I have 2 identical Tbird accounts (identical folders and E-mails) Makes it difficult to change settings and do other functions. How do I delete one.
When I set up the Tbird account on my new computer (Win10), somehow it's on there twice. Same E-mail address, same boxes, same folders, same E-mails. I can't change most settings and do other functions without an error message saying (paraphrased) "account already exists, change the name of one of them". I don't need 2 identical accounts at all. Can I delete one without affecting the other? How can I do this? Thanks. Jill
All Replies (3)
"account already exists, change the name of one of them"
Then why don't you just do this?
Before deleting any account make sure to backup any messages you want to keep. Whether there are messages to be backed up depends on the account type.
So what's your account type - POP or IMAP?
Thank you for responding. I regret and am embarrassed to say that apparently I don't know how to properly back up the Tbird account( E-mail, contact list, address book, E-mail folders, etc). I did what I thought would back up everything from my old computer to an external hard drive and then transferred it all to the new computer. To my horror, it turns out very little from the E-mail account actually backed up. I lost my entire address book, 98% of my saved E-mail and all my folders (including the archive folder). From your suggestion should I assume you are implying that attempting to delete one account will adversely affect its twin? As for your other question, I'm pretty sure it's an IMAP. Thank you again for your help.
If IMAP then you need to make sure you are able to synchronise all folders and download full copies for all the folders. Read the info at the following link to make sure your account settings are set up correctly.
'Configuring synchronization and disk space usage' section
The go into offline mode to ensure you have up to date synchronisation.
- Menu app icon > File > Offline > Select: 'Download/Sync now'
- Select 'Mail Messages'
- You can also select 'Newsgroup messages' if appropriate.
- Select 'Work Offline once download and /or synchronisation is complete'
- Click on OK
Once all is synchronised and you are in Offline mode (you will see a two black screen icon in bottom left Status bar) . Select various folders and emails. If you can read them then you have successfully got full copies downloaded.
Now perform the backup. You can backup the entire 'Thunderbird' folder and it should backup everything. I suggest you do this. In addition, you can save the actual address books independently.
How to save address books independently as a backup.
- Click on 'Address Book' to open window showing all your various address books.
- Select an address book (not 'All Address Books' as this is just a virtual address book) eg: 'Personal Address Book'
- Tools > Export
- Save file type as either 'LDIF' or 'comma separated.csv' file to a desktop folder.
- Repeat for each address book
How to perform backup of entire Thunderbird.
In Thunderbird
- Help > Troubleshooting Information
- click on 'Open folder' button
A new window opens showing the contents of your 'profile name' folder.
- Exit Thunderbird now - this is important.
You need to go up the directory. The 'profile name' folder (currently it is open and you are seeing it's contents) is in the 'Profiles' folder which is in the 'Thunderbird' folder. You will need to go up to the 'Roaming' folder, it stores the 'Thunderbird' folder. Copy the 'Thunderbird' folder and save it in a suitable location eg: external hard drive.
This is where a default Thunderbird profile is located:
- C:\Users\<Windows user name>\AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird\Profiles\<Profile name>\