I don't understand what you did with your profile and why you copied it around in the first place. That was completely unnecessary.

All what's needed is to create a backup of your Thunderbird profile on a regular basis. https://support.mozilla.org/kb/profiles-where-thunderbird-stores-user-data#w_backing-up-a-profile

Copied <Profiles> folder into new copy of Thunderbird

Please explain what that means. Please provide the exact information and full path what you copied from where to where.

I have an Aug copy of <Profiles> that might have the Address Book in it

Are you saying the profile you copied around does not have the address book in it? If so, what did you do that the address book got lost?

You said: "I don't understand what you did with your profile and why you copied it around in the first place. That was completely unnecessary."

My reply: What I did was copy the folder <Profiles> exactly as instructed and described in the document you reference - <https://support.mozilla.org/kb/profiles-where-thunderbird-stores-user-data#w_backing-up-a-profile>

You said: "All what's needed is to create a backup of your Thunderbird profile on a regular basis."

My reply: The document you reference, and I used, does not say "create a backup", it says "copy the profile folder to another location." As you know, the words "copy" and "backup" each have specific meanings in the computer world and they are NOT the same.

You said: "Please explain what that means. Please provide the exact information and full path what you copied from where to where."

My reply: - I created a folder <C:/My Files/Thunderbird/Thunderbird Downloads/Tbird Profile Backup/5 - 14 Sep 2019 - I copied the folder <C:/Users/test/AppData/Roaming/Thunderbird/Profiles> to the folder I created. </p>

You said: "Are you saying the profile you copied around does not have the address book in it?"

My reply: I must assume that is the case because when I copied <Profiles> into the new copy of Thunderbird, and then opened Thunderbird, there was no Address Book.

You said: "If so, what did you do that the address book got lost?"

My reply: No idea. I followed the instructions exactly. The Address Book should have been copied as part of <Profiles>. For unknown reasons, it was not.

And so, now that you have the details you asked for, is there any way to recover my Address Book?

And, another subject...

When I was on the "Get Community Support" web site, I looked for a way to provide feedback but I found none. I believe there is at least one error in the wording of the document found at <https://support.mozilla.org/kb/profiles-where-thunderbird-stores-user-data#w_backing-up-a-profile>

This document says: "3. Go to one level above your profile's folder, i.e. to %APPDATA%\Thunderbird\Profiles\ 4. Right-click on your profile folder (e.g. xxxxxxxx.default), and select Copy."

The "profile folder" referenced in step 4 is not "xxxxxxxx.default", it is the folder listed in step 3, "%APPDATA%\Thunderbird\Profiles\"

What I did was copy the folder <Profiles> exactly as instructed and described in the document you reference

So what you did was essentially creating a backup of your profile folder? If so, then it would probably help to call it a backup to avoid confusion. Note, profile backups should be created on a regular basis.

The document you reference, and I used, does not say "create a backup", it says "copy the profile folder to another location."

That actually is a backup. And the title of the section in the support article is "Backing up a profile". So there shouldn't be any ambiguity.

I created a folder <c: <c:="" -="" 14="" 2019="" 5="" <="" appdata="" backup="" copied="" created.="" downloads="" files="" folder="" i="" my="" p="" profile="" profiles>="" roaming="" sep="" tbird="" test="" the="" thunderbird="" to="" users=""></c:>

What I expected was a path, e.g. like C:\Users\<user-id>\AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird\Profiles\<profile-folder>

Please provide that information.

Also please provide name and path of your current profile. https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/profiles-where-thunderbird-stores-user-data#w_how-to-find-your-profile

Copied <Profiles> folder into new copy of Thunderbird

I still have no idea what that means, please elaborate. For an update you do not need to touch the existing profile, other than backing it up. There is nothing you need to copy 'into new copy of Thunderbird'.

I followed the instructions exactly. The Address Book should have been copied as part of <Profiles>. For unknown reasons, it was not.

So files from the original profile were missing in your backup copy? What happened to the original profile anyway?

The "profile folder" referenced in step 4 is not "xxxxxxxx.default", it is the folder listed in step 3, "%APPDATA%\Thunderbird\Profiles\"

I don't follow you. The instructions work for me and I think they are correct.

I'm sure it's very interesting to you to ask all these "why" questions, that cannot be answered and to pretend (at least I hope you are pretending) that you do not understand the difference between "copy" and "backup", but this does me no good at all. If you can, please answer my questions.

Since there has been no answer in more than 3 days, I must assume that christ1 does not know the answers to my original questions. He certainly has not helped me so far.

Does anyone else out there have any helpful information for me? I would appreciate it.

Since there has been no answer in more than 3 days, I must assume that christ1 does not know the answers to my original questions. He certainly has not helped me so far.

Does anyone else out there have any helpful information for me? I would appreciate it.

If you Copy a folder to an external drive to save it for use then you are creating a backup of that folder.

So did you copy this directory to a safe location eg: on an external drive. Note: that is the 'Appdata' 'Roaming' 'Thunderbird location and not the 'Local' location.

• C:\Users\<Windows user name>\AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird\Profiles folder.

