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How can I change (or even check) security settings when "Account Settings" gives the error message: "An account with this name already exists"?

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My e-mail has been working fine under Thunderbird, but my ISP says that it is going to upgrade in two weeks, before which I need to check and possibly change my security settings in Thunderbird, because certain settings will no longer work after the ISP upgrades. (I have verified that the notice is legitimate and not spam.) I am using Windows 10 and have the latest version of Thunderbird, and when I go to "Account Settings" in Thunderbird, I see my e-mail account listed -- but I cannot check (and therefore cannot change) any of the settings, because when I select "Server Settings" or any of the other choices on the menu, I get a pop-up that says "Account Wizard - An account with this name already exists. Please enter a different account name." What do I need to do in order to check (and possibly change) the settings for that account? Thanks for any help with this!

My e-mail has been working fine under Thunderbird, but my ISP says that it is going to upgrade in two weeks, before which I need to check and possibly change my security settings in Thunderbird, because certain settings will no longer work after the ISP upgrades. (I have verified that the notice is legitimate and not spam.) I am using Windows 10 and have the latest version of Thunderbird, and when I go to "Account Settings" in Thunderbird, I see my e-mail account listed -- but I cannot check (and therefore cannot change) any of the settings, because when I select "Server Settings" or any of the other choices on the menu, I get a pop-up that says "Account Wizard - An account with this name already exists. Please enter a different account name." What do I need to do in order to check (and possibly change) the settings for that account? Thanks for any help with this!

All Replies (6)

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In the 'Account Settings' window, how many mail accounts are listed in the left pane (do not include 'Local Folders' mail account) ? Look carefully, do you see two identical mail accounts listed?

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Check config entries.

'Menu icon' > 'Options' > 'Options' > Advanced' > 'General' tab click on 'Config editor' button

In top search type: .name that is a full-stop/period followed by the text specified.

look for the lines like these:

etc

The Value column has the name. Do any of these have the same name? If yes, right click on second occurance and select 'Modify' alter the name in some way. click on OK close config editor window - top right X Click on OK


Please report back on what you discover and results.

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I followed your instructions and found that two of those mail server entries did, in fact, have the same name. When I modified the second one, I was able to see the account settings. BUT, I don't know which of the two entries is correct, and I don't want to delete the incorrect one! How can I tell which is the right one? Should I delete the other one? If so, is there a way that I can insure that I won't be losing all the currently saved e-mails within Thunderbird?

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Good to hear that access has at least been obtained.

Right click on a mail account in the Folder Pane and select 'Settings'

Find out if both are pointing to the one set of folders.

In the 'Account Settings' window, Do you see the the two mail accounts; one showing the modified name?

  • Select 'Server settings' for the original account name.
  • Bottom right - 'Local directory:'
  • click in the text area and use the right arrow key to go all the way to the right; some of the text will be hidden off to the right, hence why to keep going right until it cannot go any further.
  • Then left click and hold down; drag to the left to highlight text.
  • Use right click and select 'Copy'

Paste this into something like 'Notepad' or 'Wordpad'.

Repeat same actions on the 'modified' account name. Compare the details of the two 'Local directories'.

example: .....\xxxxxxxx.default\Mail\mail.btinternet.com .....\xxxxxxxx.default\Mail\mail.btinternet-1.com

If one of them is slightly different eg: it has a number appended, then this tells us they are pointing to two different mail accounts. But, if they are identical then this tells us they are both pointing to the same set of folders.

Report back on what you discover.

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Hi. Yesterday, per your instructions, I changed the name of one of the two identically-named mail server entries, so that one has its original name and the other has the same name except that I added "_extra" to its name.

In Thunderbird, under Account Settings, the "_extra" mail server entry shows up first, followed by the following items: Server Settings Copies & Folders Composition & Addressing Junk Settings Disk Space Return Receipts Security The Local Directory is ...\Mail\pop3.mail.verizon.net

But, the other mail server entry (without the "_extra" added) only shows these items: Junk Settings Disk Space This one's Local Directory is ...\Mail\Local Folders

Finally, under Account Settings, there is a third entry called "Outgoing Server (SMTP)

What do you suggest?

Thanks again for your help!

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Change the second one back to "Local Folders".

Then you can remove the "_extra".

Then you'll have a standard set-up.

http://kb.mozillazine.org/Local_Folders