Unfortunately there is no cookie-cutter way of doing this.  The process is dependent on the existing installation that you wish to migrate from.  Start-up the existing Pegasus Mail then go to Help > About Pegasus mail.  Click the "Info" button then copy the contents of that display and post it here.  We can then offer specific advice on how to proceed.

I suggest starting a new thread noting that you want to migrate from an XP machine to a Win10 machine and are providing the info from the existing install.

I have been using Pmail for about 20+ years, first on DOS, then on Windows since the late 1990s, and it has been reliable and efficient - until I installed Windows 10.

 I have three PCs at home all in a Homegroup and with full access to all users. All users are Administrators too.

Pmail is now having what appear to be file permission problems. In particular "The user you are attempting to 'become' (aidan) does not exist on this system."

The users are all in pmail.usr and show correctly in the Users menu.

 Any ideas?

 Cheers

 Aidan

Having a problem as well. Installed on win 10. Worked fine for a few days but all of a sudden... won't open. Start screen flashes for a split second and... nothing. Tried changing compatibility modes but still nothing. 

A typical cause for a flash of the splash screen with no startup is that Pegasus Mail can not access the mailbox directory.  I know nothing of Win10 or your installation of Pegasus Mail so am unable to offer specific help on how to troubleshoot. 

The first post in this thread make reference to homegroup.  I gave up on homegroup back when trying to network a WinXP machine with a one running Win7.  Never could get it to work so resorted to the old-fashioned file sharing approach.  I can't speak to homegroup and Win10.

Thanks. I am not really using the Homegroup features, but it is present. I am mostly using relatively basic file sharing.

It is not flashing the splash screen: it is either claiming the user is not valid, or opening the wrong file tree (or trying to). I did have -roam in the command, but if I remove that then it loads up - but gets the wrong file tree by using the C: drive instead of W:.

The Info data is:

Pegasus Mail for Microsoft Windows
Copyright (C) 1992-2014, David Harris, all rights reserved
Electronic mail to support@pmail.gen.nz.

WinPMail version: Version 4.70 (Win32), Feb 27 2014, build ID 546
Language resources: Standard UK English resource set
Extension Manager version: 1.14
Operating mode: Standalone
User name and ID: aidan, 0
Windows version: 6.2
Windows flag word: 0
WINPMAIL.EXE directory: \\Zoostorm\c\pmail\Prog470
Home mailbox location: C:\PMAIL\aidan
New mailbox location: C:\PMAIL\aidan
TMP environment variable: C:\Users\ACAH\AppData\Local\Temp
TEMP environment variable: C:\Users\ACAH\AppData\Local\Temp
LAN-based SMTP support: N, N, N
NetWare MHS support: N, N, N
Built-in TCP/IP support: Enabled
  - WINSOCK version: WinSock 2.0
  - WINSOCK path: WSOCK32.DLL
Commandline: -A -i aidan
Active -Z options: 32768
PMR variable: (None)
PML variable: (None)
MAI variable: (None)
NB variable: (None)
Autofiltering folders: 0 (0 active, 0 inactive)
Last new mail count: 2398
Message size soft limit: 0 bytes
Message size hard limit: 0 bytes
Attachment size soft limit: 0 bytes
Attachment size hard limit: 0 bytes

The correct file structure is at W:\pmail\aidan - I have no idea why it has used C: as that is the wrong PC! W: is mapped to \\Zoostorm\c

The shortcut specifies W: as the directory to use, but somehow this gets ignored/lost.

I don't see any difference with the OS as far as that goes. But no clue why it would work for days then suddenly stop. Been using peg for like 9000 years. 

I did install another copy on another drive and that opens and works fine. Except, of course, can't find any old mailboxes. (I have 11) And I don't see how I could import them from the "bad" installation.

Aidan,

Try this.

Close Pegasus Mail.

Make a backup copy of the PMAIL.INI file located in W:\pmail\aidan.

Now edit the existing PMAIL.INI file...

Change all references to "\\Zoostorm\c" to "W:\" so instead of "\\Zoostorm\c\pmail\Prog470" you would have "W:\pmail\prog470" (no quotes)

Change all "C:\PMAIL\aidan" entries to "W:\pmail\aidan"

Save and close the file then start Pegasus Mail.  I don't believe the -roam switch will be needed but don't think it will cause any harm either.  You can test with and without just to see.

