Problem to restore backup profiles from older version to 102.3.1 (64-bit)
On 28/10/2022, my laptop crashed and I had format (Fedora 36) and installed Thunderbird 102.3.1 (64-bit) from Fedora Repository. The previous day (27/10/2022) I had copied (as a backup) the folder "/home/farid/.thunderbird/". However, in this new installed version of Thunderbird I can't find the folder "/home/farid/.thunderbird/" in order for me to replace with the backup one, but I can only find "/home/farid/.var/app/org.mozilla.Thunderbird/.thunderbird/". I did click on Menu Button, then click on "Help", then click on "More Troubleshooting Information" and finally clicked on button "Open Directory" but nothing happens. I did replace the contents of folder "/home/farid/.var/app/org.mozilla.Thunderbird/.thunderbird" with the backup contents I have previously of folder "/home/farid/.thunderbird/" before the crash, but did not work. I would appreciate it very much if could get help to resolve this problem I have. Thank you very much.
All Replies (12)
Try clicking help>moretroubleshootinginformation, scroll down to 'Profiles' and click 'about:profiles.' That will show you the location of the profile in use, and that may assist you in knowing where to copy the backup. Be sure to do that only when Thunderbird is not running.
Thank you very much for your prompt reply.
As you suggested, I did click "Help -> More Troubleshooting Information", scrolled down to "Profiles" and clicked "about:profiles" and in the page "About Profiles", as per image "thunderbird_01.jpg" I can see the following locations:
1. Profile: default-release 1.1 /home/farid/.thunderbird/tmd4sq1s.default-release 1.2 /home/farid/.var/app/org.mozilla.Thunderbird/cache/thunderbird/tmd4sq1s.default-release
2. Profile: default 2.1 /home/farid/.thunderbird/5e99l0jz.default 2.2 /home/farid/.var/app/org.mozilla.Thunderbird/cache/thunderbird/5e99l0jz.default
If I click on the buttons "Open Directory" next to the links referred in points 1.1 and 2.1, nothing happens, but if I click on the buttons "Open Directory" next to the links referred in points 1.2 and 2.2 it goes to the their respective directories.
In the image "thunderbird_02.jpg" it shows that the directory "/home/farid/.thunderbird/" does not exist and I presume that is the reason when I click on the "Open Directory" of links referred in points 1.1 and 2.1, nothing happens.
After the installation of Thunderbird 102.3.1 (64-bit) from Fedora Repository, and when I open the Thunderbird, it asks me to set up my existing email address, as shown in the image "thunderbird_03.jpg". I did not set up any email address, as I presume that after restoring the backup that I have, the existing email address will appear as well as the "Calendar", "Tasks" and "Address Book".
I would appreciate it very much your help to resolve this problem.
Thank you very much.
It appears you added your profile at the end of the current profile. The prompt to create an email account means that Thunderbird does not see a good profile and is attempting to create one. If you copied your backup, then I presume you see it somewhere there, possibly appended to another profile. That could explain why Thunderbird doesn't recognize it. The easiest solution at this point might be to - use the import feature on Thunderbird (when it prompts for new user id, ignore and click the 'home' tab and then the import button. Select the option to import another Thunderbird profile and then select your backup. The other option is, now that you know explicitly where you copied your profile, is to repeat the process that got you to the 'about:profile' link and to select the 'create profile' button. From there, click next, then enter a name for the profile, e.g. PROFILE, and the click the browse button to select the profile you identified as yours.
Thank you very much for your prompt reply.
As your suggestion, I have tried both ways.
First I tried to import and it did not work.
Secondly I have created a new profile and somehow I have made it worst, now when I try to start Thunderbird it takes few seconds and appears a message as per "IMAGE 1".
I have uninstalled Thunderbird via the Software management of Fedora as per "IMAGE 2".
After I have installed again Thunderbird via the Software management of Fedora as per "IMAGE 3".
I have tried to start Thunderbird and I got the same message as per "IMAGE 1".
Could you please let me know how can uninstall everything of Thunderbird so I can install it again and start as new installation.
My plan is, in the new installation, I will configure my email address in the setup page, where I presume Thunderbird will create the directory "/home/farid/.thunderbird/" and I can replace the contents of ".thunderbird/" folder with the backup I have. This is what I did, about a year ago, when I bought this laptop (I have replace the contents of ".thunderbird/" with the backup I had made from my older laptop).
