Well since you do not say what your screen looks like this is only a guess. I assume some kind of window opens.

Do you have a Menu Bar showing at the top? if not. press the alt key to make it appear. From the Menu Bar select View-Layout-Folder Pane. This will make the Folder Pane appear down the left margin. There are 3 different view selectable from the View menu. Click through them to find the layout that you want.

Yes, I have a menu at the top, and I do have classic and folder pane checked. I had the columns, but nothing in them! Actually, I got the "ring" that I was getting e-mail and clicked on the little pop up on the lower right side and that opened the incoming mail column...YAY! BUT, still no folders on the left. Now, if I "save" an e-mail, and follow the various links in the local folders, the folders are there. I just can not see them in the column. Any suggestions?

Are you using some other theme than the default Thunderbird theme? If so disable it and see if that makes a difference. Same with any add ons. under the Help menu is Restart with Add Ons Disabled. Try that.

I have to answer NO to all. Interestingly though, After turning computer off last night, running my fixes for computer this AM, everything seems to be back on track! I am getting SO frustrated with these computers....hanging on to my XP may not be the brightest move, but I can not afford to upgrade my embroidery programs for thousands either. And, I do not like the newer operating systems.....Thank you so much for your input and help! I really appreciated it!

I will but in with off topic comments. (sorry in advance)

I moved from XP to Windows 7 a little over a year ago and it fixed just about every problem I had with my old system. Hang crashes and missing files were basically thing of the past.

With regard to staying with XP, it is probably not the brightest thing, as you suggest. There are alternatives. Some free some expensive. (Mostly free)

There is Windows XP Mode in Windows 7 see http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/install-and-use-windows-xp-mode-in-windows-7 WHilst not ideal, it places your XP environment another step away from the internet and is preferable to XP alone. Regardless of what Microsoft are saying.

There are "real" virtual machines. see http://www.vmware.com/products/player where VMWARE claim "run windows XP forever" there is a free personal use link at the bottom. But $100 odd is not a lot in a business to purchase the product.

Finally there is Linux it has had "wine" for about a decade now and it runs almost all XP programs without any issues at all.

Regardless of your circumstances, I strongly suggest you seek professional advise on what to do, sticking with XP is not really a viable long term option. If you are in business it leaves you open to litigation should anyone loose money or production through your decision, and personally it is just safer Even if your banks ATMs are still using XP, (about 90% worldwide), everyone should be working on an exit plan.