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i fiddled with server setting to transfer local directory from my home folder to a different disk location and after restart inbox, etc. disappeared

  • 8 ŋuɖoɖowo
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  • Nuɖoɖo mlɔetɔ christ1

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my home folder is almost full so i want to transfer message storage to another hard drive on my computer. this is what i did to try to transfer the message storage: 1) clicked on <view settings for this account> 2) clicked on <server settings> 3) navigated to <message storage / /ocal directory> and changed the folder setting by clicking on the <browse...> button 4) entered the new setting and uon instruction to restart thunderbird, i did. 5) when i restarted thunderbird i only had an inbox folder and the rest of the folders <sent> <drafts> <archives>, etc. all disappeared. the <inbox> now contains only my most recent mails (which had been retained on the server)

the original local directory wich i changed was </home/jl/.thunderbird/vot5hfmb.default/Mail/pop.ziggo.nl>

how to i recover the full content of the inbox, the full content of the sent folder and and all the archived mail?

my home folder is almost full so i want to transfer message storage to another hard drive on my computer. this is what i did to try to transfer the message storage: 1) clicked on <view settings for this account> 2) clicked on <server settings> 3) navigated to <message storage / /ocal directory> and changed the folder setting by clicking on the <browse...> button 4) entered the new setting and uon instruction to restart thunderbird, i did. 5) when i restarted thunderbird i only had an inbox folder and the rest of the folders <sent> <drafts> <archives>, etc. all disappeared. the <inbox> now contains only my most recent mails (which had been retained on the server) the original local directory wich i changed was </home/jl/.thunderbird/vot5hfmb.default/Mail/pop.ziggo.nl> how to i recover the full content of the inbox, the full content of the sent folder and and all the archived mail?

Ŋuɖoɖo si wotia

At this point you probably have two profiles. see https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/using-multiple-profiles to switch to the other profile.

There is an add-on to TB which allows import and export of emails in various formats to a separate storage medium (external disk, thumb drive, etc.).

The instructions on how to download and install it can be found at http://barryduggan.info/exportMail.php

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All Replies (8)

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Ɖɔɖɔɖo si wotia

At this point you probably have two profiles. see https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/using-multiple-profiles to switch to the other profile.

There is an add-on to TB which allows import and export of emails in various formats to a separate storage medium (external disk, thumb drive, etc.).

The instructions on how to download and install it can be found at http://barryduggan.info/exportMail.php

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Reverse the changes you made. Messing with the Local Directory setting isn't recommended unless you know exactly what you're doing. You should move the entire profile instead, but I'd restore normal functionality first.

christ1 trɔe

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i tried to do what you are suggesting now by clicking edit/undo. is this the correct way? christ1 said

Reverse the changes you made. Messing with the Local Directory setting isn't recommended unless you know exactly what you're doing. You should move the entire profile instead, but I'd restore normal functionality first.
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duggabe said

At this point you probably have two profiles. see https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/using-multiple-profiles to switch to the other profile. There is an add-on to TB which allows import and export of emails in various formats to a separate storage medium (external disk, thumb drive, etc.). The instructions on how to download and install it can be found at http://barryduggan.info/exportMail.php

jdelima trɔe

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The email notification I received said: <quote>i would like to know how to recover the folders & their contents. can this be done using the export/import tool? how?</quote>

If you can switch to the copy of the profile before you started all this, you can use the export add-on to export your folders to a separate directory. Then you can switch to your new/current profile and do an import.

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i tried to do what you are suggesting now by clicking edit/undo. is this the correct way?

No, it doesn't work that way. You'll need to manually restore the original path of your 'Local Directory' setting.

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thanks! it worked.

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Good. Then you can now start moving the profile. Check the article and follow the instructions. If something isn't clear better ask, before messing something up again. http://kb.mozillazine.org/Moving_your_profile_folder_-_Thunderbird