How to migrate backup TB profile into new installed TB after Win10 reset?
After some Audio driver troubles I decided to make a Windows 10 Reset. Unfortunately I did not expext the result, since I was mislead by just few shown program names which would be deleted, but in fact almost every program including associated user profiles become lost thereby. (Furthermore I was confused by changed terminology: All ordinary PC programs, even older ones, seem to be treated now as "apps". I'm totally lost.)
Now I must find a way to migrate the old TB profile from my recent backup into the newly installed TB. Unfortunately this attempt becomes more difficult for me now, since the present TB version seems no longer to prefer the previous long path C:\Users\Opossum\AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird\Profiles\{securitycode}.default\.
What do you recommend?
Chosen solution
Thank you for clarification. Unfortunately the Thunderbird profile path mentioned cannot be found at my PC. It seems that Thunderbird installation after Windows reset has not generated any profile, for whatever reasons.
In order not to extend this discussion endless I change to another approach: I'll start a complete restoration of C: from my last backup.
Therefore it's up to you to close this topic.
Final regards from Elderman
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Elderman said
the present TB version seems no longer to prefer the previous long path C:\Users\Opossum\AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird\Profiles\{securitycode}.default\.
And where's present TB profile folder for you? You can find it in menu Help - Troubleshooting info - Profiles - about:profiles link.
Modified by achobot
Thanks al lot! Here is my Reply: The installation of the recent beta version of Thunderbird into a "virgin-like" Windows 10 64 Pro generated this profile path: C:\ProgramFiles\Mozilla Thunderbird\pref ,with 2 .js data sets: channel-prefs.js kl_prefs_{2nd sec.code}.js
I add the content directories of the previous profile as a screen shot 0003.clip
Shall I rather restore the several directories of my previous profile into the new one? You may know: For restore from a Windows backup I have to enter a distinct destination!
re : C:\Users\Opossum\AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird\Profiles\{securitycode}.default
If that is your backup: Exit Thunderbird. Copy the 'Thunderbird' folder from backup.
Access the new location as shown in image. ...\Opossum\AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird\Profiles\7pwiebwc.default Delete that new 'Thunderbird' folder. Paste the backup 'Thunderbird' folder into the 'Roaming' folder. Start Thunderbird.
Note: If you see a 'windows.old' folder on desktop then it should contain your old saved 'Roaming'/ 'Thunderbird' folder as a backup.
I guess I've understood what you recommended, but some details are not quite clear to me, in particular: What did you mean with "delete THAT new Thunderbird folder"? 'That' refers always to something mentioned shortly before. Where did you mention it before? Do you mean that I have to replace the profile path which became automatically generated with the new Thunderbird Installation (after my Win Reset) by the one in backup?
If I have got it correct: Is the method of replacing just the profile sufficient? Should this procedure it not been accompanied by exchanging the new program by the older version in backup? Thereby it can be achieved, that both program and profile versions of Thunderbird will fit exactly to each other.
What do you mean? Sure, by my proposal an older version of Thunderbird will become valid again, but soon it will become updated.
Remark to your suggestion, that profile data should also be found uncompressed in "Windows.old" : I my PC it's definitly not the case.
I don't quite understand the problem. Thunderbird profile is located at "%appdata%\Thunderbird\Profiles". Ver 60 and 66 beta the same.
You just take an old folder "Profiles" and "profiles.ini" file from backup and put it in "%appdata%\Thunderbird\Profiles" on your current system. Done.
Chosen Solution
Thank you for clarification. Unfortunately the Thunderbird profile path mentioned cannot be found at my PC. It seems that Thunderbird installation after Windows reset has not generated any profile, for whatever reasons.
In order not to extend this discussion endless I change to another approach: I'll start a complete restoration of C: from my last backup.
Therefore it's up to you to close this topic.
Final regards from Elderman
re: it seems that Thunderbird installation after Windows reset has not generated any profile, for whatever reasons.
After installing the program, when you run it the first time, it creates the new default profile. Ypu will be asked to create a new maila ccount, Do not do this, just exit Thunderbird. Then you would find the 'Thunderbird' folder in the 'Roaming' folder. Whilst you can simply delete the new 'profiles.ini' and the new 'Profiles' folder and replace both with a backup copy, it is easier to delete the new 'Thunderbird' folder and replace with backup 'Thunderbird folder. Then you will be automatically copying over the 'profiles.ini' and the 'Profiles' folder in one go as they are contained in the backup 'Thunderbird' folder.
Modified by Toad-Hall
Complete restore of C: from Windows backup ends with an error. So had to come back to your advice. After few wrong attempts I had finally success. Important: In my case just the new-generated profile.ini existed. I had to edit that line by replacing the new security code by the old one in the restored backup profile. (By the way: Restoring distinct directories or files maybe successful even in case when complete C: restore isn't possible anymore.) Thanks a lot to you with kind regards from Elderman (81Y)