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Lost emails.

  • 4 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 5 views
  • Last reply by John

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Unfamiliar with the file structure of TB, I did not realise that files stored in "Archive" would not be protected when deleting emails on the host server to reduce data volume. I know now, of course! However, I did take a copy of the TB profile prior to deleting the mails stored on the server but as those more savvy than I will know, the moment the saved profile is uploaded to TB, the host server deletes them. I seem to remember that back in the days of the creation of TB, there were a facility to work offline. If so, this option is no longer available in the latest update 68.1. As the result, the saved profile is not useful without a connection to a host server, so it's a Catch-22 situation. I was wondering, and I hope someone can help me, if there is a way in which I can still access the data on the saved profile, or must I be connected to a server, which would make such attempts futile presumably? I'd be grateful for any helpful inputs. John

Unfamiliar with the file structure of TB, I did not realise that files stored in "Archive" would not be protected when deleting emails on the host server to reduce data volume. I know now, of course! However, I did take a copy of the TB profile prior to deleting the mails stored on the server but as those more savvy than I will know, the moment the saved profile is uploaded to TB, the host server deletes them. I seem to remember that back in the days of the creation of TB, there were a facility to work offline. If so, this option is no longer available in the latest update 68.1. As the result, the saved profile is not useful without a connection to a host server, so it's a Catch-22 situation. I was wondering, and I hope someone can help me, if there is a way in which I can still access the data on the saved profile, or must I be connected to a server, which would make such attempts futile presumably? I'd be grateful for any helpful inputs. John

Chosen solution

I think you need to read up on the IMAP mail protocol. What has happened is ab out how it works. You could just as well have used the POP protocol with completely different results. One thing is certain, the result you saw had nothing to do with an Thunderbird peculiarities.

Offline. Click the two blue monitors in the bottom Left of the screen to toggle offline on and off. Or use the File menu (alt+F) the icons have certainly been where they are not doing what they do not for 10 years that I know of.

If you create a folder in Local folders and point the import export tools at the imap mail folder of the backup profile it will import all the mail from the selected folders. (Import format is MBOX)

https://addons.thunderbird.net/en-US/thunderbird/addon/importexporttools-ng/?src=ss

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Chosen Solution

I think you need to read up on the IMAP mail protocol. What has happened is ab out how it works. You could just as well have used the POP protocol with completely different results. One thing is certain, the result you saw had nothing to do with an Thunderbird peculiarities.

Offline. Click the two blue monitors in the bottom Left of the screen to toggle offline on and off. Or use the File menu (alt+F) the icons have certainly been where they are not doing what they do not for 10 years that I know of.

If you create a folder in Local folders and point the import export tools at the imap mail folder of the backup profile it will import all the mail from the selected folders. (Import format is MBOX)

https://addons.thunderbird.net/en-US/thunderbird/addon/importexporttools-ng/?src=ss

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Thank you for your response. Unfortunately, I'm not tech savvy when it comes to computers and I'm also quite old, so please forgive me for not knowing as much as I perhaps ought to about TB. At any rate, I have found the 2 computer screens and now know how to operate the "offline" option, which, as I remember it, used to be found in a drop-down menu in older versions of TB. It is always gratifying to be helped by kind, enthusiastic people when one needs it, and I thank you very for your assistance, which is really appreciated, although I will have to accept the loss of valuable data. All the best to you! John

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John said

although I will have to accept the loss of valuable data. All the best to you! John

Why? You have a backup profile, you surely can install the add-on.

In order to install a downloaded extension, please do the following:

  1. Click the menu button New Fx Menu and choose Add-ons.
  2. Drag your downloaded XPI file to the Add-ons Manager tab and drop it.

or

  1. Click the menu button New Fx Menu and choose Add-ons.
  2. Click the gear icon at the top-right corner to the left of the search box and select Install Add-on From File…
  3. Locate the XPI file you downloaded and click Open.

You may need to restart Thunderbird when prompted. For more detailed instructions and information about installing add-ons, see Installing an Add-on in Thunderbird.

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After deleting the profile folder generated by the installation of TB, and after replacing it with the saved profile folder, I could open TB and all the stuff was there. However, the host server immediately deleted all emails in the replication process, and this is where I'm at right now!

I don't know the difference between IMAP and POP, and I have happily used TB without any incidents since it was created, but I shall read up on the two formats, and maybe for the future, my email hosting service can change the server settings for me if it means I'll be able to avoid the silly situation my ignorance of TB has created. I will take it up with them.

Thanks again for your help, I'm indebted to you. John