Old email folders will not open/load on my new laptop
My old laptop had a severe hardware failure. It took repair technician 2 weeks to restore old files. In the meantime, I installed Thunderbird on my new laptop and had to set up my account without the old folders/emails just so I could get work done. When the old files were restored, the technician copied them onto my hard drive. Then I followed the procedure to copy the Thunderbird Profile folder into the new destination folder (which I've done twice before on previous laptops, with no issues). Thunderbird still opens as the new version without any of my old emails. I've uninstalled TB and reinstalled several times. I've deleted the Profile directory (in the new destination), copied the old Profile directory into it, and it still doesn't recognize it. TB keeps asking me to set up my account, though I've verified that the history files are copied into the right place. I have several old emails in folders that I desperately need to access.
All Replies (9)
If you're manually copying the profile, Thunderbird will not automatically recognize it. If you're using 102, the easiest and safest approach is to start TB, ignore the email wizard, click home tab, and then click the new import button, which as an option to import a Thunderbird profile.
I tried this and immediately got the following message: Import failed unexpectedly, more information may be available in the Error Console. I tried this three times, moving the file to different folders, and I get the same message. Also, I can't find the Error Console. BTW, I'm running Windows 11, if that matters.
Ok, ignore the import. start Thunderbird with -p parameter for profile manager and then click button to 'create profile, then click next, then enter name for profile (e.g., PROFILE) and afterwards, click the browse button to select and activate your profile, wherever it is.
I need a little more detail. How do I start Thunderbird with the -p parameter?
click the windows key and 'r' key together. A small window will open. Enter thunderbird.exe -p and press enter.
It still didn't work. I got it to run, but it isn't loading my old emails and folders. Also, it lost my Address Book.
Ok, a detailed review is needed of your profile. The profile appears to have not been fully recovered.
How can I get a detailed review done?
I think your best bet is to copy the addressbook and all message files (e.g., INBOX, INBOX.msf) as start from scratch. Create a new profile and copy the salvaged message folders into the Local Folders section and to copy the saved addressbook into the new profile. That would definitely work.