Please unzip that file and create a screenshot of the contents. That will tell how to import back into thunderbird. Depending on how they created it and its contents, it will either be easy or hard, but if the data is there, we can assist in retrieving it. :)

Please unzip that file and create a screenshot of the contents.

I've been trying to unzip since your reply (thank you by the way). I've got a screenful of responses in the process that look like:

! E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\Thunderbird_profile_backup.zip: Checksum error in E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\6u8y4rdj.default-release\ImapMail\outlook.office365.com\Debbie's stuff. The file is corrupt ! E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\Thunderbird_profile_backup.zip: Checksum error in E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\6u8y4rdj.default-release\ImapMail\outlook.office365.com\Envoy Mortgage. The file is corrupt ! E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\Thunderbird_profile_backup.zip: Checksum error in E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\6u8y4rdj.default-release\ImapMail\outlook.office365.com\GESA. The file is corrupt ! E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\Thunderbird_profile_backup.zip: Checksum error in E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\6u8y4rdj.default-release\ImapMail\outlook.office365.com\Household. The file is corrupt ! E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\Thunderbird_profile_backup.zip: Checksum error in E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\6u8y4rdj.default-release\ImapMail\outlook.office365.com\IMPORTANT.msf. The file is corrupt ! E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\Thunderbird_profile_backup.zip: Checksum error in E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\6u8y4rdj.default-release\ImapMail\outlook.office365.com\INBOX. The file is corrupt ! E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\Thunderbird_profile_backup.zip: Checksum error in E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\6u8y4rdj.default-release\ImapMail\outlook.office365.com\INBOX.msf. The file is corrupt ! E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\Thunderbird_profile_backup.zip: Checksum error in E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\6u8y4rdj.default-release\ImapMail\outlook.office365.com\Insurance. The file is corrupt ! E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\Thunderbird_profile_backup.zip: Checksum error in E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\6u8y4rdj.default-release\ImapMail\outlook.office365.com\Insurance.msf. The file is corrupt ! E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\Thunderbird_profile_backup.zip: Checksum error in E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\6u8y4rdj.default-release\ImapMail\outlook.office365.com\Junk. The file is corrupt ! E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\Thunderbird_profile_backup.zip: Checksum error in E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\6u8y4rdj.default-release\ImapMail\outlook.office365.com\Junk.msf. The file is corrupt ! E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\Thunderbird_profile_backup.zip: Checksum error in E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\6u8y4rdj.default-release\ImapMail\outlook.office365.com\Lyft.msf. The file is corrupt ! E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\Thunderbird_profile_backup.zip: Checksum error in E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\6u8y4rdj.default-release\ImapMail\outlook.office365.com\Macy's.msf. The file is corrupt ! E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\Thunderbird_profile_backup.zip: Checksum error in E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\6u8y4rdj.default-release\ImapMail\outlook.office365.com\MailUSPS. The file is corrupt ! E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\Thunderbird_profile_backup.zip: Checksum error in E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\6u8y4rdj.default-release\ImapMail\outlook.office365.com\MailUSPS.msf. The file is corrupt ! E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\Thunderbird_profile_backup.zip: Checksum error in E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\6u8y4rdj.default-release\ImapMail\outlook.office365.com\Mark. The file is corrupt ! E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\Thunderbird_profile_backup.zip: Checksum error in E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\6u8y4rdj.default-release\ImapMail\outlook.office365.com\Mark.msf. The file is corrupt ! E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\Thunderbird_profile_backup.zip: Checksum error in E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\6u8y4rdj.default-release\ImapMail\outlook.office365.com\Mazda Stuff.msf. The file is corrupt ! E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\Thunderbird_profile_backup.zip: Checksum error in E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\6u8y4rdj.default-release\ImapMail\outlook.office365.com\McAfee. The file is corrupt ! E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\Thunderbird_profile_backup.zip: Checksum error in E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\6u8y4rdj.default-release\ImapMail\outlook.office365.com\McAfee.msf. The file is corrupt ! E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\Thunderbird_profile_backup.zip: Checksum error in E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\6u8y4rdj.default-release\ImapMail\outlook.office365.com\Microsoft. The file is corrupt ! E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\Thunderbird_profile_backup.zip: Checksum error in E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\6u8y4rdj.default-release\ImapMail\outlook.office365.com\Microsoft.msf. The file is corrupt ! E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\Thunderbird_profile_backup.zip: Checksum error in E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\6u8y4rdj.default-release\ImapMail\outlook.office365.com\MSI Laptop. The file is corrupt ! E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\Thunderbird_profile_backup.zip: Checksum error in E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\6u8y4rdj.default-release\ImapMail\outlook.office365.com\MSI Laptop.msf. The file is corrupt ! E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\Thunderbird_profile_backup.zip: