Mozilla - synchronisation with online server
I am in need of some advice to see if I can fix my missing email from online server situation.
I have had thunderbird set up for an elderly relative for quite some while. It collects emails from their webased IMAP server. Quite a lot of emails over a couple of years. I had assumed they were backed up on the client's server. I don't really look at the client's online webmail, but was helping them out today and noticed that none of their emails had remained on the server. I am very nervous about that and feel I must have inadvertently selected the option to delete from the server upon download when I set up a while back. I am looking to quickly address and fix this situation without losing her emails.
I look for some sound advice on how to best get them back on the server (while keeping the emails on the laptop with the Thunderbird app). I hope it is as simple as synchronizing the server and Thunderbird so that it repopulates in the cloud on the server. Following the instructions from 'Configuring synchronization and disk space usage' here at https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/imap-synchronization seems to indicate that I won't lose any of their emails and the synchronization will repopulate the server if I select the correct options.
However, I worry that I will select synchronize and not fully understand how that works and that it will remove all the emails in Thunderbird to replicate the now barren server and leave my relative with nothing - both on the server and the Thunderbird app. Is this a possibility? I am figuratively kicking myself for putting them into this situation. Or should I be looking at software or some other way to back up and restore the server. I really am worrying that in order to minimize the chances of losing the emails, I will wipe them all.
Apologies if I have not made myself clear or have not used correct terminology, but any advice and/or clear instruction to assist would be so very much appreciated. Thanks
Ændret af milesdoherty den
Valgt løsning
IMAP sync doesn't delete messages from the server while keeping local copies on your PC. That sounds like POP, not IMAP. Please confirm and clarify which type of account it is.
You can and should backup Thunderbird data before you attempt this. This way, you don't have to worry about accidentally losing stuff. For details about Thunderbird data and where it is stored, see Profiles - Where Thunderbird stores your messages and other user data
Læs dette svar i sammenhæng 👍 1Alle svar (4)
Valgt løsning
IMAP sync doesn't delete messages from the server while keeping local copies on your PC. That sounds like POP, not IMAP. Please confirm and clarify which type of account it is.
You can and should backup Thunderbird data before you attempt this. This way, you don't have to worry about accidentally losing stuff. For details about Thunderbird data and where it is stored, see Profiles - Where Thunderbird stores your messages and other user data
Thank you for the reply.
I will double-check tonight that it is IMAP. Pretty sure the email provider only provides does IMAP. I feel though, I remember ticking a box in Thunderbirds settings forcing removal from server. I just have an inkling I likely did that stupidly without clear foresight. I will check the settings when I am back on the computer.
Of course, I should back up the data too. Actually, I am working remotely on this relative's computer using teamview... distance, age barriers, and lack of IT skills (actually, skill for both of us - but especially so for my elderly relative) so I am not sure how I can then easily get these email files easily onto another storage platform. I know it should be as simple as popping in a USB stick, but it isn't that simple when dealing with an almost 90-year-old.
Tonight though, I will try to do as per suggested and get back to you here. I just hope it synchronizes as I expect, as otherwise, it will be a lengthy period fixing things on a remote interface that isn't really all that enjoyable an experience.
The option to leave or delete messages from the server is available for POP accounts only.
You don't need another storage device to save a backup copy of Thunderbird data. All you have to do is Quit Thunderbird (to release files that are in use when it's running) then copy and paste the Thunderbird folder to a convenient location on your computer, such as the Desktop. That'll suffice for temporary or short-term backup as an immediate precaution before you attempt anything else.
Thank you for the assistance and valuable learning.
So when I set up the account (a couple of years ago) I used POP settings. I did not understand how this would affect the account and the emails. I appreciate this understanding and have set up a new IMAP account.
Backed up the profile.
Also, simply then copy and pasted the folders with the emails into the new IMAP account. It was that simple. The online server repopulated. A lot of emails, so will check again soon, and delete the old POP account once they have all moved across.
Once more, thank you for the advice. Cheers!