They're probably gone. BUT, you can verify.

1. click help>troubleshootinginformation
2. scroll to 'profile folder' and click 'open folder'
3. if IMAP file, click the imapmail folder. If POP, click the mail folder
4. now click the account folder where you should see such as inbox, inbox.msf, sent, sent.msf, junk, jun.msf, etc. Is there a file named Trash? There is likely one named Trash.msf, but you're looking for one named Trash.
5. if you find it, rightclick and open in a simple text editor, such as Notepad. If there is no Trash file, then the trans was somehow emptied. Let me know if you found the Trash folder and we can proceed from there.

Thanks for the response. followed your directions to "mail folder." that presented me with 4 entries: local folders; mail.zianet.com; mail.zianet-1.com, & -2.com. Where did I go wrong?

You did nothing wrong. Can you post a screenshot of that folder? I presume this is a POP account. Can you also go to account settings pane, then the server settings pane for the account, and do a screenshot there that shows the bottom row, titled 'local directory'? (Or post the exact text that appears there? Thank you.

Thanks again. Local Directory c:\users\sj\appdata\roaming\thunderbird\profiles\ddcd7875.default-release\mail\mail.zianet-1.com

If you still need the screenshot for the 4 folders, I'll try to do it, but I have not yet mastered that.

Okay. Do you have one account? or Three?

To do a screenshot, I will assume you are unfamiliar with doing that. Here are suggested steps:

1. there is a free utility that does screenshots at https://www.reasyze.com/ called sniptool. my favorite is also free and is at

https://portableapps.com/apps/graphics_pictures/fscportable   either one works 

1. once installed
   • start the utility
   • switch windows screen to the thunerbird screen to capture
   • now click to the utility and click the button to capture rectangle. That will open over the thunderbird screen when you can drag mouse around desired area and click ok
   • then save the image. When responding to this post, use the 'Browse' button at bottom to attach the image.

I am asking the folder at c:\users\sj\appdata\roaming\thunderbird\profiles\ddcd7875.default-release\mail\mail.zianet-1.com

there are 3 accounts. The account names JUDITHS is the one. The other 2 do not have problems with Trash.

When I tried to get back to the mail folder (after profile folder >open folder) there was not a folder labeled "mail folder" I know it was there before.

Try again: - help>troubleshootinginformation - click to 'profile folder' and click 'open folder' - the mail folder is there because your accounts are there. Sometimes the folders do not appear in alphabetic order and you have look carefully for it.

yes, I found the mail folder. But I am having trouble with the screenshot. I downloaded Portableapps. I should know this - but how do I start the utility?

okay. the portable apps is a compressed program. That is, place it in a directory where would want to keep it. When you execute it the first time, it 'unzips' all the components. If you're familiar with zip and unzip, there's nothing to it. Once you have it installed, just click the EXE file to start it. A small menu program appears on the screen. Then, click the the thunderbird screen and then click the third icon from the left on the capture software. That button captures a rectacular region of screen. Drag mouse around arwa and click when done. The places the capture in the utility. You can then save it. As an aside, not needed here, but once there, you can click the edit button to add an arrow or text to a capture. with a little practice, it's quite handy. :)