While it is possible to specify a location for folders in settings it always appears to come back to bite us. The short answer is don't do it.

Move the whole profile to another drive by all means, but don't place local folders outside the profile.

This link talks about moving the whole profile http://kb.mozillazine.org/Moving_your_profile_folder_-_Thunderbird

How extensive is this cluster of "local folders" folders. Would importing one at a time be practical using the import export tools? https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/thunderbird/addon/importexporttools/ Try deleting the MSF files in the local folders. Unless you use tags. this will not loose data

Try disabling "on access" scanning in your anti virus program. Might be forward motion is being blocked by the two fighting over who gets to read the files first. (your new drive will have a new AV that is trying to scan absolutely everything.)

Note there is no support for Thunderbird other than this forum. Anything else claiming to be Thunderbird support (and they are out there) will generally take your money and fix nothing.

Thank you very much for your reply. So: 1) You recommend - keeping the profile on the same drive as "Local Folders? - Correct?

2) Will study the link on how to move profile from one drive to another?

3) Am in the middle of moving from one State to another and packing so reading TB is not going to happen till I get moved in about a week. Crashes and subsequent rebuilding are never convenient... But I will.

4) The current "cluster of "local folders" folders" is quite extensive covering about 14 years of saved email. Prolly time to prune a bit but how do I archive old stuff and yet still have access to it if needed?

5) Great suggestion to import individual folders as that would "rebuild" the folder structure in a new profile with only what I import. Does the import utility just import a single folder with no subfolders at one time or can it import subfolders as well?

6) Confused - are you saying that the spinning wheel when trying to access folders in "Local Folders" is a function of "disabling "on access"" because my AV scans every incoming email? I do not have that option set.

7) Will contribute to Mozilla as I agree this is the best help. Thank you

1. Yes. and a local drive, not a network location

5. There are options for both

6. There are three types of scanning.

1. Email on receipt.
2. Files when they are accessed
3. Full scans of the hard disk.

I am referring to the second type where when Thunderbird opens, say the inbox, the anti virus scans it before Thunderbird can access it.

7. Thank you. Does nothing for us volunteers. But that does not negate the need for money, even just to pay for the bandwidth this forum uses.

Come back after your move when you have had time to digest what you have ;) We never close. But we all go to our day jobs.

Thank you - what can I do to help you and other volunteers that help me? Not a problem supporting bandwidth for the mother ship.

Is there a way to have more than one profile? I looked in the knowledge base but didn't see an article addressing this specifically. This profile would have a completely different set of email in its database. I may be able to resurrect my old profile as it appears a copy (not sure if it’s primary profile or just a copy yet?) was on a different drive (same one as my “needed” Local Folders email) but don't want to try resurrecting it until I know it won't mess up the new profile.

Perhaps it is wiser to import email from the previous "Local Folders" into the new profile? Which is a bit painful but necessary. However, having another profile would provide a way to store "ancient" emails essentially acting as an archive profile. Is there a better way to archive without burdening a new profile with years of old email?

Your suggestions are appreciated. Thank you