Moving maildir folders

[David Elwell <elwell1 verizon net>]

I am about to install a new version of Linux, and I want to make sure 
that I don't mess up my saved balsa messages.

Will it work if I simply copy the folders in my mail directory to an 
external drive and then copy them back into the mail directory when I 
have Linux and balsa reinstalled?

Is there a better way? Can anything go wrong?