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Sub-folders are missing. Using TB 24.4/Win7. Looked in other folders/Trash but not there. Need detailed help.

  • 3 replies
  • 6 have this problem
  • 6 views
  • Last reply by Toad-Hall

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I am not very computer literate so I'm not really sure what has happened. I had several sub-folders under Local Folders/Inbox. I use email all day and when I naturally went to one of these sub-folders I noticed it was missing and then I noticed that several other sub-folders were missing too.

I looked in all the available folders (including Trash) to see if I had accidentally moved the folder under another folder but I couldn't find them. I also tried to do a Search Messages from within the Inbox directory. I searched for some specific text in a single email's Subject line and it did find the email and on the left of the message box I saw the sub-folder name but I cannot figure out where the folder is located.

I tried using your support and also googling help but it talks about missing email accounts. My email is fine, I just can't find the sub-folders. If I did delete them (and I'm not sure how I would have done that), I thought it would be in the Trash but the folders aren't there. I am extremely computer dumb and need detailed help on where to go to fix this. I really, really need those folders back.

Thanks, Ed

I am not very computer literate so I'm not really sure what has happened. I had several sub-folders under Local Folders/Inbox. I use email all day and when I naturally went to one of these sub-folders I noticed it was missing and then I noticed that several other sub-folders were missing too. I looked in all the available folders (including Trash) to see if I had accidentally moved the folder under another folder but I couldn't find them. I also tried to do a Search Messages from within the Inbox directory. I searched for some specific text in a single email's Subject line and it did find the email and on the left of the message box I saw the sub-folder name but I cannot figure out where the folder is located. I tried using your support and also googling help but it talks about missing email accounts. My email is fine, I just can't find the sub-folders. If I did delete them (and I'm not sure how I would have done that), I thought it would be in the Trash but the folders aren't there. I am extremely computer dumb and need detailed help on where to go to fix this. I really, really need those folders back. Thanks, Ed

All Replies (3)

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Are you using IMAP or POP3?

Try this

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Actually not sure this worked yet as i just want to make sure I understand what I'm doing. I checked and my Inbox server setting is set to POP but not POP3. Does that make a difference? I read up on the difference between POP and IMAP. I'd prefer IMAP since I work away from this computer sometimes. How would I go about changing that? Do I have to work with my internet carrier?

I did a little research on compacting and it seems a little scary.Is the purpose of compacting to free up space which would then allow the "lost" folders to have room to reappear?

Also, am I supposed to compact the Inbox, the Trash or the the subfolder where the lost subfolders were located? Does compacting only affect the folder on which I run compact? I have other subfolders which I could compact without remorse if I lost stuff in them if it would free up space.

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Please read info on what compacting does and why it is important. http://kb.mozillazine.org/Thunderbird_:_Tips_:_Compacting_Folders

Do you have this setting: View > Folders > All If yes, do you have your anti-virus software scanning incoming mail? Did your anti-virus software quarantine those folders?

http://kb.mozillazine.org/Antivirus_software

As you use a Pop mail account, all emails are on your computer, so this means you should be performing regular backups. Here is info on backups. http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_backup