MSF files are created if they do not exist upon access to the folder, but an empty folder has nothing to index, so that would no see one created.

is she holding shift while deleting (even accidentally by resting a finger on the keyboard) that bypasses the trash folder.

I don't believe the issue is holding down the shift key while deleting. I confirmed the problem by sending an email to her and then deleting it by simply selecting the email and then pressing the delete key. The email was not in Trash.

What next? Thanks!

Right click the folder and select compact from the menu. Then try the test again.

Tried right clicking Trash, selecting compact and then deleted an email in the Inbox. It was not in the Trash folder. Anything else to try next?

I'm wondering if this is an issue with the Inbox.

To safe guard good emails - just in case Inbox has become corrupted.... Move all good emails out of the Inbox folder into other suitable folders for storage. When Inbox only has emails you do not want to keep, right click on Inbox and select compact.

Right click the account in the folder pane and select settings.

in server settings for the account, what is set as the actual action when delete occurs? The default is to move it to a rash folder, but thee are other choices like remove it immediately.

Response to Todd-Hall: I created a temporary Inbox folder under Local folders and moved all but 4 emails to it. I then right clicked the regular Inbox and selected Compact. I didn't see any evidence of anything happening . I then deleted the 4 emails but still did not see them in the Trash folder.

Anything else to try? Thanks.

Response to Matt: From what I can see based on some other email addresses that I use on my computer, the other choices you mention for action when an email is deleted only apply to imap accounts. My wife uses a POP account and those choices are not available. Other thoughts? Thanks.

TheBaron said

Response to Todd-Hall: I created a temporary Inbox folder under Local folders and moved all but 4 emails to it. I then right clicked the regular Inbox and selected Compact. I didn't see any evidence of anything happening . I then deleted the 4 emails but still did not see them in the Trash folder. Anything else to try? Thanks. Response to Matt: Other thoughts? Thanks.

Does the trash folder have a trash icon or a standard folder icon?

Matt,

The Trash folder has a trash icon and not a standard folder icon.

Then I am stumped.

In Thunderbird Help > Troubleshooting Information click on 'Open Folder ' button

Exit Thunderbird now

Click on 'Mail' folder

It will contain pop mail accounts and 'Local Folders' mail account. Q: How many pop mail accounts do you see ?

I see one POP account in the Mail folder. Its labeled: pop-server.nc.rr.com.

In Thunderbird

• Help > Troubleshooting Information
• click on 'Open Folder ' button

• Exit Thunderbird now - this is important

• Click on 'Mail' folder
• Click on 'pop-server.nc.rr.com' folder

• Delete the 'Trash' mbox file
• If there is a 'Trash.msf' file delete it as well.

• Create a new text file called 'Trash'

It will create file called 'Trash.txt'

• Edit the name so it only says 'Trash' - remove the dot and txt.
• Right click on the new 'Trash' file and select 'Properties'

Under 'Attributes'

• make sure 'Read only' and 'Hidden' are not selected.
• click on Ok

Restart thunderbird.

Please test deleting an email. Post results.

Toad-Hall,

I followed your directions down to the bullet point saying "Create a new text file called "Trash". I did not see a direct way to create such a file, only saw create a new folder command. That being the case, I copied and pasted an existing file called "Archive" (since it had a 0 Kb size) and then changed the duplicate file to "Trash". There was no dot and txt extension so I didn't have to remove it. I did check the attributes of this newly named file and unchecked the "Read Only".

I restarted Thunderbird but on testing deleted inbox emails are not going into the Trash. Please advise if I need to do something different than what I described above. Thanks.

TheBaron said

I did check the attributes of this newly named file and unchecked the "Read Only".

That is a worry, How would it get a read only attribute set. Normally would be moving a profile on read only media like a CD or DVD.

There should be no read only files in your profile at all.

In your profile pop mail account, please check to see if the 'Trash' mbox file Properties Attribute 'Read only' has been reselected again and report back.

In Thunderbird, is the pop mail account visible and using it's own folders or have you set it up as a deferred account, commonly called 'Global' where 'Local Folders' mail account receives the emails instead ?

Response to Toad-Hall:

1) The Trash mbox file attribute where I had unchecked "read-only" remains unchecked.

2) Under the account email address I see the following folders: inbox, drafts, sent, archives, junk, trash. This inbox folder is where the emails come in and the trash folder is where we used to see deleted emails.

Download the installer from https://www.thunderbird.net/ and run it.

I installed Thunderbird using the link you provided. I did not uninstall the existing Thunderbird first. After installation I tested it but a deleted email is still not showing up in the Trash folder.

TheBaron said

I installed Thunderbird using the link you provided. I did not uninstall the existing Thunderbird first. After installation I tested it but a deleted email is still not showing up in the Trash folder.

is the read only attribute on the trash file reset?