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I need help pointing TB to an old profile

  • 4 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 22 views
  • Last reply by rhsmiley43

rhsmiley43
rhsmiley43
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I have a Win7/Ubuntu dual boot PC. Before I reinstalled Win7, I reinstalled TB on my D drive (in "D:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Thunderbird"). I also moved my (very large) TB profile to D:\TBirdProfile. Then, I booted into Ubuntu 20.04, installed TB and pointed the Ubuntu TB to D:\TBirdProfile. Viola, it worked after much dinking around. Now I have reinstalled Win7 and reinstalled the Win7 TB program to "D:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Thunderbird" The problem is that when I reinstalled Win7 TB, it created a new profile. I don't want a new profile and for the life of me I cannot figure out how to make thunderbird -p point to my old profile. There are dozens of similar questions on the internet but none of them clarify what specific keys to type to tell TB "Use this profile, not that one!" I've done the %APPDATA% fix but still no luck. I did it under Ubuntu so it can't be that hard, but the steps are so un-intuitive I can't recall how I did it in Ubuntu. I'll gladly make a donation to the TB fund if someone can help me. Thanks

I have a Win7/Ubuntu dual boot PC. Before I reinstalled Win7, I reinstalled TB on my D drive (in "D:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Thunderbird"). I also moved my (very large) TB profile to D:\TBirdProfile. Then, I booted into Ubuntu 20.04, installed TB and pointed the Ubuntu TB to D:\TBirdProfile. Viola, it worked after much dinking around. Now I have reinstalled Win7 and reinstalled the Win7 TB program to "D:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Thunderbird" The problem is that when I reinstalled Win7 TB, it created a new profile. I don't want a new profile and for the life of me I cannot figure out how to make thunderbird -p point to my old profile. There are dozens of similar questions on the internet but none of them clarify what specific keys to type to tell TB "Use this profile, not that one!" I've done the %APPDATA% fix but still no luck. I did it under Ubuntu so it can't be that hard, but the steps are so un-intuitive I can't recall how I did it in Ubuntu. I'll gladly make a donation to the TB fund if someone can help me. Thanks

Chosen solution

Open a Run window with Windowskey+R and type thunderbird.exe -p

If that doesn't work, enter the exact path to the exe, e.g.

C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Thunderbird\thunderbird.exe -p

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All Replies (4)

sfhowes
sfhowes
  • Top 10 Contributor
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Start profile Manager with the -p command, click Create Profile..., click Choose Folder..., and browse to the old profile folder. Another method that may work is to add the profile folder path to the command line, as described here.

rhsmiley43
rhsmiley43 Question owner
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When I try to start Profile Manager with the -P command I get the following error message (3 tries): Windows cannot find "D:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Thunderbird.exe" -P. Make sure you typed the name correctly, and then try again.

sfhowes
sfhowes
  • Top 10 Contributor
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Chosen Solution

Open a Run window with Windowskey+R and type thunderbird.exe -p

If that doesn't work, enter the exact path to the exe, e.g.

C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Thunderbird\thunderbird.exe -p

rhsmiley43
rhsmiley43 Question owner
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Got it. Works now. Thanks a million. Will make donation momentarily. Richard Smiley