What were you doing when "trying to save thunderbird"?

The recommended approach is to install Thunderbird afresh on the new computer. It will create a new empty profile. You then copy the old profile over the new one.

The disappearance of your Address Book suggests damage to the profile. :-(

i had to do it manually and i copied the file and went to put it on a disc but the disc wasnt big enough. so i went and deleted some of my emails to make the file smaller and went to swap out orginal copy for the new copy and some how i lost my address book and now unless i go on web mail i can not get my email but all the setting look correct

i have to be able to save thunderbird off my old computer before i can put it on my new computer. so i just need to know if i can get my address book back?