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Backing up E-mail on a Macintosh

| Eudora | Apple Mail | Entourage | Mozilla Mail | Additional Resources |

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In order to back up e-mail data (mailboxes, addressbook, etc.), first locate where the e-mail data is stored on your hard drive. The location of the the e-mail data depends upon the e-mail application used to check mail. The instructions below provide details for locating your e-mail data and basic instructions for backing it up.

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Eudora

Overview

The Eudora Folder is the folder where your Eudora data files (mailboxes, addressbook) are located.
The Eudora Application Folder only stores the Eudora application, not the e-mail mailboxes or addressbook. There is no need to back up the Eudora Application Folder.

Macintosh OS X 10.0 - 10.3.x:

The Eudora Folder is stored by default in Home > Documents.

To backup the Eudora Folder do the following:

1. Launch the Finder by clicking on the icon on the dock.
2. Click on the Home button.
3. Click on the Documents folder.
4. Copy the entire Eudora Folder to your back up media (such as a blank cdr, zip drive, etc).

Macintosh OS 7.x -9.x:

The Eudora Folder is stored by default in the System Folder or in the Documents folder located directly off of the Macintosh hard drive. Check both locations if you are unsure where your Eudora Folder is located.

To backup the Eudora Folder do the following:

1. Double-click on the hard drive .
2. Double-click on the Documents folder. If you see a Eudora Folder skip to step 5.
3. Double-click on the hard drive .
4. Double-click on the System Folder . Check if you see a Eudora Folder.
5. Copy the entire Eudora Folder to your back up media (such as a blank cdr, zip drive, etc).

Restoring Eudora E-mail

This will repopulate Eudora with all the data from your backup Eudora folder and overwrite all data currently in Eudora.

OS X

Copy the backed up Eudora Folder into Home > Documents

OS 7.x - 9.x

Copy the backed up Eudora Folder into either the > Documents folder (recommended) or to > System Folder.

 

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Apple Mail

Overview

The Apple Mail application comes pre-installed on all OS X Macintosh systems. There is no version available for Mac OS systems earlier than Mac OS X. The Mail folder stores your Apple Mail mailboxes. The Apple Mail addressbook uses the separate Address Book application.
Copying the Mail folder only backs up mail that you've copied to On My Mac. It does not back up email still on the server.

Macintosh OS X 10.0 - 10.3.x:

The Mail folder is stored by default in Home > Library

To backup the Mail folder do the following:

1. Launch the Finder by clicking on the icon on the dock.
2. Click on the Home button.
3. Double-click the Library folder.
4. Copy the entire Mail folder to your back up media (such as a blank cdr, zip drive, etc).

When you are ready to restore the Mail folder, choose File > Import Mailboxes. Select Mail for Mac OS X, and locate the Mail folder that you backed up.

Backing Up Apple Mail Account Settings

Apple Mail stores your account settings in a preferences file.

To back up your Mail preferences do the following:

1. Locate the com.apple.mail.plist file in ~/Library/Preferences.
   (The ~ symbol refers to the Home location of your account. You can click on the Home button in the Finder and then click on the Library folder > Preferences folder to locate the file).
2. Copy the com.apple.mail.plist file to your back up media.
   

Backing Up Your Address Book

The Apple Mail program uses a separate application Address Book to store addresses. Address Book is included with the Macintosh OS X system.

To back up your addresses do the following:

1. Open Address Book.
2. Choose File > Back up Database.
3. Enter a name and save the file.
4. Copy this file to your back up media.

Restoring the Address Book

This will repopulate the Addess Book with all the data from your backup file and overwrite all data currently in your address book.

1. Open Address Book.
2. Choose File > Revert to Database Backup and locate the backup file.

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Entourage

Overview

The Microsoft User Data folder is the main folder where your Microsoft data is located. Within the Microsoft User Data folder will be a folder called either Office 2004 Identities, Office X Identities, Office 2001 Identities or Office 98 Identities - the name will depend on the version of the Microsoft Office product installed. The Office Indentities folder contains your Entourage data files (mailboxes, addressbook). The Database file located in the Main Indentity folder contains your e-mail and mailboxes. We recommend backing up the appropriate Office Identity folder.

Navigating with the Finder to view Entourage 2004 data location

Macintosh OS X 10.0 - 10.3.x:

The Office Identities folder is stored by default in Home > Documents> Microsoft User Data

To backup the Office Identities folder do the following:

1. Launch the Finder by clicking on the icon on the dock.
2. Click on the Home button.
3. Open the Documents folder.
4. Open the Microsoft User Data folder
5. Copy the entire Office Identities folder to your back up media (such as a blank cdr, zip drive, etc). (If you are running Office 2004, the folder will be called Office 2004 Indentities).

Macintosh OS 7.x -9.x:

The Office Identities folder is stored by default in the Documents > Microsoft User Data folder located directly off of the Macintosh hard drive.

To backup the Office Identities folder do the following:

1. Double-click on the hard drive .
2. Double-click on the Documents folder.
3. Open the Microsoft User Data folder
4. Copy the entire Office Identities folder to your back up media (such as a blank cdr, zip drive, etc).
   (If you are running Office 2001, the folder will be called Office 2001 Indentities).

 

Restoring Entourage E-mail

This will repopulate Entourage with all the data from your backup file and overwrite all data currently in Entourage.

OS X

Copy the appropriate Office Identities folder into Home > Documents> Microsoft User Data

OS 7.x - 9.x

1. Locate the Microsoft User Data folder on your computer.
2. Copy the appropriate Office Identities folder the Microsoft User Data folder.
   On most machines, the location will be > Documents > Microsoft User Data

 

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Mozilla Mail

Overview

Mozilla is an open source web browser that includes the ability to send and receive e-mail for Mac OS X or greater. The instructions below outline backing up your entire Mozilla profile - including web browser bookmarks, e-mail data and addressbook.

Mozilla data is stored by default in the Home > Library > Mozilla folder.

To backup the Mozilla data do the following:

1. Launch the Finder by clicking on the icon on the dock.
2. Click on the Home button.
3. Double-click the Library folder.
4. Open the Mozilla folder.
5. Open the Profiles folder
6. Copy the folder with the name of your Mozilla profile or choose the default folder if you do not see a profile name listed. to your back up media (such as a blank cdr, zip drive, etc).

Restoring the Mozilla Profile

This will repopulate Mozilla with all the data from your Mozilla backup profile and overwrite all data currently in a Mozilla profile of the same name.

1. Copy the backed up Mozilla Profile folder into the Home > Library > Mozilla > Profiles folder.

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Additional Resources

• Macintosh Backup Strategy - SFSU Doit Help Desk Macintosh Backup guide
• File Management on the Macintosh - SFSU Doit Help Desk Macintosh File Management
• Eudora Technical Support
• Apple Mail - Apple's Mail site.
• Apple Address Book - Apple's Address Book site.
• Using Entourage for the Mac - Microsoft's guide.
• Mozilla Support - Official Mozilla support.

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Last Modified: 24 Aug 2004
doit@sfsu.edu