compose and address messages offline.

Most email programs I've looked at offer options to export address books (now called Contacts in Windows) in more than one form. The "simple export" often is at least partly binary, and may not be particularly readable.

If the option is found, exporting an "archive copy" as a comma separated file (.csv) gives you a format that's "mostly readable" in Notepad or Word, and that can be used to extract information if the program that can read the other file(s) ever gets lost.

You may want backups in both (and/or other) formats.

Note that most browsers also allow you to export Bookmarks (IE now calls them favorites) and cookies. Either or both of these may be handy for a recovery or transfer to a new machine.

Since EACH USER probably has separate contacts/address books, favorites/bookmarks, and cookies, if you have more than one user you'll want to make separate backups for each.

I've found it generally best to just forget the cookies and buy new ones as needed (i.e. log in where one is required), but the others are worth considering.

John