How do I restructure WLM folders?

Hi all,

I am encountering a problem where many of my storage folders are unable to display the messages contained within them.

Looking over the other threads, I believe the problem is that I have been using windows mail for a while, bring my email archive with me as I update computers, and have somehow ended up with extremely long paths. Things like: 

c/Users/terence/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows Live Mail/Storage Folders/Imported Folder/Local Folders/Imported Folder/Inbox/foldernane1/foldername2/foldername3/foldername4/foldername5

Note the multiple levels between the storage folders directory and the actual folder hierarchy I use / care about.

The actual eml files appear to be in the appropriate directories and do not appear to be corrupted.

I am running Windows 8 and WLM 2012, build 16.4.....

Since this is all indexed off of files, is there an easy way that I can copy / move the directories around to get something that will actually work within WLM?

Alternatively, is there a way I can extend the program to accept these longer directories?

I tried the simple step of creating a new directory within the WLM program then copying messages over, but of course, I just got the notice that the message can't be found. 

I have compressed the files and tried to repair the windows essential program to no avail (common  recommendations elsewhere)

I have also tried to just copy over the files into a new location -  but since I don't know how to tell WML that they are there, it didn't work out.

Running out of ideas at this point....

Thanks

Terence