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Google MBOX files dragged into local dir. for local folder while Thunderbird is closed. I open Thunderbird & the folder is there but empty, file name corrupted?

  • 2 replies
  • 2 have this problem
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  • Last reply by LTeichman

LTeichman
LTeichman
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I have MBOX files downloaded from a google account that I am trying to upload to another google account for work purposes. I started Thunderbird and right clicked on the local folder, selected settings, and copied the local directory address into a windows explorer window. I then closed thunderbird.

I dragged and dropped my MBOX files into the local directory and closed it, then reopened Thunderbird. The folders for the MBOX files were there, and one folder loaded the emails, but the other folders were empty.

I added IMPORTEXPORTTOOLS and tried using that, no luck.

I have un/reinstalled Thunderbird, including wiping the local directory folders, and tried with and without the import export tools add on. No luck, the folders are empty and a new .mbox folder and .msf folder is created with a string of random numbers and letters replacing the end of the file name and instead of a similar sized file the converted .msf is 2kb. Something isn't converting. 

 Any suggestions?
I have MBOX files downloaded from a google account that I am trying to upload to another google account for work purposes. I started Thunderbird and right clicked on the local folder, selected settings, and copied the local directory address into a windows explorer window. I then closed thunderbird. I dragged and dropped my MBOX files into the local directory and closed it, then reopened Thunderbird. The folders for the MBOX files were there, and one folder loaded the emails, but the other folders were empty. I added IMPORTEXPORTTOOLS and tried using that, no luck. I have un/reinstalled Thunderbird, including wiping the local directory folders, and tried with and without the import export tools add on. No luck, the folders are empty and a new .mbox folder and .msf folder is created with a string of random numbers and letters replacing the end of the file name and instead of a similar sized file the converted .msf is 2kb. Something isn't converting. Any suggestions?

Chosen solution

That worked. It was like the original MBOX files were double compressed, even though I unpacked and extracted it, it needed further extraction.

I didn't have files with .mbox in the file name, nor were these files from Thunderbird previously so at first your instructions didn't make sense since I didn't have an Inbox.mbox file. However renaming the file did seem to work so thank you.

Thanks for explaining it more clearly than on the forums.

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All Replies (2)

Toad-Hall
Toad-Hall
  • Top 10 Contributor
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re :No luck, the folders are empty and a new .mbox folder and .msf folder is created

the mbox files in Thunderbird do not have a .mbox extension. Inbox is an mbox file called 'Inbox' not 'Inbox.mbox'.

Inbox.msf is the indexing file - it does not contain emails.

Try this on one file and if it works repeat for other files. Access the profile folder and then close Thunderbird. Rename the number.mbox file so it is more appropriate eg: Bills, Client, Family etc and Remove the '.mbox' extension. Delete the number.msf file.

Restart Thunderbird. Report back on result.

LTeichman
LTeichman Question owner
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Chosen Solution

That worked. It was like the original MBOX files were double compressed, even though I unpacked and extracted it, it needed further extraction.

I didn't have files with .mbox in the file name, nor were these files from Thunderbird previously so at first your instructions didn't make sense since I didn't have an Inbox.mbox file. However renaming the file did seem to work so thank you.

Thanks for explaining it more clearly than on the forums.