Question about restoring old POP profile to newly created IMAP profile
I have been using TB for many years and have saved thousands of emails. Now I need to make the transition from my old POP to a newly created IMAP profile. I saved the huge profile file named xxxxxxxx.default on a flash drive.
This is my question: If I download a new TB, set it up as IMAP and then place a copy of my old profile in the correct path, then will a file in my old profile overwrite the new IMAP settings?
In other words, does the xxxxxxxx.default file include the mail server and stmp settings?
I'm really nervous about this transition. I don't want to lose my emails.
Thanks in advance for your help.
Chosen solution
David: Thank you for your prompt reply and for resolving my issue! Still, I'd like to impose on you for a bit of clarification to ensure that I won't make any mistakes.
Since I already have Thunderbird installed and since my current POP profile is already in the path c:\<yourid>\appdata\roaming\thunderbird\profiles, I assume that I should begin with step 3, "start thunderbird profile manager . . . "
In profile manager, after I click "create profile," "next" and name it, will this be the new profile that I can set up as an IMAP? If so, then by selecting it, will Thunderbird start up with the new profile (where I can enter the settings)?
I apologize for being dense. I thought that Thunderbird used the profiles.ini file to open the right profile.
Gratefully, Seebyrdie
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Here are the steps: - install Thunderbird - copy old profile to c:\<yourid>\appdata\roaming\thunderbird\profiles - start thunderbird profile manager (click windows key and 'r' key at same time and then enter
thunderbird.exe -p
and then click 'create profile', then click 'next', then enter a name for profile (e.g., PROFILE), and after that,click the browse button to locate and select your profile.
Now, create your IMAP account. (the two can coexist). Depending on your desires, you can now copy the POP mail folders to Local Folders and can then delete the POP account.
Chosen Solution
David: Thank you for your prompt reply and for resolving my issue! Still, I'd like to impose on you for a bit of clarification to ensure that I won't make any mistakes.
Since I already have Thunderbird installed and since my current POP profile is already in the path c:\<yourid>\appdata\roaming\thunderbird\profiles, I assume that I should begin with step 3, "start thunderbird profile manager . . . "
In profile manager, after I click "create profile," "next" and name it, will this be the new profile that I can set up as an IMAP? If so, then by selecting it, will Thunderbird start up with the new profile (where I can enter the settings)?
I apologize for being dense. I thought that Thunderbird used the profiles.ini file to open the right profile.
Gratefully, Seebyrdie
Ok, that profile manager bit is in case Thunderbird does not start and immediately recognize profile. Usually, it starts and prompts to create an email account. If that is the case, then yes, do the profile manager step. This is NOT to create a profile; you already have one. The step is to define it to Thunderbird and that is what the steps must be done in sequence exactly. When you complete the profile manager step, it ends with Thunderbird using that profile. At that time, you will have everything working as it did before. It is now that you can create the IMAP account alongside the POP account. YES, it uses the profiles.ini file and the profile manage sets that. You're free to use a text editor to do that yourself, but it's an option.When possible, I encourage people to copy from old PC from c:\users\yourid\appdata\roaming\thunderbird as that includes the profiles.ini file and makes the transfer completely painless.
The part that I don't understand is: "It is now that you can create the IMAP account alongside the POP account."
How do I create the new IMAP account? Do I simply open my existing POP account, select my email address and then click on "Set Up Another Account?"
click file>new>existing mail account
Thank you very much! Tonight I'll give it a try. Wish me luck.