Grey/italic folder problem persists even after new installation and deletion of profile
Hello! I have the grey/italic problem that has been reported often here as well. I tried these solutions, but they didn't help: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1293067 https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1246828
I contacted the support of my email provider and he said that the problem is TB and not the IMAP server and I think he is right because logging in on the web the folder structure is fine and all messages are there.
so the final solutions was to reinstall TB. I did this first without deleting my user profile from the folder "roaming", but the problem persisted just the same way, and then I deleted the entire user profiles folder and the issue still exists. this means to me that this wasn't yet a clean new installation so that TB creates the folder structure completely new. To me It seems to me that TB is storing some information still on another location. Might this be?
So, how do I force TB to completely load from scratch the folder structure and it's content?
Best,
Wolfram
Chosen solution
> Currently the 'Projects' folder is only displaying two other folders. > * C40CFF > * IFAD -Gender NbSfA > However, according to image you supplied the server says there are plenty of folders which are subfolders > in 'Projects'. > To see those folders in imap you need to check you are actually subscribed to see them: > * Right click on imap mail account name folder and select 'Subscribe' > * Click on 'Refresh' button > * Select all the folders and subfolders you want to see in Thunderbird imap account. > * then click on 'Subscribe' > * click on 'OK'
Great, that did work already! Thanks!
Read this answer in context 👍 0All Replies (20)
A grey italised folder means a no select flag has been set meaning folder can contain subfolders but not messages.
Some people find this works: Account Settings > Server Settings for the imap account Click on 'Advanced...' button Select 'Show only subscribed folders' Unchecking 'Server supports folders that contain subfolders and messages'
then restarting Thunderbird. This then removes the unsubscribed italised folders.
However, there are cases when this not a solution because those grey italised folders do contain emails and you do want to see them. You want to get access back to those folders.
There is a little trick that can work - Try this: Rename to a temporary folder name - perhaps add an X to end of name, then rename them back to original name and then restart Thunderbird. Do this on one grey italised folder as a test.
Modified
Toad-Hall said
A grey italised folder means a no select flag has been set meaning folder can contain subfolders but not messages. Some people find this works: Account Settings > Server Settings for the imap account Click on 'Advanced...' button Select 'Show only subscribed folders' Unchecking 'Server supports folders that contain subfolders and messages' then restarting Thunderbird. This then removes the unsubscribed italised folders. However, there are cases when this not a solution because those grey italised folders do contain emails and you do want to see them. You want to get access back to those folders. There is a little trick that can work - Try this: Rename to a temporary folder name - perhaps add an X to end of name, then rename them back to original name and then restart Thunderbird. Do this on one grey italised folder as a test.
Thanks Toad-Hall for your suggestions. Unfortunately, that doesn't help. I want those folders and it's content available. And maybe I didn't explain it correctly: - What I see in TB: Folder 1 (first class only contains subfolders as well in italic), Folder 2 (not italic, contains two subfolders not italic) - What is on the server and what I should and want to see in TB: Folder 2 containing all subfolders which show up in TB in Folder 1.
Maybe question is rather: How do I do a complete clean install of TB so that TB is creating the folder structure totally new?
If you are using Windows OS and you have the profile all installed in the default location. If you want to completely remove everything and that includes all mail accounts, address books, emails, etc etc.
Exit Thunderbird.
Access location of stored profile data:
- C:Users/User Account/Appdata/Roaming/Thunderbird/Profiles/profile name folder
In the 'Thunderbird' folder delete the 'profiles.ini' file - A new 'profiles.ini' gets created upon restart with a new default profile. It has no knowledge of any other profiles so cannot access them.
Note: the action of deleting the 'profiles.ini' file means current profiles become unknown to Thunderbird. Meaning you do not have to delete the actual old profile - this might be useful if you have any data you do need to keep eg: emails stored in 'Local Folders' mail account. Address Books. But if there is nothing you want to keep then: In the 'Profiles' folder delete the 'profile name' folder.
Access the local cache:
- C:Users/User Account/Appdata/Local/Thunderbird/Profiles/profile name folder
In the 'Profiles' folder delete the 'profile name' folder. This clears out all old cache. Windows will auto create the cache for the new profile upon restart.
