I have never heard of this software, but personally I think it is probably at best poor quality. From google, it appears to ignore the correct folder to install programs in. (Installing in C:\Utility) The use of program file is a standard Microsoft have been pushing since the release of Windows 95 and really codified in 2003 with XP. I also see no suggestion of how to contact the program authors, even on their web page. An unusual thing for software developers. The domain registrant details are protected by a commercial entity in Panama. The domain record suggest email to 389A1315C8FD401896795A83083A3F9A.PROTECT@WHOISGUARD.COM will be passed on to the registered owner of the domain.

Hidden in the details is a suggestion the email address contact@backupthunderbird.com will get a response. But checking the domain ownership tells us nothing only they do not want to be known. Given the registered the domain through Namecheap.com they are probably spending almost nothing on the site they distribute from. Personally I really wonder if the package is just a distribution method for spyware.

Hi Matt Thank you very very much. Serious issue for me. I clean installed windows 10 over ye olde windows 7. I even (gasp) paid for windows 10 to ensure no foul ups. I was at the very least expecting to find my files under (windows old: users blah blah), but the bastard windows did not do that. Any ideas??? Clutching at straws but losing the last 3 years of mails and addresses etc is taking a serious toll.

Best Regards Raymond

re : It created a file called Thunderbird.bak Are you certain this backup is your profile and not the program itself?

The reason I ask is because in: C:\Users\<Windows user name>\AppData\Roaming there is the 'Thunderbird' folder containing your profiles, which could be backed up, but as it is a folder it would not be given a .bak extension.

'windows.old' folder should have this location: C:\Users\<Windows user name>\AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird\Profiles\Profile name

Profile name folder is usually called 'xxxxxxxx.default' where the x's are letters and numbers.

The 'profile name' folder contains all the files and folders to do with prefernces, mail accounts, emails, address books etc.

I am positive. The program files are on my D Drive.

The reason I am so acid about this is because Windows bloody 10 did not create or move the profile folder when it replaced windows equally bloody 7. God, I hate windows. So my windows.old has all the program files (whoopee) and my users\raymond........ folder had practically F-all.

got hidden files and folders turned on? The appdata folder is hidden by Windows.

Well done Matt. Thank you. Hiidden files - REALLY. NB C:\windows.old>Users>Raymond>AppData>Roaming>Thunderbird Do I copy contents of this folder to: C:\Users\raymo\AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird

basically yes, with the proviso that 1. Thunderbird is not running 2. You are aware anything in that location will be lost. ie new mail in newly configured accounts (I have no idea if you have any)

I am going to stop trying to do this without referring to you.

Sooooo. I set up a new profile 1st (rayold) Then I copied the folders as above into the folders as I indicated. Thunderbird off of course. then I restarted thunderbird and all I have for now is the new stuff from the last few days. How do I switch profiles to see if the data is up and running?

Or

kill existing thunderbird and start from scratch?

When you installed Thunderbird and ran it the first time, it would have auto created a new profile name and prompted you to create mail accounts.

At this point you should not have created any mail accounts. Instead, with Thunderbird closed, you needed to copy paste all the Contents of your old profile name folder into the new profile name folder. Then start Thunderbird to see the new profile with all the old data.

However, it would seem you installed, then ran to auto create a default profile name and then added a mail account. So when you next started Thunderbird, this is the default profile name which it has started from.

The additional profile name you created - I'm assuming you used 'Profile Manager' to do this and I'm assuming you copy pasted all the Contents of your old profile name into this folder.

So, you now have two profiles.

Using 'Profile Manager' you can select which profile to run upon startup.

BUT it would be much easier if you had only the one profile. At the moment you see an account with only the new emails, is this an IMAP mail account? If yes then do the following:

Make sure Thunderbird is closed, Access your Appdata/Roaming/Thunderbird/Profiles/ folder to see the two profile name folders. Open both 'profile name' folders in separate windows so you can see the contents. Select the profile name you created whose contents are the old profile. select every file and folder and use 'Copy'. Then select the 'default' profile name folder and use 'Paste' to overwrite the entire contents.

Just to make sure you understand which files and folders you are copy pasting - they will look similar to the image below.

Hello Gentlemen, I would seriously appreciate a huge dose of understanding and patience from your side. You have been most helpful. I think we are almost there. Now.

I uninstalled tweetybird and deleted all files in an effort to make a fresh start.

I reinstalled and when asked to put in a mail address etc, I declined and closed Thunderbird. I then went to my C:\Windows.old\Users\Raymond\AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird and copied all the files. (see screenshot) NB the word profile does not come into this at this point

Then I pasted these files over: C:\Users\raymo\AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird\Profiles\xxxxxxxx.default

There the word profile appears

Then I fired up Thunderbird. and got an error message - see screenshot 2 followed by screenshot 3

What am I doing wrong?

In the first image, these are the correct files and folders to copy. So all is good. Make sure Thunderbird is closed.

Access C:\Users\raymo\AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird\Profiles\xxxxxxxx.default folder. Check that list of files to see if there is one called 'parent.lock'. If you can see the 'parent.lock' file, delete it.

Then start up Thunderbird. Please report back on results.

Hooray.. it worked Long delay, but wireless internet transceiver got hit by lightning Fri afternoon and I only got back up now.

Thank you Thank you Thank you.