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Lost sub folders

Thunderbird Import and export email
david replied
Tommo
Tommo

I recently (unwisely) refreshed my WIndows 10. On restarting I had to reinstal Thunderbird. I thought I'd be able to recover all my old emails by importing the old profile from Windows.old, but I've had some problems: 1) I can't identify which profile was the most recent. 2) The info from each profile has remained on my Thunderbird, although I though it would be overwritten by the next profile I imported. 3) I've tried importing them one by one, but none of the old profiles is the one I was looking for, with all my sub folders. I need the old emails for work, invoicing and tax calculation purposes. I've now been sitting in front of my computer for a couple of days in a cold sweat, the desperation building quietly. Can anybody help?

I recently (unwisely) refreshed my WIndows 10. On restarting I had to reinstal Thunderbird. I thought I'd be able to recover all my old emails by importing the old profile from Windows.old, but I've had some problems: 1) I can't identify which profile was the most recent. 2) The info from each profile has remained on my Thunderbird, although I though it would be overwritten by the next profile I imported. 3) I've tried importing them one by one, but none of the old profiles is the one I was looking for, with all my sub folders. I need the old emails for work, invoicing and tax calculation purposes. I've now been sitting in front of my computer for a couple of days in a cold sweat, the desperation building quietly. Can anybody help?

All Replies (5)

david
david
  • Top 10 Contributor

Do this FIRST: If you found the full appdata\roaming\thunderbird folder in windows.old, my suggestion on what to do first is this:

  1. exit thunderbird if running
  2. delete the appdata\lroaming\thunderbird folder
  3. locate the appdata\roaming\thunderbird folder in windows.old and copy/paste to the appdata\roaming folder
  4. start thunderbird and all should be there.

If too late to salvage that, then try this: Use windows file explorer to do the search. I presume this is a POP account. In each profile, select the Mail folder and look for the POP accountl. Also check the Mail\Local Folders folder, as some users use the Local Folders folder. Doing that should help you locate the desired folder.

Tommo
Tommo Question owner

Hi David. Thanks for your prompt reply! I'll give all these a try and let you know how I get on. All the best Chris

Tommo
Tommo Question owner

Hi David. I've tried this - I've copied the old profiles into the profiles folder. In fact, I think I've identified the profile with the old subfolders, it doesn't appear in the Thunderbird profile manager. Is there any way I can access this old information?

Tommo
Tommo Question owner

The profile folder contains 3 profiles, but the profile manager only shows 2. The profile I want isn't there.

Modified by Tommo

david
david
  • Top 10 Contributor

If you copied the thunderbird folder, it would have included the profiles.ini file with the proper setting. BUT, on your question on using the identified profile, assuming the other profiles are not needed, do this:

  1. click help>troubleshootinginformation
  2. scroll to 'profile folder' and click 'open folder'
  3. exit thunderbird
  4. DELETE everything there in this profile
  5. now, paste the contents of the desired profile here, save and exit
  6. restart thunderbird and it will start with that profile.
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