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What specific directories and files in my profile do I need to keep / move if I reinstall Thunderbird.

Thunderbird Import and export settings
wxie replied
motzog1
motzog1

I have been using Thunderbird for 20+ years, maybe as many as 30. Forever. I have moved my profile across several versions of Windows and multiple computers. There are files in the root of the profile with a modified date of 2009. There may be older ones in sub-directories. There are 18 folders and 125 files. I suspect a lot of this is clutter left over from earlier versions of Thunderbird. In the Mail folder alone there are several hundred files and folders excluding the WDSEML files and actual emails.

I'm toying with the idea of starting fresh with a clean install of Thunderbird and getting on the correct release channel but I don't want to bring along what appear to be hundreds or thousands of unused files and folders.

I there anyone that can identify what profile files and folders to keep and what can be deleted?

Thanks for your consideration.

I have been using Thunderbird for 20+ years, maybe as many as 30. Forever. I have moved my profile across several versions of Windows and multiple computers. There are files in the root of the profile with a modified date of 2009. There may be older ones in sub-directories. There are 18 folders and 125 files. I suspect a lot of this is clutter left over from earlier versions of Thunderbird. In the Mail folder alone there are several hundred files and folders excluding the WDSEML files and actual emails. I'm toying with the idea of starting fresh with a clean install of Thunderbird and getting on the correct release channel but I don't want to bring along what appear to be hundreds or thousands of unused files and folders. I there anyone that can identify what profile files and folders to keep and what can be deleted? Thanks for your consideration.

All Replies (3)

wxie
wxie
  • முதல் 25 பங்களிப்பாளர்

Thank you for being a Thunderbird user.

I would suggest that you use Thunderbird's built-in import and export tool.

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/profiles-where-thunderbird-stores-user-data

motzog1
motzog1 கேள்வியின் உரிமையாளர்

Yes, thank you. I'm familiar with moving my profile to a fresh installation. The export / import tools bring along all the obsolete files and folders that I hope to avoid. I've had the same profile folder for over 20 years and it contains many obsolete files.

I was hoping to get some guidance as to which files and folders are not used on the current version of Thunderbird and could be safely omitted from a transfer to a 'fresh' version of the profile.

Perhaps doing a fresh install under a new user would give me the list of just the required files and folders?

Thanks,

கேள்வி எழுப்பு

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