Windows 10 will reach EOS (end of support) on October 14, 2025. For more information, see this article.

Avatar for Username

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

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

How to load local folder and sub-folders from an old installation onto a new drive

  • 2 replies
  • 0 have this problem
  • 3 views
  • Last reply by christ1

Jenananda
Jenananda
more options

I looked at the articles I could find but didn't see anything that told me how to fix my problem. My drive crashed so had to get a new drive but the data is still available.

I have a new drive with a new Windows 7 64 bit installed, and reinstalled Thunderbird IMAP and all is well except, I really need my local folder and subfolders as I have several years of 'collectable' emails that I don't want to lose or have to find and create all the subfolders again as I don't even know the names of all the subfolders.

Please help.

I looked at the articles I could find but didn't see anything that told me how to fix my problem. My drive crashed so had to get a new drive but the data is still available. I have a new drive with a new Windows 7 64 bit installed, and reinstalled Thunderbird IMAP and all is well except, I really need my local folder and subfolders as I have several years of 'collectable' emails that I don't want to lose or have to find and create all the subfolders again as I don't even know the names of all the subfolders. Please help.

All Replies (2)

amanchesterman
amanchesterman
more options

You first need to copy over your old Thunderbird profile and make that available on the new drive. http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_folder_-_Thunderbird Then, in your new version of Thunderbird, install the add-on called ImportExportTools. This will allow you selectively to import emails and folders from the files you have copied. I've never used it and I don't know if it can import a whole structure of subfolders, but it can certainly import folders one at a time.

christ1
christ1
  • Top 25 Contributor
more options

It would have been a whole lot easier if you had transferred the entire profile to the new disk. http://kb.mozillazine.org/Move_to_a_new_PC

As you're using IMAP, you can still do this without loosing any mail. Just in case, backup your profile before you start messing with it. http://kb.mozillazine.org/Thunderbird_:_FAQs_:_Backing_Up_and_Restoring