I can't seem to get a clean install anymore. I uninstall, clear away Anything I find that mentions Tbird, then download and install a new copy of tbird, and it comes up with all the previous data still in it! Where in blazes is it writing it to that I can't find it and get rid of it to get a clean install? I need to be able to see the screen at the beginning where it asks if you want Imap or Pop. It comes up already filled in, and just now opened at the mail box! How can I clean the whole bloody thing off of my machine like it was never there?

I've been looking for hidden tbird files. I found a raft of them in the photo attached. Do they ALL come out before I try to install a new version again? Is there any other place to look? I uninstalled the program, deleted the profile and anything else that had thunderbird in the name; then the files attached (not yet deleted). Is that all? Can I get a clean install now? Thanks.

I've been trying to understand what you've been trying to do.

Did you get a new computer and you wanted to install Thunderbird. You aslo wanted to use a backed up copy of a profile - although at this point it's not clear what you actually backed up and depending upon what you backed up depends upon the process you use to get it all displaying again.

But then you start talking about adding mail accounts which means you did not intend to use an old profile. Or did you want to use a completely clean profile with a brand new imap mail account - but then you wanted to copy a load of pop account emails into the 'Local Folders' mail account ?

What are you trying to achieve?

It now sounds like you are so mixed up, you just want to get rid of everything which is just as drastic.

Thunderbird will get auto installed in either of these location depending upon whether you are installing a 32bit version or a 64bit version.

• 64 bit bit version: C:/ Program Files/Mozilla Thunderbird
• 32 bit bit version: C:/ Program Files (x86)/Mozilla Thunderbird

By default Thunderbird creates a location for all the profile data and it will be here:

• C://Users/user name/Appdata/Roaming/Thunderbird

Windows OS also keeps a record of some info in this location but it's not the profile data used by Thunderbird.

• C://Users/user name/Appdata/Local/Thunderbird

If you want to get rid of 'everything' then you need to exit Thunderbird if it is running and then delete all the 'Mozilla Thunderbird' and 'Thunderbird' folders I highlighted above. Then empty the computer 'Recycle Bin'

But before you reinstall, what have you got backed up ? Did you backup this: C://Users/user name/Appdata/Roaming/Thunderbird folder Or backup this: C://Users/user name/Appdata/Roaming/Thunderbird/Profiles/profile name folder

If you backed up the /Roaming/'Thunderbird' folder: If you want the new installation to use that backed up Thunderbird' folder....

Install Thunderbird, let it start but do not add any mail account, just exit Thunderbird. Then access :

• C://Users/user name/Appdata/Roaming folder - see image below as guide
• Delete the default 'Thunderbird' folder
• Paste the backup copy of 'Thunderbird' folder into the 'Roaming' folder, thus replacing the one you deleted.

Start Thunderbird It should start and use all your old settings.

If you have deleted everything to do with Thunderbird and installed Thunderbird afresh, let it create a new default profile and then you created a new mail account that's ok. But I was under the impression you had some email you needed to get access to see.

What exactly have you got backed up - some images would help and I can help you get them into the 'Local Folders' mail account.

I have been going round and round. I'd had a corruption to my program on the last update. I limped along with it being weird (David) has been helping me. Yesterday I decided to wipe the whole thing, after backing up my profile to a usb stick. I then installed a new copy of thunderbird, but accepted the default, which was imap. My profile was in POP3. I of course needed to change the imap to Pop, and couldn't. I tried everything to delete the program again, but the hidden files kept catching me up. Today with no program on here (I thought) I made a search for hidden files that kept putting data back into the new install. I though I had them all finally, about 1/2 hour ago, so downloaded a new install again. Only it came back with old emails from April 3 and forward, so I'm trying to again get rid of Everything Thunderbird put anywhere on my machine so I can start with a clean install. I need to get to POP3. I think if I can do that I can go forward properly. I've removed my password so it can't connect to 3rd party, yet there's always something that causes the new install to open with my a/c name, and various other bits so I can't get to the right setup screen to choose POP3. I've sent for help at each stage where I got stuck, that's why you couldn't follow me. But now I just want a clean slate to completely start over. I have the profile on the stick. Does that clear it up any, I hope? Thanks.

re : so I'm trying to again get rid of Everything Thunderbird put anywhere on my machine so I can start with a clean install.

I mentioned how to do that in previous comment.

Here is info again: Thunderbird will get auto installed in either of these location depending upon whether you are installing a 32bit version or a 64bit version.

• 64 bit bit version: C:/ Program Files/Mozilla Thunderbird
• 32 bit bit version: C:/ Program Files (x86)/Mozilla Thunderbird

By default Thunderbird creates a location for all the profile data and it will be here - so I'm presuming you did not put it anywhere else.

• C://Users/user name/Appdata/Roaming/Thunderbird

Windows OS also keeps a record of some info in this Appdata/'Local' location but it's not the profile data used by Thunderbird.

• C://Users/user name/Appdata/Local/Thunderbird

If you want to get rid of 'everything' then you need to Exit Thunderbird first if it is running and then delete all the 'Mozilla Thunderbird' and 'Thunderbird' folders I highlighted above. Then empty the computer 'Recycle Bin'.

Sorry I missed it previously, my eyes are glazed over by now. Thank you for the info about clearing it all off. Yes, there is no profile data in it from me. It's save on a stick in the drawer. I thought I'd opened all the hidden files, and cleared anything that had tbird name on or in the file, but it's amazing what still came back. I'm going to rest my eyes and steady my mind a bit now, and then I'll pick up your reply to me and take it one by one. I very much appreciate your help, and hope I may ask again if need be. Thanks

I am thrilled to thank you all for your help, especially David and Toad! It works perfectly. You're the Best!

Thank you for putting up with me, I am old after all, and you made it possible for me to fix this problem.

I have one question: Do I need to open/use PGP? I don't understand what it is or does. This is just for my personal email, not a biz.

Appreciate it more than I can say.

Stacy