Checksum error in E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\6u8y4rdj.default-release\ImapMail\outlook.office365.com\Netflix. The file is corrupt ! E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\Thunderbird_profile_backup.zip: Checksum error in E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\6u8y4rdj.default-release\ImapMail\outlook.office365.com\Netflix.msf. The file is corrupt ! E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\Thunderbird_profile_backup.zip: Checksum error in E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\6u8y4rdj.default-release\ImapMail\outlook.office365.com\Norton. The file is corrupt ! E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\Thunderbird_profile_backup.zip: Checksum error in E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\6u8y4rdj.default-release\ImapMail\outlook.office365.com\Norton.msf. The file is corrupt ! E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\Thunderbird_profile_backup.zip: Checksum error in E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\6u8y4rdj.default-release\ImapMail\outlook.office365.com\Notes.msf. The file is corrupt ! E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\Thunderbird_profile_backup.zip: Checksum error in E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\6u8y4rdj.default-release\ImapMail\outlook.office365.com\Outbox.msf. The file is corrupt ! E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\Thunderbird_profile_backup.zip: Checksum error in E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\6u8y4rdj.default-release\ImapMail\outlook.office365.com\Paramount +. The file is corrupt ! E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\Thunderbird_profile_backup.zip: Checksum error in E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\6u8y4rdj.default-release\ImapMail\outlook.office365.com\Paramount +.msf. The file is corrupt ! E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\Thunderbird_profile_backup.zip: Checksum error in E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\6u8y4rdj.default-release\ImapMail\outlook.office365.com\Peacock. The file is corrupt ! E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\Thunderbird_profile_backup.zip: Checksum error in E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\6u8y4rdj.default-release\ImapMail\outlook.office365.com\Peacock.msf. The file is corrupt ! E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\Thunderbird_profile_backup.zip: Checksum error in E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\6u8y4rdj.default-release\ImapMail\outlook.office365.com\Pets. The file is corrupt ! E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\Thunderbird_profile_backup.zip: Checksum error in E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\6u8y4rdj.default-release\ImapMail\outlook.office365.com\Pets.msf. The file is corrupt ! E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\Thunderbird_profile_backup.zip: Checksum error in E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\6u8y4rdj.default-release\ImapMail\outlook.office365.com\Recreation Dot Gov. The file is corrupt ! E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\Thunderbird_profile_backup.zip: Checksum error in E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\6u8y4rdj.default-release\ImapMail\outlook.office365.com\Recreation Dot Gov.msf. The file is corrupt ! E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\Thunderbird_profile_backup.zip: Checksum error in E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\6u8y4rdj.default-release\ImapMail\outlook.office365.com\Roku.msf. The file is corrupt ! E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\Thunderbird_profile_backup.zip: Checksum error in E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\6u8y4rdj.default-release\ImapMail\outlook.office365.com\Samsung. The file is corrupt ! E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\Thunderbird_profile_backup.zip: Checksum error in E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\6u8y4rdj.default-release\ImapMail\outlook.office365.com\Samsung.msf. The file is corrupt ! E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\Thunderbird_profile_backup.zip: Checksum error in E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\6u8y4rdj.default-release\ImapMail\outlook.office365.com\Sent-1. The file is corrupt ! E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\Thunderbird_profile_backup.zip: Checksum error in E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\6u8y4rdj.default-release\ImapMail\outlook.office365.com\Sent-1.msf. The file is corrupt ! E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\Thunderbird_profile_backup.zip: Checksum error in E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\6u8y4rdj.default-release\ImapMail\outlook.office365.com\Sent.msf. The file is corrupt ! E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\Thunderbird_profile_backup.zip: Checksum error in E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\6u8y4rdj.default-release\ImapMail\outlook.office365.com\Snoozed.msf. The file is corrupt ! E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\Thunderbird_profile_backup.zip: Checksum error in E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\6u8y4rdj.default-release\ImapMail\outlook.office365.com\Sonos. The file is corrupt ! E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\Thunderbird_profile_backup.zip: Checksum error in E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\6u8y4rdj.default-release\ImapMail\outlook.office365.com\Sonos.msf. The file is corrupt ! E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\Thunderbird_profile_backup.zip: Checksum error in E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\6u8y4rdj.default-release\ImapMail\outlook.office365.com\Spectrum.msf. The file is corrupt ! E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\Thunderbird_profile_backup.zip: Checksum error in E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\6u8y4rdj.default-release\ImapMail\outlook.office365.com\SSA. The file is corrupt ! E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\Thunderbird_profile_backup.zip: Checksum error in E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\6u8y4rdj.default-release\ImapMail\outlook.office365.com\SSA.msf. The file is corrupt ! E:\MSI Laptop Pre Win 11\Thunderbird_profile_backup.zip: Ch

