I moved thunderbird to a new PC, including the profile folder, and it can't find the profile folder.
I've tried using the profile app to find the folder. thunderbird doesn't load, and says the profile can't load or is missing. HELP!
Chosen solution
Not sure what you copied over, but the 'profiles.ini' file cannot locate the profile, so it sounds like you tried copying just a profile name into the 'Profiles' folder which means the 'profiles.ini' file has no knowledge of it.
After installing Thunderbird on new computer. The first time you run Thunderbird, it creates a default profile name and asks you to create a mail account. As you want to use the old profile, do not create a mail account. Exit Thunderbird.
I'm not sure what you backed up or whether you still have everything but just on old computer. If you have everything still on old computer do the following. Make sure Thunderbird is closed. Make sure hidden files and folders are visible:
On old computer locate: C:\Users\<Windows user name>\AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird folder. Right click on 'Thunderbird' folder and select 'Copy'
Paste the copied 'Thunderbird' folder onto external device so you can move to the new computer.
On new computer locate: C:\Users\<Windows user name>\AppData\Roaming folder Paste the copied 'Thunderbird' folder into the 'Roaming' folder, overwriting the new 'Thunderbird' folder with the old one. This will copy over the old 'profiles.ini' file as well as everything contained in the 'Profiles' folder.
Then start up Thunderbird.
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Chosen Solution
Not sure what you copied over, but the 'profiles.ini' file cannot locate the profile, so it sounds like you tried copying just a profile name into the 'Profiles' folder which means the 'profiles.ini' file has no knowledge of it.
After installing Thunderbird on new computer. The first time you run Thunderbird, it creates a default profile name and asks you to create a mail account. As you want to use the old profile, do not create a mail account. Exit Thunderbird.
I'm not sure what you backed up or whether you still have everything but just on old computer. If you have everything still on old computer do the following. Make sure Thunderbird is closed. Make sure hidden files and folders are visible:
On old computer locate: C:\Users\<Windows user name>\AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird folder. Right click on 'Thunderbird' folder and select 'Copy'
Paste the copied 'Thunderbird' folder onto external device so you can move to the new computer.
On new computer locate: C:\Users\<Windows user name>\AppData\Roaming folder Paste the copied 'Thunderbird' folder into the 'Roaming' folder, overwriting the new 'Thunderbird' folder with the old one. This will copy over the old 'profiles.ini' file as well as everything contained in the 'Profiles' folder.
Then start up Thunderbird.