How to move to new PC with Outlook 2024

[BJB]

I have used MPE as a contributing member for years with Outlook PST and android.

Moving to a new PC on Windows 11 with Outlook 2024. I will have moved over the Outlook PST and setup my email on new PC so all is the same.

The folder where I have synced all the images in my DCIM folder each sync will be there with all the images from the last sync. Hopefully it does not duplicate them. It didn't last time I did this several years ago. Years of images.

After installing and setting up MPE last time I moved, I set the sync to "phone overwrites Outlook" for everything except picture backup. (Thats was sync) and let it sync.i also believe for calendar I told it to read the entire file not the last x days or whatever that checkbox is. Everything worked.

Is this still the best practice in 2025?

Thanks
BJB

[BJB]

If anyone has any input on this i would appreciate it.

I found my old notes from the last time I did this, but that was a very long time ago.

Thanks!

[icke1954]

After the MPE installation, when adding the cell phone, all data (contacts, appointments and notes ...) are automatically loaded from the cell phone to the PC into the MPE database.
If the data in the mobile phone is correct, I advise you to force a synchronization from your cell phone to Outlook.
Concerns photo-sync:
I assume that you do not realize the photos via the MPE function "Foto-Sync", but created a file job in MPE.
With the first sync, I advise you to activate the option "on both sides", then all changes in the confirmation window are displayed before the sync.

[BJB]

Thanks! So add the phone then it just loads the data to MPE....but not Outlook, correct?
So let it load ( it is syncing not loading) , then setup outlook sync for phone to overwrites Outlook. I never knew it was just loading for a new phone....I was always worried it was starting to sync!

As to photos I use the photo backup option in MPE which I believe backs up the DCIM photo folder. Hopefully it matches data on my first sync and knows these files are the same even though MPE had not synced them on this PC.

I also have a file copy job setup for a few folders. In both of the above cases the data on the pc in the target directory will have about 95% of the files on the phone. There will just be a month of new files on the phone. I understand you are saying for these to choose "on both sides" so the changes are displayed before a sync.

Thanks,
BJB

[icke1954]

If all relevant data paths are identical to the old PC on the new PC, you can copy the entire MPE database to the new PC after the MPE installation.
You can find your MPE database folder at Windows Start menu (execute) => %Appdata %\Myphoneexplorer
The path has been changed see MPE => F2 => Expanded 2 => Database
or
In the registry: Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\MyPhoneExplorer => Database

[BJB]

Thanks to both.
Do I have to copy the "Cache" folder within the other folders under my phone folder to the new PC? It is a copy of every image copied over from the DCIM and Download folders. Is it just used for emergencies or in the sync selection process.

Then once I copy things over, for safety still run "phone overwrites outlook" for calendar and contacts? Or just set it to sync both sides, and I have it show what it is going to sync before committing?

But if I do this I guess MPE would know where it is at for the photo backup and download photo file copy processes so it won't re-synch old items?
Thanks

[icke1954]

You don't need to copy the 'cache' folder.
In theory, it can also be automatically deleted when MPE exit:
MPE => F2 => Advanced 2 => Delete filecache on exit

Otherwise everything should work as usual.

[BJB]

Awesome, thanks. I like the cache as a failsafe just in case. But no need to copy over. Got it. Thanks.

[icke1954]

Thanks for your feedback!

Best regards
icke

[BJB]

I wanted to report back that this worked like a charm! Did not copy cache over but did copy everything else. Used identical MPE pc settings and it synced like a normal next sync.
Thanks!

PS. This process you noted above should be a sticky/FAQ post. Very helpful.

[icke1954]

I'm happy to hear that everything worked!

Best regards
icke

[BJB]

I just realized that now that I am moving to a new phone in a few weeks, I will have another "first sync".

I am very familiar to setting the PC to "outlook overwrites phone" for a new phone first sync of calendar, contacts, and notes.

But I also have the DCIM folder Photo backup and another folder I use a job to copy to the PC.

I have done this before and I think MPE figures out the images are already there? I don't think I can use the database copy as I did above as it is a new phone. Just don't want it to start duplicating.

Before I sync the first time the DCIM folder and that other folder will be exactly the same on the old and new phone. MPE just doesn't "know" that.

Thanks,

[icke1954]

As to photos I use the photo backup option in MPE which I believe backs up the DCIM photo folder.

- Do you enable the settings MPE => F2 => Advanced 2 => Sync only new photos
- If the photos are in the same place, all you have to do is take over the File Photosync.dat from the old PC, otherwise see FixPhotoSyncDat

[BJB]

Thanks. Yes, I enable "sync only new photos"
I am now on the new pc. My old phone successfully syncing.
When I get my new phone I will set it up to sync on the same new pc.

So I would copy the Photosync.dat from my old phone's folder to my new phone's folder?

Thanks

[icke1954]

- Do you enable the settings MPE => F2 => Advanced 2 => Sync only new photos
- If the photos are in the same place, all you have to do is take over the File Photosync.dat from the old PC, otherwise see FixPhotoSyncDat

Sorry, please forget that! It was a mistake from me
1. Only users need this if their move the photos on the PC from the original folder to another location!
Then without these Photosync.dat, all photos would be copied again from the cell phone on the PC.
2. Only the method works then: FixPhotoSyncDat

[BJB]

No worries. So if on same pc, photos in same place on pc. And before my first MPE sync photos will be in same place on new phone. So if this is the case, just run the sic with photo backup enabled?
Thanks

[BJB]

Just checking in on the above for photos.
Thanks!

[BJB]

I will moving to the new phone this weekend. The new phone DCIM folder will be identical to the PC destination. I guess the question is, will it try to duplicate all of those photos?

The pld phone will be synced on the same pc before moving to new phone,
Thanks

[icke1954]

I guess the question is, will it try to duplicate all of those photos?

No, that shouldn't happen

[BJB]

Thanks! I fixed the typo in the last sentance.