How to safely copy more emails from backup to the new profile created with a Ubuntu reinstall
Had a double disaster, both OS partially upgraded at same time due to space issues and had to wipe and install.
Ended up with a TB install in Ubuntu where 2025 emails are missing. (see image #1) Found out that my backup should have most of them. (see image #2)
How do I safely identify the 2025 mail content in my backup folder, and how do I safely copy them over to the existing set up?
I see that the 933 profile exists in both so most likely it should be one of the lower number profiles in backup I need.
Attached are images of folder content.
Many thanks in advance!
All Replies (3)
The screenshots aren't useful to me, but I offer these steps:
- - Messages for a POP account will be in one of the backup folders in a folder named 'Mail\<POPfolder name> In there are message files, such as inbox, inbox.msf, sent, sent.msf, etc. If you fnd them in multiple folders, go with the most recent date. In that profile will also be your addressbook - two files: abook.sqlite and history.sqlite
- - to locate the current profile in thunderbird, click help>troubleshootinginformation, scroll to 'profile folder' and click 'open folder'
- - you are now in the active profile. EXIT thunderbird
- - now, to save the messages, copy the desired files from step 1 (BUT NOT the msf files) to the Mail\Local Folders folder. (I suggest copying to the Local Folders folder, assuming you have already activated the POP email account.)
- The addressbook files should be pasted into the root folder of the active profile, overlaying the default.
- restart thunderbird and the messages should be in Local Folders
@david Thanks for your explanation.
Pls find below a more detailed explanation of the particulars in "my" case :)
My POP account runs as it should but is missing all emails for year 2025. I have a "gap" in the POP inbox where year 2024 goes over in year 2026. IMAP is up to date and complete.
So it is not a complete recovery, just a matter of identifying and recovering the missing 2025 segment of POP account mails in backup location to incorporate them with the new working account/config.
The concern I addressed is "how do I identify and rescue the POP content (received and sent) for the year 2025 from backed up data?" Mainly the emails. I have no issue with having to recreate an address book (recipients will be in emails anyway).
@david mentions "The screenshots aren't useful to me, but I offer these steps: ..."
I will be happy to provide any kind of screen shots, images, or other more descriptive details you would need have.
Again thanks for your support!
Actually, the steps I provided will identify all POP messages, although they may be in different folders. I suggest you follow the steps and, after identifying all that's there, post back about what you found and we can take it from there. I'll stay available.
You must log in to your account to reply to posts. Please start a new question, if you do not have an account yet.