For the past year I've been dutifully archiving my messages, but now there's a problem. I had to change server setting thanks to Verizon, and so now there are two archive folders (see image).

I see an "Archives" folder under "tk mail", which means that at some point, an Archive operation was done in Thunderbird, using that "Archives" folder under "tk mail", not the "Archives" folder under "Local Folders".

Probably the archived messages you are looking for are under this "Archives" folder under "tk mail". In that case, drag and drop them from that folder to the "Archives" folder under "Local Folders".

To get future archives to be saved under "Local Folders", do this:

1. Right click "tk mail" in the folders on the left, and choose "Settings".

2. Select "Copies & Folders" on the left side, then change the "Message Archives" section on the right side so that it will use the "Archives" Folder on Local Folders.

Thank you, Bruce, I have made the changes you suggested, but still cannot find any emails from September of last year. Any thoughts where an entire month's worth of emails have gone?

I don't know. I would have to had been there and watched you when you archived those e-mails to know.

If you cannot find those messages in any folder in Thunderbird in either you "tk mail" or "Local Folders", then they are gone.

How long ago did you do that archive operation? If it was just a day or two, AND you have not compacted folders for the account, then it may be possible to retrieve the e-mails.

There is an excellent add-on that can used in this instance. It is called Recover Deleted Messages Add-On, and can be downloaded from that link. Then see Installing an Add-on in Thunderbird.

With it installed, you can right-click a folder in Thunderbird and select "Recover deleted messages", and it will recover any messages that are still in the "mbox" file on the computer, but are not in the index.

If "Compact Folders" have been used, this will not work.

I tired using the add-on, but it recovered no files, even in a folder where I know I recently deleted files.

Then your folders have been compacted recently.

If those e-mails are not in any folder you have in Thunderbird, they are gone for good. Sorry.

Last ditch effort: I use an online backup service, and downloaded my folder that holds all my data. Is there a way I can point TB towards this backup folder just to see if the missing folders are there? I don't want to change anything in the current data folder.

thanks,

If that backup of the Thunderbird Profile folder has been updated since you lost the e-mails, then that backup will also be missing those e-mails.

Do not simply point Thunderbird to the folder with the backup. Extra steps are necessary.

Generally, my instructions below will get you to create a new Thunderbird Profile, replace its contents with the files and folders from your online backup, export the e-mails you are missing (if they are there), then import them into your normal Thunderbird Profile.

1. First, learn a bit about the Thunderbird Profile: Thunderbird stores all personal data such as messages, address books and configuration settings in a hard drive folder called the Profile. This folder is separate from the installation of Thunderbird.

2. Find & open your Thunderbird Profile folder: Thunderbird menu: Help: Troubleshooting Information (If you cannot see the Thunderbird menu, press the Alt key or F10 key on your keyboard to show the menu) Under "Application Basics", beside "Profile Folder", click the "Show Profile" button. This will open a Windows Explorer window showing the contents of your Thunderbird Profile folder.

This is the folder that you need to find in your online backup.

2.5 Copy (not move), this folder to another location for safekeeping, just in case something goes wrong. Make sure that this backup is kept separate from the backup you got from your online backup service, and you don't get the two mixed up.

3. Quit Thunderbird.

4. Follow the instructions on this webpage to create a new Thunderbird Profile: http://brucejohnson.ca/ThunderbirdProfileNew.html

5. Follow the instructions in Step 2 above to find the folder on the hard drive for this new Profile.

6. Quit Thunderbird.

7. Delete all the files and folders that are in the folder for this new Profile. This new Profile, not your normal one or the backups!

8. Copy (not move), the contents of your the online back up Profile files and folders here.

9. Start Thunderbird, and choose the new profile.

10. Look to see if your missing e-mails are there. If they are, then isolate them in a folder by themselves.

11. Install the add-on called ImportExportTools. See Installing an Add-on in Thunderbird.

12. Right-click on the folder you created that has just the e-mails you are missing, and choose "ImportExportTools", then "Export Folder". Save it to your desktop. It will be a single file.

13. Quit Thunderbird, then start it again, this time using your main Profile.

14. Right-click "Local Folders", choose "ImportExportTools", then "Import mbox file". Choose the file you saved to the desktop in Step 12 above.

Bruce,

Last ditch effort: I use an online backup service, and downloaded my folder that holds all my data. Is there a way I can point TB towards this backup folder just to see if the missing folders are there? I don't want to change anything in the current data folder.

thanks,

You just repeated what you said before. Did you read and try the instructions I wrote for you in my last post?

Sorry, think out emails crossed. I will try your suggestion and get back to you.

thanks!