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Offline email backup view

  • 11 replies
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  • Last reply by david

A year or so ago I had an email server I knew I was taking offline and needed to be sure I saved all my emails before taking the server offline. So I downloaded them to Thunderbird and exported all the emails. I remember even installing Thunderbird on another computer and being see them from the backup I made. However a year later after installing the newest version of Thunderbird I don't seem to be able to view the emails. While Mozilla was not open I created a new profile using win+r thunderbird.exe -p then I went to my local AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird folder and dropped all my backup information into the new profile I had created. When I start up Mozilla Thunderbird it asks for email login, which I no longer have as the email server has been taken offline. How can I view my email information I have saved its 1.8GB worth which was what was on my email server before taking it offline so I'm confident I have the right files, just not sure how to get them read. I have attached an image of what my backup information looks like.

Thanks for the help in advanced.

A year or so ago I had an email server I knew I was taking offline and needed to be sure I saved all my emails before taking the server offline. So I downloaded them to Thunderbird and exported all the emails. I remember even installing Thunderbird on another computer and being see them from the backup I made. However a year later after installing the newest version of Thunderbird I don't seem to be able to view the emails. While Mozilla was not open I created a new profile using win+r thunderbird.exe -p then I went to my local AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird folder and dropped all my backup information into the new profile I had created. When I start up Mozilla Thunderbird it asks for email login, which I no longer have as the email server has been taken offline. How can I view my email information I have saved its 1.8GB worth which was what was on my email server before taking it offline so I'm confident I have the right files, just not sure how to get them read. I have attached an image of what my backup information looks like. Thanks for the help in advanced.

Chosen solution

Yes, you're close, but that means the names don't match. Go into File Explorer and browse to the c:\users\(yourID)\appdata\roaming\thunderbird\profiles\xxxxyourprofilename\mail\Local Folders to see what files are there. You should see the dummy folders and your folders. Since they're all in same folder, the solution is a bit harder: you need to delete each dummy folder/file and rename yours to what the name was. If in doubt, please create a screenshot of all that is in Local Folders. Do all this with TB shut down.

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Img didn't upload the first time.

First, you do not need server or password. You can start TB and with File>Offline set to work offline. However, before you do that, you need to put your files into TB so that TB is aware of them. To do that, 1. move the files/folders you put into Local Folders somewhere else for now with File Explorer.Y 2. Start TB and create dummy folders in Local Folders for each one, e.g. Billing Inbox, Billing Insurance Folder, etc. Be sure to spell exactly as the original (but omit any suffixes, such as .msf 3. Now, close TB 4. Now, copy the files/folders you moved away in step 1 back to Local Folders with File Explorer. If you named them properly, you will be prompted that you are overwriting duplicate names. 5. Now that TB is aware of the folders and that you have populated them, start TB and you can browser the folders directly with no need to login.

Hey David,

Thanks for your reply. I can't figure out how to get to the email section within Thunderbird to do such a thing if I click the email button from the startup page it takes me to the setup IMAP/POP3 login for online email. If I create a new folder (the only thing not grayed out) it doesn't let me see the new folder or edit it.

-StatenJM

When TB starts and proposes setting up an email client, ignore it and click the HOME tab in upper left. From there, will be in TB and should see Local Folders in left pane.

I'm sadly unable to upload an image otherwise I'd show how the Home tab only takes me to the "Welcome to Thunderbird" page where I can setup email, chat, address book, calendar, etc.

Okay so I went to view>layout>folder pane, but even then after file>new folder nothing appears under the All Folders divider of the folder pane.

Okay, I admit that I forgot with no account that more work is needed. First, if menu isn't showing, right-click near middle of top of screen and tick the menu bar. Now, click the FEED option on setup screen and accept the defaults and finish. then, shut TB down and restart. You should now see a left pane with Local Folders and can right-click to create the dummy folders I mentioned earlier. I just did a raw install and walked myself through it to be sure it works. Keep me posted.

Thanks for your help david, I believe I'm getting closer, but not quite there. I was able to get the proper folder pane after making a feed. I made dummy folders with the exact names of the msf folders without the .msf then I closed Thunderbird dropped my backups in AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird\profiles\[profile I set up] folder and then reopened Thunderbird, but the dummy folders are still dummy.

Ah Ha! I just needed to go a little farther in where I pasted it. profile\[profile I set up]\mail\local folders

Thank you so much for your time david!

Chosen Solution

Yes, you're close, but that means the names don't match. Go into File Explorer and browse to the c:\users\(yourID)\appdata\roaming\thunderbird\profiles\xxxxyourprofilename\mail\Local Folders to see what files are there. You should see the dummy folders and your folders. Since they're all in same folder, the solution is a bit harder: you need to delete each dummy folder/file and rename yours to what the name was. If in doubt, please create a screenshot of all that is in Local Folders. Do all this with TB shut down.

Our messages crossed. From your last message, I infer that all is well now? If so, I'm very pleased. If done, please mark this closed to have it removed from open issues list.

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