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Accidently removed email address about to be restored : fearing the next IMAP sync

gamerpedro replied
gamerpedro

Hi. My main email address was accidently removed. All my previous emails are stored locally thanks to Thunderbird IMAP syncing up to now. I'm currently in touch with my ISP in order to restore my email address. This will be done in a few days : I am going to get my email address back, but all the emails on the servers will not be restored. Therefore, when the server is restored, it will be empty.

I fear that when it's done, during the next IMAP sync, my Thunderbird will delete all local emails.

What can I do to prevent that, or circumvent it ? I would like for the local state to be uploaded to the server, not the distant state to delete everything locally.

Hi. My main email address was accidently removed. All my previous emails are stored locally thanks to Thunderbird IMAP syncing up to now. I'm currently in touch with my ISP in order to restore my email address. This will be done in a few days : I am going to get my email address back, but all the emails on the servers will not be restored. Therefore, when the server is restored, it will be empty. I fear that when it's done, during the next IMAP sync, my Thunderbird will delete all local emails. What can I do to prevent that, or circumvent it ? I would like for the local state to be uploaded to the server, not the distant state to delete everything locally.

All Replies (2)

A simple way is to install the addon, importexporttools NG. Then, highlight Local Folders and rightclick and select the importexport option to import mbox file Now, locate and select the inbox (not the inbox.msf) that you saved locally for the account and click ok. Repeat process for all other files. Then, when account is restored, you can COPY (do NOT move) entries to the online folder. Check carefully as uploading to IMAP can be problematic.

david said

A simple way is to install the addon, importexporttools NG. Then, highlight Local Folders and rightclick and select the importexport option to import mbox file Now, locate and select the inbox (not the inbox.msf) that you saved locally for the account and click ok. Repeat process for all other files. Then, when account is restored, you can COPY (do NOT move) entries to the online folder. Check carefully as uploading to IMAP can be problematic.

Thank you. I did just that but still lost part of my emails because for some reason importexporttools NG decided to stop the export partways without noticing me (and witout me noticing...). I realized after the sync that wiped my local IMAP, that my backup wasn't complete... I'm so angry with myself, I should have checked all the folders were there before plugging back the IMAP syncing.

Anyway, it's too late now.

Buza umbuzo

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