I'd like to move emails that I had previously saved (into folders) in Outlook Express - to Gmail.

I know I can forward them, but a) that is tedious, and b) all of those emails will have the date on them that I did the forward.

Is there a way to import all emails from a particular OE folder into Gmail?

Thanks!

Yes and no.
Yes it is possible to "move" folders to gmail, but NOT with OE (as it's not very good).

Here's how you do it, I know just did it myself.

1/ get Thunderbird - Thunderbird - Reclaim your inbox
2/ install and import information from OE.
3/ Make sure your gmail account is set up for IMAP as this keeps a copy of mails on BOTH your local machine and the server.
4/ just drag and drop from you OE account to Gmail IMAP account.
5/ Wait for them to sync up.

Steps 1-2 done.

I'm lost with step 3 but thinking I don't need it as the emails that I want to get from OE are 1) only on my computer (no longer on the server), and 2) from an email address that I have not used in years... so am I safe to skip step 3?

On step 3 it's the Gmail account that you are using for "storage" that needs to be IMAP, otherwise the rest won't work.
You're basically copying the mails back to the server rather than a one way delivery (POP3)

PS. Also, I don't use OE anymore and never will... so is that another reason that I don't need IMAP enabled?

Oops, I was typing while you were... so I'll enable IMAP

Forgot to mention you MUST also enable IMAP on the target gmail account.

Log into Gmail
Settings
Forwarding and POP/IMAP tab
IMAP Access: Enable

Also shows you how to set up thunderbird as well to accept IMAP mails.

AHA, I see that IMAP is already enabled in the gmail account I use... so off to step 4.



I feel like the fool to ask, but where do I "drop"? I presume that you mean open gmail and thunderbird at the same time - and drag emails from the thunderbird listing of emails that were imported... but to where do I "drop" them?

You do all of the drag/drop within Thunderbird and the IMAP deals with the syncing.

Works just like normal file manipulation within windows.

Oh. I [think I] see now. I'll do the IMAP w/tbird and see how things go from there... working...

It'll all go click in a bit ;)

I have not dragged and dropped anything yet as Thunderbird is taking some time to synch up with my voluminous Gmail account.

In the meantime a question: Once I drag and drop everything I want from the old OE folders into gmail, then wait for that synch... I presume that I can just uninstall tbird and all will be good. Does that sound right?

Yes, but WHY would you want to do that..

Because I'll never use Tbird or OE again. My only goal was to move old stuff from OE to Gmail.

Is there a good reason to keep Tbird?

Well if you are happy using webmail then go for it.
All personal preferences really, BUT Tbird is very useful for managing multiple accounts in one client.
Mines currently running 8 webmails.

Let me clarify:

1. I am happy with gmail. I use it to manage about 25 email addresses.

2. I do not want to store any emails on any of my computers (I have 5 of them at various locations).

3. I have the gmail settings such that no emails are ever left on any servers.

So in short, I rely completely on gmail.

Based on that, is there any reason you can think of for why I should keep Thunderbird?

Completely personal really.

Thanks, Ben.
I rely completely on Gmail (I know there may be arguments against it and I welcome them) so I'll do the transfers and then remove OE and TBird from my computer... unless I hear a good argument to do otherwise.

It's really more a case of ease.
As I said I use Tbird a lot for multiple accounts, but if you are happy using webmail then why change.