Empty the computer 'Recycle Bin'
Start Thunderbird and it should create a new profile.
re :Unfortunately, that doesn't help. I want those folders and it's content available.
Therefore the option I said to rename by adding and X to grey itatlic folder name and then renaming back by removing the X and then do restart of Thunderbird, should change the grey italic folder back to a normal folder. You would need to do this to top level folder and then on any other that requires it. This has worked before: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1376682
Toad-Hall said
If you are using Windows OS and you have the profile all installed in the default location. If you want to completely remove everything and that includes all mail accounts, address books, emails, etc etc. Exit Thunderbird. Access location of stored profile data:In the 'Thunderbird' folder delete the 'profiles.ini' file - A new 'profiles.ini' gets created upon restart with a new default profile. It has no knowledge of any other profiles so cannot access them. Note: the action of deleting the 'profiles.ini' file means current profiles become unknown to Thunderbird. Meaning you do not have to delete the actual old profile - this might be useful if you have any data you do need to keep eg: emails stored in 'Local Folders' mail account. Address Books. But if there is nothing you want to keep then: In the 'Profiles' folder delete the 'profile name' folder. Access the local cache:
- C:Users/User Account/Appdata/Roaming/Thunderbird/Profiles/profile name folder
In the 'Profiles' folder delete the 'profile name' folder. This clears out all old cache. Windows will auto create the cache for the new profile upon restart. Empty the computer 'Recycle Bin' Start Thunderbird and it should create a new profile.
- C:Users/User Account/Appdata/Local/Thunderbird/Profiles/profile name folder
Many thanks again for your reply. That's exactly what I did, but the italic folder show up again. Btw, I just tried to do that again, but now I cannot create the account because of an security exception. That was a problem before that I hope I solved activating TSL 1.2 and it did work, but with the newest installation now, it doesn't again...
Toad-Hall said
re :Unfortunately, that doesn't help. I want those folders and it's content available. Therefore the option I said to rename by adding and X to grey itatlic folder name and then renaming back by removing the X and then do restart of Thunderbird, should change the grey italic folder back to a normal folder. You would need to do this to top level folder and then on any other that requires it. This has worked before: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1376682
Hi Toad-Hall, thanks again. I understood the logic behind only it's that the top level folder in italic is only existing in TB, but not on the server. Anyway, I first would have to have my account running in any way (see above reply) :-)
Many thanks again. I tried it again, uninstalled TB, deleted all folders I could find related to TB (both profile folders in local and roaming, folders in the programms folder), emptied the trash and restarted. Installed TB new and still I get the old folder structure with the italic folders. Btw, K9 Mail on my mobile is displaying the folders the correct way as on the server.
re :I understood the logic behind only it's that the top level folder in italic is only existing in TB, but not on the server.
What is the name of the italic folder ? It would be helpful if you could post an image of the Folder Pane showing the problem.
I have known other types of italic folders. Example case: gmail When you create a new folder or subfolder - sorry 'label' in gmail it is created like this: [Gmail]/TBird Stuff [Gmail]/Inbox/Mozilla Stuff
Then in Thunderbird that [Gmail] will appear as an italic folder: Gmail > TBird Stuff
But I wanted 'TBird Stuff' as a top level folder not a subfolder under 'Gmail'.
You can get rid of that italic folder by doing this: Account Settings > Server Settings for imap mail account Click on 'Advanced...' button At the top, where it says 'IMAP server directory' type: [Gmail] and click on OK Maybe this is the type of 'italic' folder you are talking about.
