Join the AMA (Ask Me Anything) with the Firefox leadership team to celebrate Firefox 20th anniversary and discuss Firefox’s future on Mozilla Connect. Mark your calendar on Thursday, November 14, 18:00 - 20:00 UTC!

This site will have limited functionality while we undergo maintenance to improve your experience. If an article doesn't solve your issue and you want to ask a question, we have our support community waiting to help you at @FirefoxSupport on Twitter and/r/firefox on Reddit.

Avatar for Username

Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

This thread was archived. Please ask a new question if you need help.

Move or merge TBird address books from a "dead" disk to current installation?

  • 2 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 1 view
  • Last reply by John_chase

John_chase
John_chase
more options

Old boot disk failed to start Windows 7 Pro because a "critical boot file" got corrupted somehow at previous shutdown (shutdown appeared "clean"). Re-installed Windows 7 Pro to a new disk, downloaded and installed Thunderbird, etc on the new disk, and now access the "dead" disk as another "local" disk on the new installation. The Thunderbird Profiles directory on the "dead" disk is completely readable but I can't seem to find the "address books" (there were four). Also can't find the magic incantation to start Thunderbird while pointing to the "old" profile so I can "Export" the address books. Any hints?

TIA, John Chase

Old boot disk failed to start Windows 7 Pro because a "critical boot file" got corrupted somehow at previous shutdown (shutdown appeared "clean"). Re-installed Windows 7 Pro to a new disk, downloaded and installed Thunderbird, etc on the new disk, and now access the "dead" disk as another "local" disk on the new installation. The Thunderbird Profiles directory on the "dead" disk is completely readable but I can't seem to find the "address books" (there were four). Also can't find the magic incantation to start Thunderbird while pointing to the "old" profile so I can "Export" the address books. Any hints? TIA, John Chase

Chosen solution

Copy over the entire profile instead. Instructions in this article: Create a new profile and copy the old one over it http://kb.mozillazine.org/Moving_your_profile_folder_-_Thunderbird#Create_a_new_profile_and_copy_the_old_one_over_it

Read this answer in context 👍 0

All Replies (2)

christ1
christ1
  • Top 25 Contributor
more options

Chosen Solution

Copy over the entire profile instead. Instructions in this article: Create a new profile and copy the old one over it http://kb.mozillazine.org/Moving_your_profile_folder_-_Thunderbird#Create_a_new_profile_and_copy_the_old_one_over_it

John_chase
John_chase Question owner
more options

I did substantially that to synchronize my archives, but found that I had a recent export of my address books from my laptop, which I keep synch'ed manually to the desktop machine. Just copied my archives and "local folders" from the "dead disk" profile to the new installation, and all is well.

Thanks, 

   -jc-