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How to transfer profiles from a hard drive to Thunderbird on PC

Thunderbird Import and export settings
david replied hai 6 días
Keith
Keith

Hi all

I have the good C:drive out of a failed computer which is now unusable, with my profiles on for that PC. They go back a while and are useful for referring to. There is some important information there. How do I move them to the current PC? N.B. I have been using the current PC for a couple of weeks and already have quite a few emails on it which I would like to keep.

Suggestions please Thank you Keith

Hi all I have the good C:drive out of a failed computer which is now unusable, with my profiles on for that PC. They go back a while and are useful for referring to. There is some important information there. How do I move them to the current PC? N.B. I have been using the current PC for a couple of weeks and already have quite a few emails on it which I would like to keep. Suggestions please Thank you Keith

All Replies (3)

david
david
  • Top 10 Contributor

If the account is IMAP, nothing will be lost. If POP then, I suggest doing this first:

  1. install the addon, importexporttools NG
  2. highlight the inbox, rightclick and select the importexport option to export mbox
  3. repeat for sent folder

On old drive,

  1. locate the c:\users\<yourid>\appdata\roaming\thunderbird folder and copy to external media

On new PC, do this:

  1. ensure thunderbird is installed, run once, and NOT running
  2. enter %appdata% in search window on task bar and press Enter key
  3. delete the thunderbird folder
  4. you should be in Appdata\roaming folder , copy&paste the exported Thunderbird folder there. This is a 100% replacement
  5. start thunderbird and all should be there except the exported POP messages

IF POP, these are final steps: With the importexport addon installed

  1. highlight the POP inbox, rightclick and select the importexport option to impor mbox and import the file you saved
  2. repeat for sent folder
Keith
Keith Question owner

Hi David a few questions. The "Old" drive is connected to the new PC via a SATA-USB adaptor, so presumably I don't need to go via a USB stick? Will I lose the new posts? There's some info on them I need to keep

There are several old profiles. In the past I have had them sitting in different folders in the inbox/outbox as e.g. 2025, 2024 etc.


I've transferred them before but can't remember how! I used to be on the ball with this but age has dulled my thought process!

Keith

david
david
  • Top 10 Contributor

I gave info on saving POP messages. If there are more than the Inbox and sent folders, the same importexport addon steps apply. If you had old profiles stored within thunderbird, they will be in the thunderbird folder being copied from old PC. I suggest you look in the old thunderbird/profiles folder to verify this. The copy statements I gave will bring 100% of whatever was in old Thunderbird profile to the new one.

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