There is one piece of this puzzle that I have never figured out.  There is a file named PMAIL.CFG that provides Pegasus Mail with the path to the mailboxes.  A number of forum posters have reported not having to correct the PMAIL.CFG file when encountering issues like yours (it's one of the few config files that you can not edit manually).  I assume the entries in the .ini file take precedence but have never been able to confirm that so am anxious to hear back from you on how this goes.

garyoa1,

Have you checked to see whether you can navigate to and manipulate files in any of your mailbox directories with a File Manager?

Is your installation to c:\pmail\programs with mailboxes in c:\pmail\mail?

FYI, there is no mailbox import function.  The process of copying mailbox date is very much a manual process when the new installation location is different from the original.  This a not a big deal when there are a small number of mailboxes but 11 would be a chore.  More so if any have multiple identities.  Hopefully we can figure out another way.

That's whats odd. The old dead install is c:\pmail. No programs folder. Everything is just in that root. The new install on E does have the programs folder. To me it doesn't matter which drive it's installed on, just has to work. :) 

And yes, I copied it from my laptop when my main system crashed. This is a new build. (It still works fine on my laptop)  

[quote user="garyoa1"]That's whats odd. The old dead install is c:\pmail. No programs folder. Everything is just in that root. The new install on E does have the programs folder. To me it doesn't matter which drive it's installed on, just has to work. :) 

And yes, I copied it from my laptop when my main system crashed. This is a new build. (It still works fine on my laptop)[/quote]

This makes no sense.  The c:\pmail instance should have never worked to begin with.  It sounds like some of its files were deleted.  Is there any mail data in c:\pmail (.PMM or .CNM files)?  If so, how important is it to recover any mail received during the days it was working?

Fire up Pmail on the laptop and post the content of the Info button located in Help > About Pegasus Mail.  This info will help determine the best way to get a working copy back on C:.

Yeah there's data in all of them. It was working for a few days but nothing I need in those days is important. But the older stuff is quite critical.

Oh, and the laptop is win10 as well.  

 Laptop...

 Pegasus Mail for Microsoft Windows

Copyright (C) 1992-2011, David Harris, all rights reserved

Electronic mail to support@pmail.gen.nz.

WinPMail version: Version 4.63 (Win32), Dec 22 2011, build ID 325

Language resources: Standard UK English resource set

Extension Manager version: 1.14

Operating mode: Standalone

User name and ID: Single-user mode, 0

Windows version: 6.2

Windows flag word: 0

WINPMAIL.EXE directory: C:\pmail

Home mailbox location: C:\PMAIL\GARYOA1

New mailbox location: C:\PMAIL\GARYOA1

TMP environment variable: C:\Users\GMOLAP~1\AppData\Local\Temp

TEMP environment variable: C:\Users\GMOLAP~1\AppData\Local\Temp

LAN-based SMTP support: N, N, N

NetWare MHS support: N, N, N

Built-in TCP/IP support: Enabled

  - WINSOCK version: WinSock 2.0

  - WINSOCK path: C:\WINDOWS\System32\WSOCK32.DLL

Commandline: -roam -A

Active -Z options: 32768

PMR variable: (None)

PML variable: (None)

MAI variable: (None)

NB variable: (None)

Autofiltering folders: 0 (0 active, 0 inactive)

Last new mail count: 19

Message size soft limit: 0 bytes

Message size hard limit: 0 bytes

Attachment size soft limit: 0 bytes

Attachment size hard limit: 0 bytes

garyoa1,

The install on the laptop does not have a \pmail\programs directory which I suspect is the result of repeated upgrades to a pretty old version.  I suggest a clean install on the new machine to get everything in default locations.  This should help with future troubleshooting and upgrades.  Mail data can then be copied from either the laptop or c:\pmail; probably the laptop since we don't know what we are dealing with in c:\pmail.  Below are steps for installing on C: but you can use them as a guide for using the current install on E: if you choose to do that.

1.  Make a backup copy of the entire C:\PMAIL directory including all subdirectories and files if you want a safety copy.  The original is going to be renamed until it is determined that it is not longer needed so this step probably isn't necessary for you but that is your call.

