Mozilla Monitor website will be down for 2 hours starting 5/20/2025 at 6 AM PT. Visit our status site for updates.

Avatar for Username

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

This thread was archived. Please ask a new question if you need help.

I get access denied to documents and settings when I attempt to save attachments but I'm on WIn7 and it doesn't have a documents and settings, how do I change

  • 3 replies
  • 2 have this problem
  • 27 views
  • Last reply by vincew

vincew
vincew

I have used mozbackup to restore a profile from an XP machine to a Windows 7 machine, having first installed thunderbird on the windows 7 machine. It has imported all of my mail and e-mail accounts successfully and all works fine excepting when I attempt to save an attachment to an email. It gives an access denied error and states "c:\Documents and Setting\vince\My documents is not accessible" which is a windows XP style path, so it can't be using %AppData%, and I'm assuming something needs to be changed in the profile to use "c:\Users\vince\documents", rather than "c:\Documents and Settings\...". I can't find anywhere obvious. Do you have any ideas please ?

I have used mozbackup to restore a profile from an XP machine to a Windows 7 machine, having first installed thunderbird on the windows 7 machine. It has imported all of my mail and e-mail accounts successfully and all works fine excepting when I attempt to save an attachment to an email. It gives an access denied error and states "c:\Documents and Setting\vince\My documents is not accessible" which is a windows XP style path, so it can't be using %AppData%, and I'm assuming something needs to be changed in the profile to use "c:\Users\vince\documents", rather than "c:\Documents and Settings\...". I can't find anywhere obvious. Do you have any ideas please ?

Chosen solution

ImportExportTools have some folders set up. If you copied that as well. Do you have a signature file?

Otherwise: Go OFF LINE open help / troubleshooting information and open profile folder (button)

CLOSE THUNDERBIRD

now make a copy of prefs.js (for safety) Open prefs.js in a text-editor (like Notepad) Search for C:\Documents and Setting\Vince (maybe in "") Change every occurrence to C:\Users\Vince and save file (as prefs.js not .txt)

(Keep your explorer-window open)

Now start Tbird, it should start in offline mode. If this didn't help or Tbird didn't behave then, with Tbird not running delete your altered prefs.js and rename your copy.

Read this answer in context 👍 1

All Replies (3)

Gnospen
Gnospen

Chosen Solution

ImportExportTools have some folders set up. If you copied that as well. Do you have a signature file?

Otherwise: Go OFF LINE open help / troubleshooting information and open profile folder (button)

CLOSE THUNDERBIRD

now make a copy of prefs.js (for safety) Open prefs.js in a text-editor (like Notepad) Search for C:\Documents and Setting\Vince (maybe in "") Change every occurrence to C:\Users\Vince and save file (as prefs.js not .txt)

(Keep your explorer-window open)

Now start Tbird, it should start in offline mode. If this didn't help or Tbird didn't behave then, with Tbird not running delete your altered prefs.js and rename your copy.

Modified by Gnospen

Gnospen
Gnospen

Under users\Vince there should be a directory or folder wrongly shown as "My documents" but the right name is only Documents (A click on address-bar will show you)

There are also a hidden library (-file) also named My documents that is not accessible

vincew
vincew Question owner

Yes I noticed the 'My Documents' and assumed it should be changed it to 'Documents'. Your instructions were great and worked a treat. All is well now. You are a star, thanks very much.