If yes, access the saved copy. open the 'Profiles' folder You will see 'profile name' folders. 'Profile name' folders usually have this type of name 'xxxxxxxx.default' where the x's are letters and numbers. click on the 'profile name' folder to see contents. Do you see files with the .mab extension? eg: 'abook.mab' and 'history.mab' ? These two files are the 'Personal Address Book' and the 'Collected Addresses' address books. Do they have a good size ?

I copied <C:\Users\<Windows user name>\AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird\Profiles> to my external HD. </p>

After I uninstalled Tbird 60 an installed Tbird 68, I copied the Profiles folder back into <C:\Users\<Windows user name>\AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird\> </p>

When I opened Tbird, there were no entries in my Address book. Right now the <abook.mab> file is 221 K and the <history.mab> file is 3 K. My address book in Tbird 60 had more than 700 addresses.

I have older copies of the Profiles folder. In the May 2019 copy, <abook.mab> is 194 K and <history.mab> is 2 K.

Evidently copying the Profiles folder is not capturing the address book - or maybe there are other files besides abook and history that contain the address book?

I have another question: When I open the current <Profiles> folder, there are 2 subfolders - <wf4j06jp.default> and <xvb0t9dq.default-release>. Each of these subfolders have files <abook.mab> and <history.mab>. Is this right? Shouldn't there be only one subfolder?

Thanks for helping.

When you installed TB 68, it created a new profile default-release, which is why the address book is empty. If you want to keep using this profile, copy abook.mab from the default profile folder to the default-release folder (while TB is closed. You can also select Help/Troubleshooting Information, click about:profiles, and select the wf4j06jp.default profile as the Default for TB 68.

It sounds like you are currently using the 'xvb0t9dq.default-release ' profile name as this has the empty Address Books.

Agree with sfhowes; suggest you see what happens when you select to use the other - copied in profile name = wf4j06jp.default

If you select 'Help' > 'Troubleshooting Information', Under 'Application Basics' section at the bottom click 'about:profiles' This will tell you which profile you are currently using as default. If it is 'xvb0t9dq.default-release', then the other profile 'default' which is 'wf4j06jp.default' click on 'Set as default profile'. Then click on 'Launch profile in a new browser' button. It does not open in a new browser - it opens in a new window, you can then close the original opened Thunderbird window. check to see if the 'Address Books' are showing.

Yes, <xvb0t9dq.default-release> is the default Profile. In the section "Profile: default", I clicked on "Set as default Profile", then clicked "Launch profile in a new browser". When I clicked on "Launch..." I get this message: "Your Thunderbird profile cannot be loaded. It may be missing or inaccessible."

I used File Explorer to look and the folder <wf4j06jp.default> is empty. I have a copy of <wf4j06jp.default> from Sep 11. Can I copy this folder into the current Profile?

Exit Thunderbird - this must not be running.

Right click on backup copy of 'wf4j06jp.default' and select 'Copy'

access: C:/Users/User Account/Appdata /Roaming/Thunderbird/ Profiles folder Delete the empty 'wf4j06jp.default' folder Right click in 'Profiles' folder and select 'Paste' then click on 'wf4j06jp.default' folder to check it has a load of file and folders.

Start Thunderbird.

OK, I'll do the copy and paste. And then I assume that I need to go back to your previous instruction and make <wf4j06jp.default> the Default Profile, correct?

Another question: I have been using Tbird for the past several days to check E-mail which means that the most current E-mail is in the folder <xvb0t9dq.default-release>. What files do I need to copy from <xvb0t9dq.default-release> to <wf4j06jp.default> in order to have the most current E-mails in the Default Profile (<wf4j06jp.default>)?

Assuming that I get everything copied correctly and I get my Address Book back and I get the most current E-mail into the <wf4j06jp.default> folder, can I then safely delete the folder <xvb0t9dq.default-release> so that I have one, and only one, Profile?

20 Sep 2019: Opened Tbird, there are 2708 unread E-mails displayed. I looked at the current <Profiles> folder. It contains 2 subfolders - <k5h81p72.default> (which is a new file name and the folder is empty) and <xvb0t9dq.default-release> which only has 3 subfolders. No <Mail> folder. This <Profiles> folder is way too small, yet Tbird is displaying all my E-mails. Any ideas what's going on?.

Right click on mail account name in Folder Pane and select 'Settings' Select 'Server settings' In 'Local directory:' Make sure window is wide enough to see all the text. Copy all the text and post into this forum question.

C:\Users\test\AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird\Profiles\xvb0t9dq.default-release\ImapMail\imap.aol.com

xvb0t9dq.default-release is the profile name folder As you have created an imap mail account, it is in the 'ImapMail' folder. As this is an imap account, all of those emails are on the server, so you do not need to worry about moving those emails from one profile to another.

It would seem you still have not copy pasted the old profile.

You seem to be using a Windows User Account called 'test'.

Assuming the backup 'wf4j06jp.default' folder has all the account info etc etc.

Exit Thunderbird. Right click on backup copy of 'wf4j06jp.default' folder and select 'Copy' Access: C:\Users\test\AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird\Profiles folder paste backup copy of 'wf4j06jp.default' into the 'Profiles' folder.