2.  With Pegasus Mail closed, rename C:\PMAIL to C:\PMAIL_SAVED.  Do not run Pegasus Mail from this location because it will create unwanted registry entries.

3.  Install Pegasus Mail to its default location of C:\PMAIL.  It will want to install to E: if that was the last instance run so be sure to install it to C:

4. Create user GARYOA1 and any other user you will need in this install.  User names must match those on the laptop.

5.  Configure Pegasus Mail for each user.  Avoid downloading any new mail just yet (disable any created POP3 hosts).  Hint:  A copy of the pmail.ini from each users old mailbox is a useful reference during configuration.

6.  Close Pegasus Mail.

7.   Copy mailbox data files as per the downloadable white paper located in the downloads area of this site.  http://community.pmail.com/files/folders/whitepapers/entry41852.aspx   Be cautious not to overwrite any files.  If in doubt, please ask.

It might be valuable to review the white paper before getting started.

You can copy data one mailbox at a time testing each user before moving to the next one.  Enable your POP3 host(s) once you are comfortable that the mail data copy process has been successful.

By the way. There is no program directory/folder on the laptop either.

Ok. Was going to install again and went to a folder with D/L's & progs I keep. Noticed a winpmail exe file there that I didn't notice before. Clicked on it. Everything works. Don't ask me why but seems I'm good to go. 

[quote user="garyoa1"]Ok. Was going to install again and went to a folder with D/L's & progs I keep. Noticed a winpmail exe file there that I didn't notice before. Clicked on it. Everything works. Don't ask me why but seems I'm good to go. [/quote]

Seriously?  Winpmail.exe goes back to the 16 bit versions of Pegasus Mail.  The last record of it I find is v3.12b from 1999.  Those were the days!  My daughter was still a child, I still had hair, my knees didn't hurt,...

Thanks very much. This reverts the configuration to what I had when I was running just two PCs (on Win 7 Ultimate).

Unfortunately it still falls over with "The user you are attempting to 'become' (aidan) does not exist on this system."

As it doesn't actually get into the program, I can't see what actual values are present in "Info".

I have also disabled the two Homegroup services as instructed in a MS Support posting. As I wasn't really using it, it should not make a difference.

I am beginning to wonder whether to re-install Win 7! Will probably lose several days' work re-installing programs if so.

Cheers

Well it is 4.70. And the string is C:\pmail\winpm-32.exe -roam -A. No clue why the "seemingly" same string didn't work with another link. Nor why it has no program directory. As far as the name... very possible I was just tooling around and renamed it to be able to find it easier. Don't really remember. Hay! That was a few days ago! LOL

And, FWIW, I just hit 70 in October, so yeah, everything I own aches! Still have hair tho! :)  

Aidan, did you try compatibility mode? Mine (automatically) set itself to win7. 

Update to post at 19:39 +0000 today...

Noticed another post in sub-thread suggesting editing  PMAIL.CFG using PCONFIG.EXE, running under DosBox. I have edited it to show the home and new mailbox as W:\PMAIL\~8

It is a good few years since I last used PCONFIG!  I used to have to set up a gateway, but I can't remember whether this is relevant now.

Anyway, it still falls over with "The user you are attempting to 'become' (aidan) does not exist on this system." Additionally, it stopped running on the main PC as well (same error). I have reverted PMAIL.CFG and it is now OK on the main PC.

Cheers

[quote user="Aidan C A Hopkins"]Update to post at 19:39 +0000 today...

Noticed another post in sub-thread suggesting editing  PMAIL.CFG using PCONFIG.EXE, running under DosBox. I have edited it to show the home and new mailbox as W:\PMAIL\~8

It is a good few years since I last used PCONFIG!  I used to have to set up a gateway, but I can't remember whether this is relevant now.

Anyway, it still falls over with "The user you are attempting to 'become' (aidan) does not exist on this system." Additionally, it stopped running on the main PC as well (same error). I have reverted PMAIL.CFG and it is now OK on the main PC.[/quote]

The new PMAIL.CFG file is in the \Prog470 directory correct?

Is the path used in the shortcut to start Pegasus Mail W:\pmail\prog470\winpm-32.exe?

No need for configuring a gateway unless to you are passing outgoing messages to a mail server like Mercury for processing.