Need to find password for email account - was on old Thunderbird - HD mounted - do I need / is it safe to use freeware recovery programs?d is it
I have had to remove the hard drive from my laptop. I have found email profile on hard drive but I am a little confused what to do regarding migration. In the meantime I am setting up TB on a new laptop but in order to setup one of my emails I need the password which I can not find. I have seen online freeware recovery tools and wondered if this is necessary and / or safe to use?
Chosen solution
re :I have had to remove the hard drive from my laptop. I have found email profile on hard drive but I am a little confused what to do regarding migration.
After installing Thunderbird and running it for the first time, a new default profile will be created. At this point, Thunderbird would ask you to create a mail account. However, you mention you can see your old profile on the old hard drive.
Do you want to use the old profile on old hardrive? If yes, then there is little point in creating mail accounts. Exit Thunderbird.
Make sure hidden files and folders are visible:
Access the old hard drive. Locate and copy the 'Thunderbird' folder in this location: 'Appdata' > 'Roaming' > 'Thunderbird'
then paste the copied 'Thunderbird' folder into the new laptop in same location 'Appdata' > 'Roaming' > 'Thunderbird'. It needs to overwrite the folder in order to change all the default setting with all the old profile settings.
Start Thunderbird and it will now use original profile.
re : I am setting up TB on a new laptop but in order to setup one of my emails I need the password which I can not find.
If you use the above instructions to copy paste your old profile etc then the pasword info should be auto copied over....that's assuming you used Password Manager to store passwords.
Passwords are created, modified etc via webmail account - not Thunderbird. Using a browser, try to logon to your webmail account. There should be a 'Forgotten Password' or similar link. Follow the instructions to get access and set up a new password.
Passwords that are stored in Thunderbird are located here: 'Menu icon' > 'Options' > 'Options' > 'Security' > 'Passwords' tab click on 'Saved Passwords' button click on 'Show Passwords' button
You can edit passwords by right clicking on appropriate incoming and outgoing lines for the account. This will be required if you have logged onto webmail account and updated a password for an email address. then click on 'Close' click on 'OK'
Did this info resolve your issue?
Read this answer in context 👍 0All Replies (2)
Chosen Solution
re :I have had to remove the hard drive from my laptop. I have found email profile on hard drive but I am a little confused what to do regarding migration.
After installing Thunderbird and running it for the first time, a new default profile will be created. At this point, Thunderbird would ask you to create a mail account. However, you mention you can see your old profile on the old hard drive.
Do you want to use the old profile on old hardrive? If yes, then there is little point in creating mail accounts. Exit Thunderbird.
Make sure hidden files and folders are visible:
Access the old hard drive. Locate and copy the 'Thunderbird' folder in this location: 'Appdata' > 'Roaming' > 'Thunderbird'
then paste the copied 'Thunderbird' folder into the new laptop in same location 'Appdata' > 'Roaming' > 'Thunderbird'. It needs to overwrite the folder in order to change all the default setting with all the old profile settings.
Start Thunderbird and it will now use original profile.
re : I am setting up TB on a new laptop but in order to setup one of my emails I need the password which I can not find.
If you use the above instructions to copy paste your old profile etc then the pasword info should be auto copied over....that's assuming you used Password Manager to store passwords.
Passwords are created, modified etc via webmail account - not Thunderbird. Using a browser, try to logon to your webmail account. There should be a 'Forgotten Password' or similar link. Follow the instructions to get access and set up a new password.
Passwords that are stored in Thunderbird are located here: 'Menu icon' > 'Options' > 'Options' > 'Security' > 'Passwords' tab click on 'Saved Passwords' button click on 'Show Passwords' button
You can edit passwords by right clicking on appropriate incoming and outgoing lines for the account. This will be required if you have logged onto webmail account and updated a password for an email address. then click on 'Close' click on 'OK'
Did this info resolve your issue?
Thank you