The first item to check would be tools>account settings>Syncronization&Storage, but you've probably checked that already. Does this happen regularly? That is, each day does it delete one day's messages from two weeks ago? Or is this a situation where you noticed a group of messages are missing, but it's not recurring? If it seems to be a one-time issue, possibly repairing the folder will resurface the missing messages. That, or possibly deleting the global-messages-db.sqlite file when TB is not running and restarting TB. My inference is that the two PCs do not keep the same messages, so one is not backup to the other.

Thanks so much David, and yes I can confirm I have checked all of the settings. In terms of regular, yes everyday.... my computer only holds two weeks of emails and then "poof" they are gone (and not to the deleted or archived box, just gone).

The two computers hosting Thunderbird are not in the same building. One is my work desktop and one is a laptop I have at home. Both are independent of one another, so the same email may be on both machines at the same time.

The laptop does not remove emails and would hold them for eternity it seems, while the desktop is cleaning itself everyday.

The other difference that just came to me, is the desktop is running Windows 10 and the laptop is old old old and running Windows 7 (never upgraded to 8 and it too old to take 10). So maybe it is something to do with the operating system?

Okay, this is weird. It is acting as though the synchronization setting is to delete at 14 days. I suggest changing the synchronization setting to something different and then set back again. That, conceptually, does nothing, but if the current setting is corrupted, this may fix it. But it's still just smoke. If possible, I suggest rebuilding the profile, as something is wrong.

Hi David, can I ask where I find the synchronization settings? I see settings for disk space, with a compact folders setting (under Preferences) and a Disk Space option to not delete messages in account settings, but nothing referencing synchronizing?

Thanks,

Jeff

The Disk Space topic is within the Synchronization section and the Delete Messages option is below that.

I think I just found it..... see attachment of screen shot.... It couldn't be more obvious. I have probably scanned by this settings page fifty times and never noticed this before.

Funny thing, the screen shot I am attaching is of my laptop that has not exhibited the "delete after two week" issue but on this computer, both "delete after 14 days" and "until I delete" are checked...

I am not in the office today, but anxious to check this setting on the desktop that has been the problem.

I'll let you know the outcome, and thanks for your interest in my problem.

I'm glad you found it. That was my first suggestion to you. That had seemed the issue from the beginning and I'm very pleased it's now resolved. If you concur, please mark this issue closed so it will be removed from the list of open topics. Thank you.

Thanks, and sorry, yes your first message said to check those settings and I had glanced through that area many times..... but it was just so obvious if only I had taken the time to read and not assume.

Again, thanks for your patience with me.

Jeff

You're very welcome.

I have this same problem, but I don't see that option. See screenshot attached.

You're likely in the wrong place. I had suggested checking the tools>accountsettings>account>synchronization&storage area and check settings there. Let me know. the other person had a POP account, so was on a different panel.

Debby, if you look at the screenshot you provided, you will see you have set up your account as an IMAP account (I did the same thing), so it wasn’t Thunderbird that was deleting my emails, but a setting in my ISP’s email system.

I had originally meant to initialize or build my Thunderbird as POP3 hosted on my desktop machine, and once I did that, the auto delete problem disappeared as the emails now reside on my computer once retrieved from the server.

Hope this helps.

Jeff

Sorry, I think I screenshot the wrong screen. This is what I meant to show you: You are right. i am using and IMAP Mail server. It is so frustrating to have lost so many emails. I appreciate so much you taking to time to look at this.

Your screenshot is missing. Has this problem just started?

Sorry about that. No, it is not new. It has been several weeks since I noticed the issue. uploaded again. I think it took this time.

Everything looks good. I would check with your email provider.