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Copied thunderbird folder to new laptop, all old messages before copying are blank. Can only view headers

  • 9 majibu
  • 0 wana tatizo hili
  • Last reply by Laila

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I needed to migrate my account to another laptop and i was advised to use the the following method: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/moving-thunderbird-data-to-a-new-computer.

However, all the emails dated prior to the move, come up blank now, only the headers can be seen.

Server type is POP

I cannot download them from webmail as for majority the previous server was IMAP which is no longer connected.

I needed to migrate my account to another laptop and i was advised to use the the following method: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/moving-thunderbird-data-to-a-new-computer. However, all the emails dated prior to the move, come up blank now, only the headers can be seen. Server type is POP I cannot download them from webmail as for majority the previous server was IMAP which is no longer connected.
Attached screenshots

All Replies (9)

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Only emails between the timeline "8/7/24 to 4/8/2024" are coming up blank.

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Are they visible on old PC? what version of thunderbird on old pc? what version on new? If old is 115 or earlier and new is 128, then my suggestion for now is to reinstall 115 on new pc for compatibility. 128 is currently rolling out and your blank messages may be related.

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They're not visible on both PC. Old PC is windows 7 Thunderbird version 115.9.0 and New Pc Windows 11 Thunderbird version 115.13.0.

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I suggest a folder repair: highlight folder, rightclick and select properties and then select repair. Do this on the new PC. You might also highlight a selected message and press cntl and 'u' to see raw source of message to see if user content is present.

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>I suggest a folder repair: highlight folder, rightclick and select properties and then select repair. Do this on the new PC. Attempted this and the emails are gone completely, no header.

>You might also highlight a selected message and press cntl and 'u' to see raw source of message to see if user content is present. Doing this showed only the following "����������"

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FInal suggestion: highlight folder and rightclick, select properties and then repair. I would first copy the folder to minimize further loss. Let me know how it goes.

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Made a folder copy, attempted the repair on the original file and after repair emails are gone. Copied emails are still visible as headers only.

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Thanks. Losing them was my fear. A guess: if the account had been IMAP, what was on PC were just the headers, as IMAP downloads messages when opened and otherwise just downloads headers. To have all messages, one must set sync to all messages on folder (and even that needs periodic refreshing).

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Thank you for your assistance.

Modified by Laila

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Uliza swali

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