I assume you are downloading from thunderbird.net. the old profile is at c:\users\<yourid>\appdata\roaming. If you go there in windows file explorer, you will see a folder named thunderbird. delete it and then install thunderbird, which will create a new thunderbird folder.

Thank you for your response, David. I did in fact delete the Thunderbird icon in indicated, did a ccleaner and restarted my computer. I tried to install Thunderbird again and I can't seem to get past selecting a user name ending in @thunderbird.com. I don't want to buy a new email address and I didn't have to do that before. Offhand, I don't know the server setting for either POP of IMAP although I want to use POP. I went to my default programs and selected Thunderbird (all) and I've now don't this twice. In the past I remember setup to be so easy. However, in the past, I used the custom setup and had the appropriate settings but the big difference now, I think, is that I use GMAIL (from what I read online) but Cox was my default email program before. Cox transferred all my email (and everyone elses) to Yahoo and I didn't want to use it so GMAIL is the only email program on my computer now. I've read Mozilla support pages but as I said, I can't get past having to actually set everything up manually and I have to be doing something wrong. I am losing so much time by doing the install so many times, and yes, I downloaded Thunderbird from https://www.thunderbird.net/en-US/. I'm a very safe user but this installation really has me baffled!!! I'm not going to try the Thunderbird installation again until I hear from you, OK? Thank you, THANK YOU!

Hello, Joyce, I will try to assist. First, to clear up some misconceptions, Thunderbird is only an email client; it administers your pre-existing email accounts That is, there is no @thunderbird.com email address, Now, it a appears you have a Gmail account. That will be for your email. COX may be your internet provider, an I always advise to NEVER use the 'free' email addresses provided by internet providers, as you might some day switch to another one. Ok, enough of my rambling.

1. Log onto your gmail account at gmail.com. Click the gear wheel in upper right and then click 'see all settings'. the next screen should show 'forwarding and POP/IMAP' - click there
2. here you verify that you want POP access and what to do with message on server after download, such as delete.
3. This concludes Gmail setup for now.
4. start thunderbird, and click settings>general and UNtick the box for the experimental setup feature. That is still buggy. See attached.
5. now, click the settings>privacy&security to verify that you have checked to accept cookies.
6. ok, the housekeeping is now done
7. click the hamburger menu in upper right (three short horizontal stacked bars) and click 'new account' and then 'email'
8. on next screen, enter your name and email address but NOT your password
9. Thunderbird will default to IMAP, but you can select POP instead
10. if all goes well, a popup from Google will appear for your password. You will also have to click to ALLOW thunderbird to access the account. With that, you're done. :)

If you have problems, please post back on this same thread. That is, save the email you receive as there is a REPLY button on it that will bring you back to this thread. Good luck.

David, you are wonderful and patient and very easy to understand end I appreciate your help. I am devastated though that there isn't anything like a @thunderbird email account....I really didn't know that. I chose that because I've used and LOVE Firefox since Netscape Communicator was killed off by Microsoft out of jealousy. So, the marriage of Thunderbird seemed like a no-brainier. Trust me, I will NEVER use any other free email program other than GMAIL and that likely isn't a good choice either for privacy...but my husband swears by it because it provides his multiple needs for communication.....but, that's another story. Do you have any recommendations for another program? Again, THANK YOU for your help; you deserve a million stars! Joyce

Hi, Joyce, I enjoy your enthusiasm. It's contagious. A good free alternative is gmx.com. What I like also is that gmx has a nice web interface. I prefer using thunderbird for email, but when I'm not at my PC, the web interface for gmail seems overly complex and confusing. Gmx.com is free, quite reliable, and has none of the 'stuff' that frustrates or annoys some people - such as yourself. If you have problems, post back on this thread for assistance.