Sorry about the length of my last...

it appears the file is corrupted but it was created by Thunderbird? Could it have anything to do with it being created in Win10 and trying to open in Win11?

Or conversely, a newer version of Thunderbird?

Thanks for any insight you may be able to share.

I reread your response, I'm an idjit.

Here are screenshots of what was actually extracted.

Visually it looks like a good profile. in thunderbird, try this: - tools>import>import from a thunderbird installation - then select 'choose a profile folder' and select your unzipped folder - if it works, you're done. free beer for everyone - if you get an error message, please share it.

- if not, the goodies are still there. - click tools>import a file, then click to import addressbook, then click the sqlite option and select the abook.sqlite file in your folder - repeat that for the history.sqlite file and you will now have your full addressbook. - if you had a POP account, exit thunderbird and look in the Mail\<POPaccount> folder and copy the inbox and sent files to the Mail\Local Folders folder in the new profile - If there are files in the Mail\Local Folders folder, copy directly to the Mail\Local Folders folder in new profile - now restart thunderbird and confirm that the copies worked.

David, Thanks again for all your help. Question is how to I find tools... all I have available to me currently is the settings button on lower left panel of screen:

- you can click the three short vertical stacked bars in upper right (called the hamburger menu: or you can press the alt key to cause the menu bar to display

Which pulls up this screen:

please see attached

please see attached

My version doesn't have that hamburger setting.

I was able to somewhat follow your instructions:

Your instruction 1: Visually it looks like a good profile. in thunderbird, try this: - tools>import>import from a thunderbird installation - then select 'choose a profile folder' and select your unzipped folder

and the result is the screenshot David instruction 1.

I then tried to upload individual extracted profiles, 1 for @live account and 1 for @gmail account with both spewing 2nd screenshot (Indiv profile error msg)

I then followed the next set of instructions importing address book info via sqlite. I can find nothing to show it was recieved tho.

Neophite showing my ignorance I suppose.

But it was already unzipped. You were to select' choose a profile folder' in my instructions, NOT to select 'choose a zip file.' The hamburger menu I pointed to in my screenshot was YOUR prior screenshot. On the addressbook, there is no confirmation. Just open the addressbook and see if content is there.

