Tbird not restored from backup copy
I have been backing up my Tbird profile using FreeFileSync, which copies all files which have changed between the original and copy since the last backup. I did that this morning, but then made a mistake handling some tasks so restored my Tbird profile from the backup. Now when I start Tbird I get a largely blank screen, but with only one tab, marked Home, and a message in the bottom left saying "Synchronising Google Calendar". The system then hangs. I'm using 102.11 under Ubuntu 22.04LTS. I now realise I should have been using export to backup my profile, and will do so in future (!), but that won't help me today. How can I fix this?
Chosen solution
All you need are the elements that you 'own', such as the addressbook (abook.sqlite) and anything you had in local folders, plus any POP message accounts. Yes, I would reinstall Thunderbird, then exit Thunderbird and copy what you have (addressbook to the profile and local folders to Mail\Local Folders, and any saved POP message folders also to Mail\Local Folders. Then reinstall your accounts. Once everything is working, exit Thunderbird and do a backup of the profile.
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You would need to share whatever pieces you saved. My thought is to identify whatever was in Local folders or a POP account. Then create a new profile and copy those components into the Mail\Local Folders folder, and then to copy the abook.sqlite into the profile folder and then create the accounts .
Hi David and thanks for your reply. Please tell me what you mean by "pieces you saved", as I am unsure about what this may mean. The backup I do does a complete copy of everything in my default.release folder, and subsequent copies update all files in the target (copy) folder that have changed since the previous week. My understanding of Thunderbird is not great but I have used it for many years (I am 73) so have some awareness of the file structure, but this is not by any means comprehensive. My understanding of your reply suggests (I think) that I should re-install Thunderbird and create a new profile along with that, then copy into this the data elements (sqlite tables?) from my original profile. If I have this right then I could see this being a solution, but I do not know the full list of elements to be copied. Is there a definitive list of these held anywhere in the support base?
Chosen Solution
All you need are the elements that you 'own', such as the addressbook (abook.sqlite) and anything you had in local folders, plus any POP message accounts. Yes, I would reinstall Thunderbird, then exit Thunderbird and copy what you have (addressbook to the profile and local folders to Mail\Local Folders, and any saved POP message folders also to Mail\Local Folders. Then reinstall your accounts. Once everything is working, exit Thunderbird and do a backup of the profile.
Tanks for this David. I will give it a go and let you know!
Hi David, I think I'm getting there. I have managed to rebuild all my mail and calendars. I can't find my task list tho. Do you know what it's called? Thanks,Mike
Sorry, that's a feature I don't use. But I'm pleased that you are making progress. :)