However this time (on the 29/10/2022), when I tried to configure my email address in the setup page it did not allow due to certificate problem, it did not allow me to "Confirm Security Exception" for Location mail.odline.com:110. Nevertheless, after the new proper installation, I will try again to configure my email address, most probably I will have the same problem and will report that to you.
For now, I would appreciate it very much if you could please help me to uninstall everything of Thunderbird so I can install it again, properly.
Thank you very much for your precious help.
Ok, my Linux knowledge is only as a casual user. My suggestion is to let Thunderbird do the work. Click tools>import and point to your profile, which is a folder that contains addressbook, Mail folder and Imapfolder and others. It is NOT everything normally in .thunderbird folder. Just the profile folder. If the profile is good, Thunderbird should immediately embrace it.
Thank you very much for your prompt reply.
I have manage to uninstall everything of Thunderbird by deleting the folder "org.mozilla.Thunderbird" from the directory "/home/farid/.var/app/". After that, I have installed Thunderbird and opened without problems.
However, I have tried to set up my existing email address in the "Account Setup" page and I got the "Add Security Exception" message, as per attached image. When I click on the "Confirm Security Exception", nothing happens. The very same email address with the same configurations, I did set up with "Evolution" and it works fine. I need to configure this email address with Thunderbird, so it will create the path "/home/farid/.thunderbird/" where I can paste my backup.
I would appreciate it very much if you could please help me resolving this email set up with Thunderbird.
Thank you very much for your precious help.
This may be an error in your setup, such as SSL or TLS setting. Whatever your setting is, try the other. You may need to contact your email provider to ensure you have the right configuration.
Thank you very much for your prompt reply.
In the "Image 1" you can see the configuration details of the "Account Setup". This very same configuration it works without problems with Thunderbird 91.9.0 (64-bit) in my older laptop (also with Fedora) and in my latest laptop with Thunderbird 102.3.1 (64-bit) it does not work properly, as I explained in my previous posting that I have tried to set up my existing email address in the "Account Setup" page and I got the "Add Security Exception" message as per "Image 2". Therefore I conclude that there is problem with with Thunderbird 102.3.1 (64-bit).
I would appreciate it very much if you could please let know how can I download Thunderbird versions previous to the 102.3.1 (64-bit), so I can try until I get one that works properly.
Thank you very much for your precious help.
Never go back; that just makes life harder. I'm puzzled by your setting. The screenshot you posted shows one id on input and another id on output, and neither seems normal ids (I usually see an @ and a domain name). Is the incoming server really port 110 and STARTTLS? And the smtp server port 25 and STARTTLS? Can you upload a screenshot from the older laptop that works?
Thank you very much for your prompt reply.
In the screenshot I have posted on 04/11/2022 it shows as id (Username) "farid" for the "Incoming Server" and shows as id (Username) "odline.com" for the "Outgoing Server" as I use different servers for Incoming mails is mail.odline.com and Outgoing Mails is mail.smtp2go.com. In the same screenshot that I have posted on 04/11/2022, it also shows "Authentication method" being "Encrypted password", but in the configuration is "Normal password", as I have changed after making the screenshot.
More I inform you that I am the administrator of the Incoming server, it is our server located in a Data Centre in Malaysia and all the configurations of this server was done by me.
I am attaching two images being the screenshots of the "Incoming Server" and "Outgoing Server" configuration of the older laptop that works well with Thunderbird 91.9.0 (64-bit). As you can see the configurations are the same in both laptops.
Thank you very much for your precious help.
Modified
Thank you very much for your prompt reply.
In the screenshot I have posted on 04/11/2022 it shows as id (Username) "farid" for the "Incoming Server" and shows as id (Username) "odline.com" for the "Outgoing Server" as I use different servers for Incoming mails is mail.odline.com and Outgoing Mails is mail.smtp2go.com. In the same screenshot that I have posted on 04/11/2022, it also shows "Authentication method" being "Encrypted password", but in the configuration is "Normal password", as I have changed after making the screenshot.
More I inform you that I am the administrator of the Incoming server, it is our server located in a Data Centre in Malaysia and all the configurations of this server was done by me.
I am attaching two images being the screenshots of the "Incoming Server" and "Outgoing Server" configuration of the older laptop that works well with Thunderbird 91.9.0 (64-bit). As you can see the configurations are the same in both laptops.
Thank you very much for your precious help.
I am at a loss on this. you might try updating to the latest version, but I don't know if that will help. I have no further ideas here, so I do hope you can resolve this.