thunderbird won't install
I got a new computer and tried to install thunderbird. I had it installed and tried to import my profile exactly as the online instructions said. I could not open the profile but the file was in the profile folder so I deleted it after 5 tries. Now when I open the program it won't launch because it says : "Your Thunderbird profile cannot be loaded. It may be missing or inaccessible." I have uninstalled it and reinstalled it 3 times. I have also gone to the system files and deleted the folder 3 times. None of this nonsense is working and it looks like I'm going to be forced to go to my old computer and forward one hell of a lot of emails or kiss them goodbye. I don't know why they have to make all this crap unnecessarily complicated.
All Replies (12)
ok, lets back up to the begining.
click the up button a couple of times in the windows file manager and delete the Thunderbird folder in the appdata\roamering folders. That is probably the easiest way to get a reset to start.
Now the previously instructions should I think have told you to copy the whole Thunderbird folder found in the roaming folder. If it did not back up to that point and copy everything Place this in your new computers roaming folder, so you again have a appdata\roaming\Thunderbird folder and it's sub folders.
Now install Thunderbird again. Start Thunderbird and it should simply use your existing profile.
If not don't change anything but post back with the relevant error message. The most common is about using an older version of Thunderbird.
how do I get directly to the app data folders?
I type %appdata% into the location bar in windows file manger.... the one that does not look like it takes input until you click it and delete what is already there.
Can't find the appdata folder. Anyone???
where is the windows file manager? I'm a carpenter with 35+ years experience and I'm very good at problem solving but I need more details. Otherwise, someone throw a brick at bill gates head for me.
This is something of a test and it is relevant here. I think I need an image to explain %appdata%
So here goes
ok I'm back to square one. the program is installed and it starts. The thunderbird is moved from the old computer to the mozilla folder. It still isn't working though.
I don't think that fast.
doesn't work. Glad I'm not paying for thunderbird. I guess I'll be up all night forwarding email.
Well perhaps you do not think that fast, but you sure drop loads of one line messages in the forum and somehow expect responses even before the email hits my computer 10 minutes at least later. So you will be up all night due to a lack of patience if anything because to be honest I have no idea where you are at really.
Jeff said
ok I'm back to square one. the program is installed and it starts. The thunderbird is moved from the old computer to the mozilla folder. It still isn't working though.
What is not working? despite your ridicule of my attempt to make an image to explain how to type something I can not see your computer screen. So I got it. It is not working. I have nothing to add because really you have not said what the problem your are currently seeing it. What is not working as you think it should?
Jeff said
where is the windows file manager? I'm a carpenter with 35+ years experience and I'm very good at problem solving but I need more details. Otherwise, someone throw a brick at bill gates head for me.
I am a farm hand with about the same experience as I have been doing it since I can first remember. But the windows file manager is the squarish yellow icon on your taskbar in Windows (at least it is on mine). Perhaps it has a new name like File explorer as Microsoft were mad on making everything explorer a few years ago. Just like they are mad labeling things with outlook at the moment (even their web mail)
There are a number of way to persuade the application to do what is needed, but I can not even begin to guess what it is not doing without useful information. In all probably you will need to create a new profile and tell Thunderbird it is to use the one you copied. These procedure will probably help https://thunderbirdtweaks.blogspot.com/2019/09/i-lost-my-profilemail-on-update-to.html If you do not understand, I can not begin to guess either but you are dealing with something that requires more that a cursory glance and the clicking of some buttons and the computer will do it for you. This is like standing up a frame. look simple till you break out a set square and a spirit level and work out the foundation is not square, not is the sub floor.
Thunderbird is installed and opening. I pasted the profile file in the profile folder but it doesn't work. That's as far as I've gotten. So for now it is opening the profile that was created when it installed. That's about how far I got with firefox as well. If I can't get the profile to work I can't begin to figure out how to how to create a new profile. I did manage to get a text file of all my logins and passwords.
re :I pasted the 'profile file' in the 'profile' folder but it doesn't work.
If you pasted just the 'profile name' folder eg: xxxxxxxx.default where the x'a are letters and numbers into the 'Profiles' folder then Thunderbird probably does not know it exists because the 'profiles.ini' file has no knowledge of it.
Note Thunderbird must not be running on either computer whilst copy pasting the 'Thunderbird' file. I am assuming you are using the same version of Thunderbird on both computers.
On old computer locate: C:\Users\<Windows user name>\AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird Copy the actual 'Thunderbird' folder from old computer
On new computer: Access : C:\Users\<Windows user name>\AppData\Roaming folder The Roaming folder will contain a 'Thunderbird' folder - delete it. Now paste the copied 'Thunderbird' folder into the 'Roaming' folder. Start Thunderbird.
report back on results.