At this point Thunderbird still does not know about the pasted in profile. Start Thunderbird.

Help > Troubleshooting Information Under 'Application Basics' At the bottom click on 'about:profiles' If the profile you have just added does not appear in the list: click on 'Create a new Profile' Click on 'Next' It will call the new profile 'Default User' click on 'Choose Folder..' Select : C:\Users\test\AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird\Profile\'wf4j06jp.default' profile name folder click on 'Select folder' button.

Now the 'profiles.ini' file will get updated and TB will know it has another profile.

Now you will see that profile listed in 'about:profiles' If 'Default User' is not the current default profile, then click on 'Set as default profile' button located just below the details of that profile. click on 'Launch profile in new browser' Do not worry, it actually launches in a new window. Then close the original Thunderbird window.

For my answer/comments below, I will put what you said in parenthesis (You said) and my answer/comments in parenthesis (My answer).

(You said): xvb0t9dq.default-release is the profile name folder. As you have created an imap mail account, it is in the 'ImapMail' folder.

(My answer): I do not know what an "imap mail account" is and as far as I know, I did not create one. When I looked at the <Profiles> folder about 6 hours ago, there were only 3 subfolders, there was no <Mail> folder, there was no <ImapMail> folder. I did not use the computer for anything at all for several hours and now, the <Mail> folder and the <ImapMail> folder are there, along with many other subfolders that were not there earlier.

(You said): It would seem you still have not copy pasted the old profile.

(My answer): I did not copy anything yet because I was waiting for answers to these questions: I have been using Tbird for the past several days to check E-mail which means that the most current E-mail is in the folder <xvb0t9dq.default-release>. What files do I need to copy from <xvb0t9dq.default-release> to <wf4j06jp.default> in order to have the most current E-mails in the Default Profile (<wf4j06jp.default>)? Assuming that I get everything copied correctly and I get my Address Book back and I get the most current E-mail into the <wf4j06jp.default> folder, can I then safely delete the folder <xvb0t9dq.default-release> so that I have one, and only one, Profile?

More questions: Now that there is a <Mail> folder in the current Profile, is that where all the E-mails are? Or is mail stored in multiple locations? If I copy/paste the old Aug Profile, I assume that will erase the mail stored in the current Profile. What if I copy and save to my external HD the current Profile, then copy/paste the Aug Profile, then copy just the <Mail> folder from the saved current Profile to the Aug Profile? Would that put all current mail into the Tbird program?

Thanks for all your help.

More complications/problems:

In this folder <C:\Users\test\AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird\Profiles\> I have these 2 subfolders: - <wf4j06jp.default>: This appears to be a full-blown profile, there are 64 subfolders and files, a <Mail> folder, an <ImapMail> folder, an <abook.mab> file big enough to hold my full address book, etc. - <xvb0t9dq.default-release>: Appears to be a full-blown profile.

In this folder <C:\Users\test\AppData\Local\Thunderbird\Profiles\> I have these 2 subfolders: - <k5h81p72.default>: This subfolder is empty. - <xvb0t9dq.default-release>: Not a full-blown Profile. Only 5 subfolders and files, no <Mail> folder, <ImapMail> folder, <abook.mab> file.

- When I open about:profiles and attempt to switch the Default Profile to <wf4j06jp.default>, there are only 2 profiles listed - <k5h81p72.default> and <xvb0t9dq.default-release>. When I try to switch from <xvb0t9dq.default-release> to <k5h81p72.default>, I get a message telling me that the Profile is not available (probably because this profile is empty). - I restarted my computer and tried to launch Tbird. It does not open and I got a message telling me that the Profile is not available.

- It appears that even though there are Profiles in the <Roaming> folder, Tbird is not using them. It looks like Tbird is using the Profiles in the <Local> folder. How do I switch the Default Profile if I cannot open/launch Thunderbird?

re : When I open about:profiles and attempt to switch the Default Profile to <wf4j06jp.default>, there are only 2 profiles listed - <k5h81p72.default> and <xvb0t9dq.default-release>.

As already mentioned, after pasting in the wf4j06jp.default profile, which you have now done. You needed to complete the instructions, which I've added again below.

At this point Thunderbird still does not know about the pasted in profile. Start Thunderbird.

• Help > Troubleshooting Information

Under 'Application Basics'

• At the bottom click on 'about:profiles'

If the profile you have just added does not appear in the list:

• click on 'Create a new Profile'
• Click on 'Next'
• It will call the new profile 'Default User'
• click on 'Choose Folder..'
• Select : C:\Users\test\AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird\Profile\'wf4j06jp.default' profile name folder
• click on 'Select folder' button.

Now the 'profiles.ini' file will get updated and TB will know it has another profile.

Now you will see that profile listed in 'about:profiles'

• If 'Default User' for wf4j06jp.default' profile name folder is not the current default profile, then click on 'Set as default profile' button located just below the details of that profile.
• click on 'Launch profile in new browser'

Do not worry, it actually launches in a new window.

• Then close the original Thunderbird window.