Transfering Thnuderbird data to new PC
1) I have Thunderbird 78.5.0 on my five-year old Windows 10 laptop and want to copy my data files to my new Windows 10 HP desktop pc.
2) I read and followed the directions in "Moving Thunderbird Data to a new Computer". I tried it several times, but I could not get it to work. Each time I pasted in the files, but when I opened Thunderbird, the new account window came up and none of my data was there.
3) I read the article "No Success with Moving Thunderbird Data to a New Computer" and tried the method on appuals.com using MozBackup as described on appuals.com. That program indicated a corrupt file, so again, unsuccessful.
4) I tried to download the Restoro Repair app from appuals.com, but my anti-malware program gave a warning, so I aborted.
5) I read the article from MozillaZine on "Move to a New PC", but nothing I tried from there worked either. I started with downloading the more recent MozBackup version, but I still got the corrupt file message. I also tried moving pieces of the profile file as directed, but then Thunderbird was unable to open at all.
6) I deleted the Thunderbird app from the desktop and downloaded another copy, which I am ready to install. However, I still need help on moving the data!
Chosen solution
Apologies for getting your name wrong earlier, Matt. Don't know what I was thinking. I realized that the deleted folders might be in the Recycle bin. I found them and restored them, so now Thunderbird opens. I will try your instructions and see how that works out.
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removing and reinstallig does nothing about existing profile data. So get your head around that first up.
Second install and start Thunderbird it will startup the existing default profiile.
Go to the troubleshooting information on the help menu and click to show the profile folder. Close Thunderbird once you are in the profile folder. Go to your backup and open whatever folder contains prefs.js. Copy the entire contents of that profile folder over the one that Thunderbird opened and acknowledge the replace messages. If you get no replace messages you almost certainly are copying the wrong thing to the wrong place.
Restart Thunderbird and your mail and address book should be there.
Thanks, Mark. I reinstalled Thunderbird but immediately ran into a problem. Instead of starting, I get a message: "Profile Missing. Your Thunderbird profile cannot be loaded. It may be missing or inaccessible." The reason why I uninstalled and reinstalled was because the last method I tried involved deleting the files and copying in the ones from my old computer that I want to use. Since Thunderbird wouldn't start, I looked up "Finding your profile without opening Thunderbird" and followed the steps. It looks like the two folders I copied into the Profile folder yesterday are still there, even though I uninstalled. I tried copying over the default folder, but I get the same "Profile Missing" message. My intention with the uninstall/reinstall was to get back to an original, pristine copy of Thunderbird, but that did not happen. Looks like I messed things up more. I hope you have a suggestion on what I should do now.
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Apologies for getting your name wrong earlier, Matt. Don't know what I was thinking. I realized that the deleted folders might be in the Recycle bin. I found them and restored them, so now Thunderbird opens. I will try your instructions and see how that works out.
Success! Thunderbird opened immediately to my emails, all the folders are there and so are the address books. Your method turned out to be the simplest I came across. I wish I had seen it first. Thanks so much, Matt!