Trying to restore pcv from old version of Thunderbird. Can I just restore it into my current email?
A couple years back, I had a hard disk failure. Fortunately I had a backup of my email in a PCV file. When I started again with a new PC, I could not restore my email from that PCV file created from release 38.7.2. Big deal, I thought. But I now realize that I need those emails to get publicity for my new book (lots of media contacts). Is it possible to restore to release 60.0.0 from that PCV file without overwriting the last two years of email? Alternatively can I find a download of 38.7.2 and run it in parallel with 60.0.0?
All Replies (7)
pcv? That was mozbackup I think. However rename it to a zip from a pcv and simply unzip it to a suitable location.
install the import export tools add-on. https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/thunderbird/addon/importexporttools/
Make a folder in local folders and select it, right click and select import export tools from the menu. use the import mbox file option to import recursively (last option) then use the file picker to start at your unzipped profile.
If you get script timeout messages (this is a big job) click continue.
You will probably get more mail that you want, but it will be fairly painless.
The download button gives me an XPI file. This extension is not executable under Windows 7.
I think this is supposed to be installed as an Add-On, but I do not see how to do that.
Go to the add on tab in Thunderbird and click Extensions. Click the gear icon and select Install from File.
I unzipped it; went into a new folder called oldemails; Import/Export Tool->import mbox file. Rejected because "impossible to import in this folder (imap or newsgroup type)". Import/Export Tool->import messages asks for a file so I go into the unzipped directory and none of the files match the types specified.
Here is an image of the directory. Much smaller than I expected. Perhaps I did not backup that inbox.
The json files are all cache files. You can normally delete them and they will be recreated. prefs.js is you setting so I guess you backed up your settings in mozbackup. Sorry but it is a lot of years since I actually executed the program. Basically there is no mail in that file list. How large is the PCV file? That list should have made like a 4kb file I would have thought.