Problems moving Thunderbird to a new computer - Windows 11
Hi, I'm having issues moving a 10 year old Thunderbird installation on a Windows 10 Pro computer to a new Windows 11 Pro PC.
I looked at all the guides & prior support messages and followed the instructions carefully. My old Windows 10 installation was in a custom directory (G:/Program Data/Thunderbird). I ensured it was updated to the most current version and closed it before moving files. I installed Thunderbird on the Windows 11 machine, went to Troubleshooting Info and found the folder that it used for the profile (when I go to profile editor, there are 2 profiles listed in the new build - I verified that I was in the directory for the default profile). I then closed Thunderbird on the new PC.
The two computers are on the same network so I moved all the files from the old location to the new location via just drag and drop. Of note, I couldn't "go up 3 levels" on the original machine's directory as per the instructions because, well, there weren't 3 higher levels of directories - I just moved the Thunderbird to Thunderbird on the new PC.
When I open Thunderbird on the new PC, it still acts like it's a new installation, except I do have my Address book. I tried deleting the second profile it had created; no different. I tried creating a new profile and specifying a directory somewhere else (eg. C:\Program Data\Thunderbird) and moving the files there - no different. I tried copying (presumably inactive) Thunderbird folders from the old computer C:\Users\~\Roaming and \Local over to a similar location on the new PC - nothing changed.
Anybody have any other ideas of what I'm doing wrong? Thank you!
Chosen solution
You mentioned that thunderbird was in a custom directory, not that the profile was as well. If you moved the profile and retained the addressbook, but lost the message data, that indicates thunderbird was possibly still running. if the old PC is still available, I suggest locating the profile itself in the old thunderbird\profiles folder, and copy and place that in the appdata\roaming\thunderbird\profiles folder on new PC . Then, start thunderbird - click help>troubleshootinginformation - scroll down to 'Profiles' and click 'about:profiles' - click the 'create profile' button - click next - enter shortname for profile, such as, MYPROFILE - click the 'choose' button to locate and select the profile you just placed, then click finish an launch
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I suggest first verifying where the profile was on old PC. If it's in the normal location (c:\users\<yourid>\appdata\roaming\thunderbird then these are the steps: Here is the link for moving a profile in Windows when installed in default location:
https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/moving-thunderbird-data-to-a-new-computer
here is the info in brief steps:
- ensure thunderbird is NOT running on old machine
- enter %appdata% in search window on task bar and press Enter key
- this should open windows file explorer in Appdata\roaming folder
- highlight the Thunderbird folder and copy to external media
- ensure thunderbird is installed on second computer and NOT running
- enter %appdata% in search window on task bar and press Enter key
- you should be in Appdata\roaming folder , copy&paste the exported Thunderbird folder there. This may prompt to overwrite an existing folder of same name. allow it
- start thunderbird and all should be there
A common problem is that people sometimes copy the folder while thunderbird is running, which corrupts the result.
Hi David, Thanks for your quick response. Yes I did read that article prior to moving. If you see my original post, you'll note that I ensured Thunderbird was closed on both machines before the move. Also, my source Thunderbird was in a custom directory as noted above. It doesn't work if I move this custom directory to the roaming folder of the new PC nor if I create a new profile with custom directory on the new PC and move it there.
Chosen Solution
You mentioned that thunderbird was in a custom directory, not that the profile was as well. If you moved the profile and retained the addressbook, but lost the message data, that indicates thunderbird was possibly still running. if the old PC is still available, I suggest locating the profile itself in the old thunderbird\profiles folder, and copy and place that in the appdata\roaming\thunderbird\profiles folder on new PC . Then, start thunderbird - click help>troubleshootinginformation - scroll down to 'Profiles' and click 'about:profiles' - click the 'create profile' button - click next - enter shortname for profile, such as, MYPROFILE - click the 'choose' button to locate and select the profile you just placed, then click finish an launch
Thanks, I'll give that a try later today and verify that thunderbird was not running. Of note, all the IMAP mail folders came over appropriately. Also, to clarify my earlier statement - the Thunderbird PROFILE was in a custom directory (not just where the program was installed).
The IMAP mail would come over because IMAP will repopulate automatically. I hope all works out. :)
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