What didn't work? That is how you do it. Open the Address book window and select Tool-Export.

Probably a better plan is to backup your entire profile. This article tells you how. https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/profiles-where-thunderbird-stores-user-data This should be done on a regular basis if your info is important to you.

The normal cause of slow downs is an overactive antivirus software. http://kb.mozillazine.org/Thunderbird_:_FAQs_:_Anti-virus_Software

It exported as a spread sheet comma deliminated. Didn't have an import choice for that format.

Regarding saving and reloading the entire profile, is it possible the that problem is buried in the profile?

Thanks

If you select .csv then that is the file it creates and that is very much importable. If you plan on reimporting to Thunderbird select .ldif format.

The biggest possibility of your slowness is your antivirus like I stated. Reinstalling the actual program will keep to busy for a while but rarely fixes anything. Your profile is separate from the program anyway and will not affect your data. Backups are always suggested because it is a computer and anything can happen.

Stop AV from scanning Thunderbird files on startup. Stop AV from scanning incoming and outgoing mail.

If you have many emails which are somewhat old and you do not really need to see them, but you also do not want to get rid of them, then move them into suitable folders for storage and then unsubscribe from seeing those folders.

This will give you smaller files and also mean the emails are still on server should you really need access to them. Alternatively, create some new folders in 'Local Folders, synchronise imap folders for offline use to get copies in Thunderbird and then in 'Offline mode' (to stop further synchronising on folders you may be working on) get copies into 'Local Folders' mail account. Then you can either delete emails off server or move them into other imap folder and unsubscribe from seeing them, knowing you have copies on server and visible copies in Local Folders.

Re Address book' suggest you export each address book. When importing:

For LDIF or .csv, select the 'Text file' option. see image.

Re Backup.... Totally agree with Airmail. If you have not done a backup then it is recommended.

So I stopped Vipre from scanning incoming and outgoing emails. No switch for checking when I open TBird. I left the phishing check in place.

Thank you so much for the suggestion. i should have known that one.

This leaves me with the delete thing where deleted files get moved to trash for a while then they don't. I have to accounts on TBird. Gmail and one hosted by Hostgator. It is usually one or the other. Not often both and seemingly random as to which one goes goofy. I've tried the trash file fix to no avail.

Suggestions?

I have no idea why cutting Vipre out of the loop cured the tendency not to delete messages, but it did. Thank you both for your help.