Migrated from Windows to Linux, now must always start in safe mode
I copied my profile from Windows to Linux over the previously unused default profile on the Linux box.
When I start Thunderbird, 1) all my folders appear, 1) Thunderbird asks my passwords for my multiple accounts. I answer all and "save in password manager". Thunderbird then connects but never completes the login and the password manager shows no saved passwords
If I start in safe mode and "continue in safe mode", Thunderbird works as expected, and the passwords which I previously entered are there and work! The following appears in the command window:
1563162298727 addons.xpi WARN Can't get modified time of /usr/lib/thunderbird/features/wetransfer@extensions.thunderbird.net
If I start in safe mode and "make these changes permanent", Thunderbird fails again exactly as above, and the following appears in the command window:
. In the command window, the following appears:
- UTM:SVC TimerManager:registerTimer called after profile-before-change notification. Ignoring timer registration for id: telemetry_modules_ping
1563162083388 addons.xpi WARN Can't get modified time of /usr/lib/thunderbird/features/wetransfer@extensions.thunderbird.net JavaScript error: jar:file:///usr/lib/thunderbird/omni.ja!/components/crypto-SDR.js, line 179: NS_ERROR_FAILURE: Couldn't decrypt string JavaScript error: jar:file:///usr/lib/thunderbird/omni.ja!/components/crypto-SDR.js, line 179: NS_ERROR_FAILURE: Couldn't decrypt string JavaScript error: jar:file:///usr/lib/thunderbird/omni.ja!/components/crypto-SDR.js, line 179: NS_ERROR_FAILURE: Couldn't decrypt string JavaScript error: jar:file:///usr/lib/thunderbird/omni.ja!/components/crypto-SDR.js, line 179: NS_ERROR_FAILURE: Couldn't decrypt string JavaScript error: jar:file:///usr/lib/thunderbird/omni.ja!/components/crypto-SDR.js, line 179: NS_ERROR_FAILURE: Couldn't decrypt string JavaScript error: jar:file:///usr/lib/thunderbird/omni.ja!/components/crypto-SDR.js, line 179: NS_ERROR_FAILURE: Couldn't decrypt string
- UTM:SVC TimerManager:registerTimer called after profile-before-change notification. Ignoring timer registration for id: telemetry_modules_ping
What do I do to be able to start Thunderbird normally on Linux?
Chosen solution
When you transfer a profile between Windows and Linux or OS X, the pkcs11.txt file should be deleted to make the passwords accessible in normal mode.
https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1250492
Read this answer in context 👍 2All Replies (10)
I forgot to mention, if I start in -safe-mode and "continue in safe mode", the password manager does indeed show my saved passwords.
/etc/os-release NAME="Ubuntu" VERSION="18.04.2 LTS (Bionic Beaver)" ID=ubuntu ID_LIKE=debian PRETTY_NAME="Ubuntu 18.04.2 LTS" VERSION_ID="18.04" HOME_URL="https://www.ubuntu.com/" SUPPORT_URL="https://help.ubuntu.com/" BUG_REPORT_URL="https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/" PRIVACY_POLICY_URL="https://www.ubuntu.com/legal/terms-and-policies/privacy-poli cy" VERSION_CODENAME=bionic UBUNTU_CODENAME=bionic
I see it shows all my passwords from the old installation, I assume that I have to somehow migrate it to the new decryption style. Why does safe mode allow my old passwords to work?
Chosen Solution
When you transfer a profile between Windows and Linux or OS X, the pkcs11.txt file should be deleted to make the passwords accessible in normal mode.
Thanks, @sfhowes, fixes it.
Modified by Jax
I don't know how you migrate. The directions say to copy the Thunderbird folder and on Linux, in T'bird, Open the directory from "troubleshooting" and go up 3 levels. On Ubuntu, there are not 3 levels. There is a profile folder and then ".thunderbird" and if you go to the next lever up, it is the main directory and does not list the ".thunderbird" directory for you to paste over.
On Linux, you actually go up two levels:
So, that would be in the "Home" directory. You paste the Thunderbird folder into the main home directory? This was helpful though but I want to make sure it's to be posted in my main directory.
Actually, according to this article, the relevant folder in Ubuntu is named mozilla-thunderbird.
I have 8 email accounts, tons of filters, folders and spam control. I needed all of it moved to my linux development laptop.
Here's what I did to successfully copy all of my Thunderbird data from Windows 10 to Linux Mint 19.2:
1:) Run Thunderbird and allow it to create a profile directory and default content. It will be located in /home/[your user]/.thunderbird. [your user] is your personal home directory. This is a "hidden directory" so you need to change your view settings so you can see it. Then shutdown Thunderbird.
2:) Open the new profile directory. Mine is named 2wycu9v9.default-release. Yours will be similar.
3:) Delete all of the contents of this folder.
4:) Copy the contents of your Windows profile directory into the linux profile folder.
5:) Delete file pkcs11.txt
6:) Edit file prefs.js. Replace all instances of Windows directory definitions with the correct location of the new profile directory.
Example: Change
"C:\\Users\\[your userid]\\AppData\\Roaming\\Thunderbird\\Profiles\\biaosvz0.default\\ImapMail"
Where [your userid] is your Windows user name and biaosvz0.default is the Windows profile directory (Yours will be different).
to
"home/[your user]/.thunderbird/2wycu9v9.default-release/ImapMail"
Where [your user] is your linux user name's home directory. and 2wycu9v9.default-release is the new profile directory. (Yours will be different)
Be sure to replace all double back slashes in any path definitions with single forward slashes.
7:) Restart Thunderbird. All will be well!
Hi, I needed to go from Ubuntu to Windows. Used this article only in reverse and it worked. Atom editor is great for find replace. Thanks dperson. You saved me a lot of work.