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All messages deleted from one of my IMAP email accounts

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  • Last reply by david

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I'm on version 115.5.1, Windows 10. One of my small pet dogs was in my lap, resting its head near my keyboard. I was in Thunderbird, reading a message, when all of a sudden all of my messages in INBOX were suddenly deleted. I thought maybe exiting Thunderbird might bring them back. BAD IDEA!! Since I have empty Trash Bin on EXIT checked. Unfortunately that worked just fine.

I have a laptop that also is setup with the same IMAP accounts. I disabled the Internet connection on that computer, and the emails are still there as long as I don't connect to the internet. I tried copying all the files in the profile from the laptop to the desktop, but as soon as I launch Thunderbird, it sees that the inbox is empty, and removes (or basically updates) that inbox.

I tried export/import (export msgs from laptop, import to desktop) but maybe I don't fully understand the import process, because that doesn't seem to work for me.

One other option might be to make that account OFFLINE (so it doesn't connect anymore) change the name of that email account, and recreate the account.

I'm open to suggestions - there are 240 msgs in that INBOX that I need to keep for reference. (And I will no longer keep msgs in the INBOX, I'll move them to new folders!!)

I'm on version 115.5.1, Windows 10. One of my small pet dogs was in my lap, resting its head near my keyboard. I was in Thunderbird, reading a message, when all of a sudden all of my messages in INBOX were suddenly deleted. I thought maybe exiting Thunderbird might bring them back. BAD IDEA!! Since I have empty Trash Bin on EXIT checked. Unfortunately that worked just fine. I have a laptop that also is setup with the same IMAP accounts. I disabled the Internet connection on that computer, and the emails are still there as long as I don't connect to the internet. I tried copying all the files in the profile from the laptop to the desktop, but as soon as I launch Thunderbird, it sees that the inbox is empty, and removes (or basically updates) that inbox. I tried export/import (export msgs from laptop, import to desktop) but maybe I don't fully understand the import process, because that doesn't seem to work for me. One other option might be to make that account OFFLINE (so it doesn't connect anymore) change the name of that email account, and recreate the account. I'm open to suggestions - there are 240 msgs in that INBOX that I need to keep for reference. (And I will no longer keep msgs in the INBOX, I'll move them to new folders!!)

Chosen solution

If you still have the other laptop that showed the messages offline and did not restart thunderbird online, you might try NOT starting TB, but use windows file explorer to locate the messages in the Imapmail<accountname>INBOX and INBOX.msf files and copy them to the Mail\Local Folders folder in the profile and then start thunderbird. For safety, keep offline until you see the messages.

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Chosen Solution

If you still have the other laptop that showed the messages offline and did not restart thunderbird online, you might try NOT starting TB, but use windows file explorer to locate the messages in the Imapmail<accountname>INBOX and INBOX.msf files and copy them to the Mail\Local Folders folder in the profile and then start thunderbird. For safety, keep offline until you see the messages.

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Did not know/think of that David!! Thanks so much. That will work out just fine - those are just used for reference only. The messages are a little "wonky", and I'll go through them when I have some down time (next snow storm!)

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You're most welcome. :)