If old laptop is dead, do you have access to the harddrive?

If yes, you have removed the hardrive from old laptop and can access it like an external drive, then this is where the Thunderbird profile folder would be found.

Make hidden files and folders visible:

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Show_hidden_files_and_folders

Navigate directly to your profile folder at the following path: C:\Users\Windows user name\AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird\Profiles\Profile name\Mail\ mail account name

In the mail account there will be various files. Files with no extension are mbox files and they contain the emails. Files with a .msf extension are just indexing files - no emails. Folders with a .sbd extension are created when subfolders are created, so you can click on the .sbd folder to see more mbox files and indexing files.

Assuming your hard drive is accessible and you locate those mbox files.

You can use an addon tool called importExporttool, to import those mbox files ito eg: 'Local Folders'

download addon xpi file to desktop or downloads folder:

• https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/thunderbird/addon/importexporttools/

How to Install Add-on Extension: After downloading addon extension *.xpi file to desktop or downloads folder.

In Thunderbird 'Tools' > 'Add-ons' or 'Menu icon' > 'Add-ons'

• Click on gear wheel icon and select 'Install Add-on From File'.
• Locate the *.xpi file you downloaded and click on 'Open'.
• You many need to restart Thunderbird when prompted.

How to use addon: Right click on 'Local Folders' account and select: ImportExporttools > Import mbox file a window pops open select: 'Import directly one or more mbox files' click on 'ok' Locate and select an mbox file in your old hardrive TB profile. click on 'Open'

It should import the file into 'Local Folders' mail account.

re comment posted in a fresh question which should have put here:

I tried to acct my old thunderbird acct with my old laptop. I have power but the hard drive does not start up. what can I do to get the old msgs from my thunderbird acct.

Have you removed the hardrive from the old laptop and with approriate cables, are you trying to access that old drive as if it were an external drive to the new PC ?

Here is a link to accessing old hardrive as an external via a new pc. It covers different types of Pc, you may need to scroll.

• http://www.wikihow.com/Recover-Data-from-the-Hard-Drive-of-a-Dead-Laptop

There are several helpful websites with good information on accessing various harddrives.

The info in the previous comment will tell you where to access your Profile folders assuming you can get access to the old hard drive.

This is a Thunderbird forum fordealing with Thunderbird issues and not the place to discuss how to fix hard drive issues. If the hardrive does not work because eg: a motherboard fault, then you should be able to access the files, but if the hardrive really is dead then you are out luck.