Moving ISPs - what to do about webmail history

[gunrock]

I've been with BT since dial-up days (let's say '96 or '97) and an early adopter of BT Openworld (i.e Broadband) and now I want to go to Sky for much less monthly outlay.

Now, about 8 months ago I got my own domain setup and have been slowly (and I mean slowly) changing all my subscribed lists and accounts over from my @btinternet.com email address to my new one.

Thing is, I've still some way to go and I also have tons and tons or mail in the webmail service as i don't use a PC-based email client anymore (but I do have Outlook and Outlook express).

What's the best way to get those mails out of BT's service and on my machine (for reference and clean-up) and can I keep a low-cost (or free) dial-up with my old account to make sure I have swapped all my online subscriptions and services over?

Hit me!

[charlesr]

Can you download them as a .csv from the webmail app? Then you could stick them into whatever you want.

[babs]

You have mail clients on your machine, so download everything on the server and back it up to an easy format (.pst or maybe even excel). You'll have the archive and will be able to import it back into just about any client, or just view them there for reference.

Can I ask why you don't use a PC client? The only reason I've come across in the past is when people aren't aware that you can leave the mail on the server and download it too.

[gunrock]

You have mail clients on your machine, so download everything on the server and back it up to an easy format (.pst or maybe even excel). You'll have the archive and will be able to import it back into just about any client, or just view them there for reference.

Can I ask why you don't use a PC client? The only reason I've come across in the past is when people aren't aware that you can leave the mail on the server and download it too.

Well, in my experience with Outlook and BT mailservers is that they remove your mail from the mail server mailbox once it's been downloaded.

Is that not the case?

Plus, I liked having all my mail at my fingertips while at work.

[babs]

It is the case by default, but in outlook, outlook express and thunderbird (and no doubt most other clients) there's an option to leave mail on the server for either a period of time, or until you delete them locally.

In Outlook, Tools > email accounts > pop3 account properties > more settings > advanced tab > 'leave messages on server' checkbox.

[gunrock]

It is the case by default, but in outlook, outlook express and thunderbird (and no doubt most other clients) there's an option to leave mail on the server for either a period of time, or until you delete them locally.

In Outlook, Tools > email accounts > pop3 account properties > more settings > advanced tab > 'leave messages on server' checkbox.

Ooh, thanks babs, much appreciated. I never noticed that before.