My apologies on the hamburger menu, I didn't see it originally. I went to tools menu instead.

I did follow the rest of the instructions... and just completed the same process again, taking screen shots of each step as they were presented to me. From my perspective the actions I see don't match the remedy your describing - I'm certain because I'm a novice at Thunderbird file structure, or database file structure in general - and instead show obfuscated data. For example:

In step 3 the available "profiles" I can only presume are because I had 3 email accounts Thunderbird was handling. I also had a number of local folders that were an amalgam of (I.E. insurance that would handle insurance docs from 2 different email accounts... homeowners and vehicle) the 3 email accounts.

As you can see, none say the actual word profile. I am unsure how to extract the actual profile data TB wants in order to import it.

Ok, that import may be buggy. here's another way: - click help>troubleshootinginformation - scroll down to 'profile folder' and click 'open folder' - now, exit thunderbird - you are now in the profile. note the exact disk location. - now, copy your entire unzipped profile and paste into the profile, allowing windows to overwrite everything - now, restart thunderbird and let me know.

David, Thank you so much first, for sticking with me as I work thru your suggestions/instructions.

I followed your most recent instructions as I read them... meaning I copied the contents of the highlighted folder in pic 1 and pasted/replaced the contents of highlighted folder in pic 2.

No joy. When I open TB it still shows no profiles and takes me to a screen as if I'm setting up new profile.

Wondering if I should have just pasted the entire folder with it's contents in the parent folder and deleted the one titled default? Of course after copying the folder on external drive so as to preserve what TB already had in file structure...?

Thank you again, you've been awesome in your willingness to help.

sometimes thunderbird doesn't like a profile for whatever reason, or doesn't like the accounts there. to see what profile is the default, try this: - help>troubleshootinginformation - scroll down to 'profiles' and click 'about:profiles' - is yours listed? If so, can you click the 'launch' button? Or is it already the default? PLEASE let me know. - if it's your profile, see if the addressbook is yours ( press Alt key to show menu bar, then click tools>addressbook let me know - your response will help us salvage the profile content. we'll get there. :) I'm glad to assist. I was there once.

Okay, so when I follow last instructions it pulls up the default profile from the initial install on this machine of TB, where I replaced all data with unzipped info from backup. So in effect it shows up there but I think TB thinks it's the default profile with no data. Hitting launch just pulls up a new window wanting me to create a new profile with no data in it. However when I go look for the address book following instructions it does show at least some of the saved contacts there. I'm not sure but I think it's from my @live account... nothing from my @gmail or @yahoo data.

I do think progress has been made, just a nudge with the proper sledge hammer and it'll be back I think :)

Btw,

The backup that was created had the profile name 6u8y4rdj.default-release which doesn't show up anywhere under profiles in TB...

I'm encouraged about addressbook. That is not account-specific, so it should be the entire addressbook. Let's take a different approach. - click help>troubleshootinginformation - scroll down to 'profiles' and click 'about:profiles' - click the 'create profile' button - click next - enter a short name such as MYPROFILE - note the name of the profile that is going to be created. remember it - press finish - now exit thunderbird - now, in windows file explorer, select everything in your exported profile folder and paste it into that profile you just created. you may be prompted for an overwrite. do it. - you now have everything in a profile that thunderbird recognizes - restart thunderbird, reclick the steps to help>troubleshootinginformation, scroll to 'profiles', click 'about: profiles' - now, click the launch button on your profile - let me know how it goes

Okay, created "MyProfile" profile... attempted to "launch," however, as you can see in the screenshot, it apparently is the profile active... but does not populate TB and requires creation of "profile"

Just to be sure I'm following correctly, 2nd image shows what I copied into the new "MyProfile" folder.

Thanks again,

Mark

Edit: I forgot to mention... the new profile "MyProfile" had only 2 files in it originally that I couldn't write over:

parent.lock times.json

Not sure it either file would prevent TB from using the profile but it looks like I could if so desired delete them now after the fact?