Hi, please see the image attached. The folder "Jobs_Projekte" does not exist on the server and all of the subfolder should be in another folder which they are not. Btw, in the folder where these sobfolder should appear are missing a bunch of other subfolders too. Best, Wolfram
Toad-Hall said
re :I understood the logic behind only it's that the top level folder in italic is only existing in TB, but not on the server. What is the name of the italic folder ? It would be helpful if you could post an image of the Folder Pane showing the problem. I have known other types of italic folders. Example case: gmail When you create a new folder or subfolder - sorry 'label' in gmail it is created like this: [Gmail]/TBird Stuff [Gmail]/Inbox/Mozilla Stuff Then in Thunderbird that [Gmail] will appear as an italic folder: Gmail > TBird Stuff But I wanted 'TBird Stuff' as a top level folder not a subfolder under 'Gmail'. You can get rid of that italic folder by doing this: Account Settings > Server Settings for imap mail account Click on 'Advanced...' button At the top, where it says 'IMAP server directory' type: [Gmail] and click on OK Maybe this is the type of 'italic' folder you are talking about.
re : and all of the subfolder should be in another folder which they are not.
I presume you mean eg: GITEC and all the others currently displaying under 'Jobs_Projekte'
What top level folder should those subfolders be located in?
re: 'Jobs_Projekte' You say this folder does not exist when you view via webmail - it is not on server.
Did you create that 'Jobs_Projekte' folder in Thunderbird or in webmail account ?
Can you confirm you are using an imap account? Right click on account name folder and select 'Settings' This opens the Account Settings in a new tab Select 'Server Settings' Top right 'Server Type' - what does it say 'Pop mail server' or 'Imap mail server' ?
Please post the following: Menu icon > Help > More TRoubleshooting Information Scroll down to 'Mail and News Accounts' section Copy all the info and paste it into this forum question, so we can be certain the account is set up correctly.
Please logon to webmail account via a browser. Make window as big as possible. Expand all folders so subfolders can be seen. Create an image(s) which shows all the folders, so we can see the correct folder names and the hierachy of those folders.
Worth checking out: Another person had greyed out folders and it turned out to be a server problem created by the server spamassassin filter - see: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1383732#answer-1522455
Hi Toad-Hall, sorry, I thought that I replied to your previous messages, but it seems that only the image of the webmail uploaded. Here we go: Rere : and all of the subfolder should be in another folder which they are not. re: I presume you mean eg: GITEC and all the others currently displaying under 'Jobs_Projekte' re: What top level folder should those subfolders be located in?
All the subfolders in 'Jobs_Projekte' should appear in 'Projekte' as well as many more that don't show up in both. Actually, there are only two subfolders in 'Projekte', but there should be tens.
rere: 'Jobs_Projekte' re: You say this folder does not exist when you view via webmail - it is not on server. Correct. re: Did you create that 'Jobs_Projekte' folder in Thunderbird or in webmail account ?
I don't remember. 'Jobs_Projekte' is the old name of that folder that already contained greyed/italic subfolders and I renamed it hoping to make a good change, but it made things just differently bad as before.
re: Can you confirm you are using an imap account? Yes, definitely using IMAP.
re: Please post the following: I will paste this text in another reply
Toad-Hall said
Worth checking out: Another person had greyed out folders and it turned out to be a server problem created by the server spamassassin filter - see: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1383732#answer-1522455
I will check this out, but the support of my email host said that chances are almost zero as it seems that i am the only user having this problem and that grey/italic folder are normally a problem of the email client.
Btw, I still don't understand why deleting all - at least known - TB files and reinstalling isn't solving the issue. Why are those folder appear again even after making a supposedly clean and new install?
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Let's see what the profile is storing. Menu icon > Help > More Troubleshooting Information Under 'Application Basics' - half way - Profile Folders - click on 'Open Folder'
A new window opens showing the contents of the profile name folder.
- Click on 'ImapMail' folder
- Click on imap mail account name folder
- Expand window - 'View' select 'Details' as list and also select the checkbox 'file name extensions'
- Post image(s) to show all the contents - make sure the directory path is also visible as I would need to know exactly which folder contains what info.
You will have some folders with *sbd extension. click on folder(s) and post image of contents. So I can see exactly what files are in each *sbd folder.
Hey, here you go. I supposed that you want only screenshots of the relevant SBD folder, correct? And I didn't make screenshots of the SBD subfolders in 'Jobs_Projekte' they only contain MSF files, but no files without extension which seem to be important to hold the content of the messages. Thanks!
Sorry, several replies for each image.
Sorry, having trouble to upload images here with FF.
Did work now from Chrome