Where did you install Firefox from? Help Mozilla uncover 3rd party websites that offer problematic Firefox installation by taking part in our campaign. There will be swag, and you'll be featured in our blog if you manage to report at least 10 valid reports!

Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

What would prevent Thunderbird from re-creating deleted *.msf files?

  • 2 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 1 view
  • Last reply by JoeB

more options

What would keep TB from re-creating *.msf files after they've been deleted, to get old mail to show up in TB (mail still physically in the Mail folder)?

Had to create a new profile & copy in a bunch of accounts. All worked OK except one.

At 1st, the one acct was missing in Tbird. Eventually I re-created the acct, but it didn't pick up all the old emails, that are in the new profile, under that acct's folder (still isn't).

All other accts are working. I deleted the *.msf files for that acct & restarted. Still didn't pick up the old email, but did retrieve new msgs (arriving after new profile was created).

Then, when I'd 1st re-start TB, I was sure all msgs were displaying. A few min. later I'd look & they were all gone from the one acct - except the newest msgs. Huh? I drank another cup of coffee.

Finally saw that TB still wasn't re-creating the msf files, so it never retains the msgs it displays (I guess - they keep "disappearing").

What would keep TB from re-creating *.msf files after they've been deleted, to get old mail to show up in TB (mail still physically in the Mail folder)? Had to create a new profile & copy in a bunch of accounts. All worked OK except one. At 1st, the one acct was missing in Tbird. Eventually I re-created the acct, but it didn't pick up all the old emails, that are in the new profile, under that acct's folder (still isn't). All other accts are working. I deleted the *.msf files for that acct & restarted. Still didn't pick up the old email, but did retrieve new msgs (arriving after new profile was created). Then, when I'd 1st re-start TB, I was sure all msgs were displaying. A few min. later I'd look & they were all gone from the one acct - except the newest msgs. Huh? I drank another cup of coffee. Finally saw that TB still wasn't re-creating the msf files, so it never retains the msgs it displays (I guess - they keep "disappearing").

Chosen solution

What "They" do you mean? The *.msf files? How could they be in a different profile than the one currently in use?

"Here's what really happened."

TB created a "different" mail folder for this acct - which I didn't see at the bottom of all the accts under "Profiles\<profile name>\Mail."

I'd entered POP server name for the acct in TB settings. I used "POP.unseen..." instead of "mail.unseen..." - which seems unlikely to work. Provider's instructions are to use "mail.unseen...." I didn't look for the other mail storage folder because "pop.unseen..." server name worked. It d/l the newest mail into the new mail storage folder it created, that I didn't see. I was expecting it to be like the old folder & like another acct for that provider's service.

Once I changed the server name in TB settings, it used the "correct" storage folder & re-created the *.msf files in that folder. But, I had to open the Inbox & Sent files from both mail storage folders, then copy the older mail into the newer mail folders.

If Tbird / Unseen's servers hadn't worked when using either "pop.unseen...." or "mail.unseen..." server names, I would have caught my "error" right away.

Read this answer in context 👍 0

All Replies (2)

more options

My initial reaction is they are not in the current profile.

more options

Chosen Solution

What "They" do you mean? The *.msf files? How could they be in a different profile than the one currently in use?

"Here's what really happened."

TB created a "different" mail folder for this acct - which I didn't see at the bottom of all the accts under "Profiles\<profile name>\Mail."

I'd entered POP server name for the acct in TB settings. I used "POP.unseen..." instead of "mail.unseen..." - which seems unlikely to work. Provider's instructions are to use "mail.unseen...." I didn't look for the other mail storage folder because "pop.unseen..." server name worked. It d/l the newest mail into the new mail storage folder it created, that I didn't see. I was expecting it to be like the old folder & like another acct for that provider's service.

Once I changed the server name in TB settings, it used the "correct" storage folder & re-created the *.msf files in that folder. But, I had to open the Inbox & Sent files from both mail storage folders, then copy the older mail into the newer mail folders.

If Tbird / Unseen's servers hadn't worked when using either "pop.unseen...." or "mail.unseen..." server names, I would have caught my "error" right away.