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How can I move the Thunderbird e-mail data from the default location of the C; drive to another drive?

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  • Last reply by dchyde

tmarini
tmarini
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On my workstation the Thunderbird e-mail data is saved in the C:\Users\[My Name]\AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird... directory.

The data consumes considerable hard drive space and I would like to create a directory on my F: drive (that has 100+GB of data free) to "off-drive" the data. If it's even possible, how do I configure Thunderbird to use this different data directory on a different drive??

BTW, I tried to do this by copying the data/profile in the above C: drive directory to my F: drive. I changed the "Local Directory" setting in the "Message Storage" pane on the "Server Settings" window in the "Account Settings" appropriately. I even changed the path in the profiles.ini file in the default C: directory. This process didn't work and resulted in Thunderbird demanding that I create a new account. All returned to normal when I copied the Thunderbird data to its original location.

On my workstation the Thunderbird e-mail data is saved in the C:\Users\[My Name]\AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird... directory. The data consumes considerable hard drive space and I would like to create a directory on my F: drive (that has 100+GB of data free) to "off-drive" the data. If it's even possible, how do I configure Thunderbird to use this different data directory on a different drive?? BTW, I tried to do this by copying the data/profile in the above C: drive directory to my F: drive. I changed the "Local Directory" setting in the "Message Storage" pane on the "Server Settings" window in the "Account Settings" appropriately. I even changed the path in the profiles.ini file in the default C: directory. This process didn't work and resulted in Thunderbird demanding that I create a new account. All returned to normal when I copied the Thunderbird data to its original location.

Chosen solution

Thank you for any advice you can provide. I am using Windows 7 64 bit.

Using the article referenced by sfhowes above I am unable to start Program Manager for Thunderbird 52.2.1. I have moved on to the editing the Profiles.ini file option in the article.

Although Thunderbird is located on my D: drive, the only apparent Profiles.ini file is located on the C: drive in the same folder as the large Profiles folder I want to move to the D: drive. It is not titled "Profiles.ini" but simply Profiles and opens in Notepad. It seems to contain the language that is to be edited according to the article.

Have I found the correct file? >If Yes;

Going forward, where is this apparent Profiles.ini file to remain? On the C: drive or the D: drive? My question may be, will Thunderbird always look to C: for instructions as to where to store my Profile folder and consequently does the relevant C: file structure need to remain with just the large Profiles folder deleted (the crash reports are not a storage issue) and relocated to the D: drive?

At this point I have copied the entire Thunderbird folder which contains both the Profiles folder and the apparent Profiles.ini file as well as a Crash Reports folder to the D: drive.

Again, thanks for any help you can provide.

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dchyde
dchyde
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Chosen Solution

Thank you for any advice you can provide. I am using Windows 7 64 bit.

Using the article referenced by sfhowes above I am unable to start Program Manager for Thunderbird 52.2.1. I have moved on to the editing the Profiles.ini file option in the article.

Although Thunderbird is located on my D: drive, the only apparent Profiles.ini file is located on the C: drive in the same folder as the large Profiles folder I want to move to the D: drive. It is not titled "Profiles.ini" but simply Profiles and opens in Notepad. It seems to contain the language that is to be edited according to the article.

Have I found the correct file? >If Yes;

Going forward, where is this apparent Profiles.ini file to remain? On the C: drive or the D: drive? My question may be, will Thunderbird always look to C: for instructions as to where to store my Profile folder and consequently does the relevant C: file structure need to remain with just the large Profiles folder deleted (the crash reports are not a storage issue) and relocated to the D: drive?

At this point I have copied the entire Thunderbird folder which contains both the Profiles folder and the apparent Profiles.ini file as well as a Crash Reports folder to the D: drive.

Again, thanks for any help you can provide.

dchyde
dchyde
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Thanks a ton, sfhowes. BTW, why does my reply/question show as the :"Chosen Solution?"

dchyde
dchyde
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Yet another question: I seem to have successfully edited the Profile.ini file on my C: drive, Thunderbird loads and everything is there. Is there a way for me to confirm the Profile on D: is the one being used before deleting the one on C: ?

Thanks in advance

dchyde
dchyde
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Yes, that is perfect sfhowes. When I click on open folder under Application Basics>Profile Folder it opens Profile file located on D: in whatever you call what passes for Windows Explorer in Win 7.

Thanks again