Re-installing Thunderbird
Sorry for the length of this request, But Please read to the end.
Please bear with me I'm 78 and not as sharp as I was. All I want to do is get back to my emails. I've been using Thunderbird for as long as I remember.
First, some background. For weeks now my computer has been telling me It needs more space to download updates. I throw out a few "Gigs" but it always wants more. My C:Drive, "110 GB solid state" is only for the Windows 10 operating system and a very small number of programs. Everything used to take up less than half the drive. All my personal work is on a separate drive. I've been saving for a new computer for a long time, still not there yet.
My Problem: I switched on my computer and it said Thunderbird had downloaded updates do I want to install them, yes. It twirled a bit but it never started Thunderbird, So, I tried starting it from the shortcut on desk top. But it said "It had been changed or moved" and no longer worked, neither would the one from the start column.
So I tried Re-installing Thunderbird. In the instructions it said download then press "Run". First it said I don't have permission to load it where it was before. It's my computer, I'm the only one here and I installed it here in 2010. (Program Files (x86)/Mozilla Thunderbird)
So I downloaded to "User" then it says "Finish installing".. How, there's no buttons and no mention of "Run". I'm completely stuck, can anybody help me ?? I've just realized without Thunderbird how can we communicate ??
Norm
Modified by Wayne Mery
All Replies (3)
I suggest a conservative approach: - verify that your profile is at c:\users\<yourid>\appdata\roaming\thunderbird\profiles\<yourprofilename>. - then, I suggest COPYING that thunderbird folder to a safe area, as that will include the profiles - now, I suggest uninstalling thunderbird completely. If you have difficulty, you can manually locate the files in c:\program files and delete them. - download from https://www.thunderbird.net/en-US/thunderbird/all/ you have a choice of the ESR or the monthly. With ESR, there are fewer updates per year for stability, but the monthly will have latest features. - after installing, start thunderbird and then exit. - now, copy the backed up thunderbird folder to c:\users\<yourid>\appdata\roaming - to OVERWRITE the existing thunderbird folder - restart thunderbird
Dear Norm,
Your age has nothing to do with it. I have essentially the same problem.
IF there is an easy way to backup/move Thunderbird to another computer, I have not discovered it. Granted, I don't want a PhD in the subject...just an easy way to do it.
Like you, I've used Tbird for a long time...and have hundreds of thousands of emails. I don't look forward to having to reconstruct that each time I switch computers.
The above instructions are as close to you get (I guess) to being able to back them up reasonably.
However, folks need to understand that this is still confusing to many of us.
Good luck!!!
dmcalvert said
If there is an easy way to backup/move Thunderbird to another computer, I have not discovered it.
Instructions for moving Thunderbird to a new computer: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/moving-thunderbird-data-to-a-new-computer
Instructions for making a back-up copy of your profile, which everyone should do periodically: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/profiles-where-thunderbird-stores-user-data
I think that the best way to make back-up copies is to use the back-up function that comes with one's operating system regularly to back up all the important data on a drive, not just a Thunderbird profile. I make back-up copies several times per week.
However, folks need to understand that this is still confusing to many of us.
I understand that. Others do also. Maybe not all the questions that you have posed have been answered to your satisfaction. I'm sorry if they have not been. If you need something now, would you please start a new discussion so we don't hijack Norm's discussion? We'll do our best.