When you import IMAP accounts from Outlook Express into Outlook, the IMAP folders may not populate

After you import Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP) accounts from Microsoft Outlook Express into Microsoft Office Outlook 2003 or Microsoft Office Outlook 2007, the IMAP folders may not populate when you send or receive e-mail messages. This behavior occurs in the following scenario:

• You configure Outlook Express to connect to IMAP4 folders on your e-mail server.
• You install Outlook 2003 or Outlook 2007 on the same workstation.
• You import the Outlook Express account into Outlook 2003 or Outlook 2007.
• You subscribe to folders other than Inbox.

Additionally, when you click Send/Receive, you notice that the folders that you subscribed to are empty. Only the messages in the Inbox folder are displayed.

This behavior occurs if the default root folder path was changed before you imported the Outlook Express account.

To work around this behavior, delete the root folder path so that the path is empty. The data that is in the IMAP folder is not lost. This data still resides on the Microsoft Exchange Server computer. To access this data, reset the root folder path.

To reset the root folder path in Outlook, follow these steps:

1. Exit Outlook 2003 or Outlook 2007.
2. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
3. Click Switch to Classic View.
4. Double-click the Mail icon.
5. Click E-mail Accounts, click View or change existing e-mail accounts, and then click Next.
6. Click the IMAP4 account, and then click Change.
7. Click More Settings.
8. On the Advanced tab, delete the path that appears in the Root Folder Path box.
9. Click OK, and then click Next.
   
   You receive the following message:
   Microsoft Office Outlook. The root folder path for IMAP Server Name has changed. Outlook has flushed all cached folders
10. Click OK.

IMAP4 is an open Internet standard that permits both client and server messaging. You can store information on a server with IMAP, and you can synchronize a local store for off-line access.

Outlook supports the IMAP4 protocol. Some servers may use an updated standard of IMAP that is named IMAP4rev1. This version of IMAP can prevent authentication of your credentials and access to your account. To verify the IMAP protocol that your server is using, contact your system administrator or Internet service provider (ISP).

To view all the available folders, follow these steps:

1. On the Tools menu, click IMAP Folders.
2. Click to clear the When displaying hierarchy in Outlook, show only subscribed folders check box.