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Import into T-Bird email (local folders & content) from another computer using T-Bird

  • 4 replies
  • 2 have this problem
  • 11 views
  • Last reply by Glospreys

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I'm using T-Bird on an old PC and new Laptop. PC having problems. Want to "copy" (export?) the email content and local folders structure from the PC into the T-Bird folders on the laptop. Privacy Reason - need to take the PC to vendor for diagnosis / repair and want to transfer the email content to the laptop, before deleting it from the PC. Is there a way to "synch" the T-Bird folder structure and email content of the PC onto the laptop? Can one use "import/export tools NG" (but variables very confusing)? Thank you.

I'm using T-Bird on an old PC and new Laptop. PC having problems. Want to "copy" (export?) the email content and local folders structure from the PC into the T-Bird folders on the laptop. Privacy Reason - need to take the PC to vendor for diagnosis / repair and want to transfer the email content to the laptop, before deleting it from the PC. Is there a way to "synch" the T-Bird folder structure and email content of the PC onto the laptop? Can one use "import/export tools NG" (but variables very confusing)? Thank you.

Chosen solution

If the two old profiles aren't shown in profiles.ini or Profile Manager, I can't say why they can't be deleted manually from Explorer - unless you have TB open while trying to delete. Maybe if you 'create' them with Profile Manager, you can then delete them from PM.

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I would copy the Thunderbird folder from the PC to the laptop, which would duplicate all data and settings between laptop and PC. Delete the Thunderbird folder from the PC before sending it in for repair. Continue to run TB on the laptop, and when you get the PC back, copy the Thunderbird folder from the laptop to the PC.

Copying the Thunderbird folder between computers is explained here:

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/moving-thunderbird-data-to-a-new-computer

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Thank you for your quick response. Unfortunately, I still have a problem. I have two old profiles that I wish to delete, but they don't show up in T-Bird Program Manager and you can't manually delete them even if you get to the Profiles folder within the Thunderbird folder(user, appdta, roaming, Thunderbird). I was able to delete one ".default" (via Pgm Mgr), but these 2 (with ".default" extension) are not listed. Don't want to copy them to my laptop when I move the emails to my laptop. Any suggestions? Thank you for your consideration of this. Greg D. PS. the two profiles are not listed in the installs.ini or profiles.ini

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Chosen Solution

If the two old profiles aren't shown in profiles.ini or Profile Manager, I can't say why they can't be deleted manually from Explorer - unless you have TB open while trying to delete. Maybe if you 'create' them with Profile Manager, you can then delete them from PM.

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I wish to thank you for your direction. I was able to copy off / save my PC version of T-Bird onto my laptop. Get my PC fixed and copy back from the laptop onto the PC again. Thank you again for "saving my bacon". Greg D.