Old Profile Switch = Blank TB
Hello
I'm on a Mac, OS11.3 using TB 78.10 I have several old Profile folders and when I try to use them in TB I get a blank screen with no emails, folders, settings etc... (see 1st image)
I've tried the solutions suggested in 1) https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1288489 -and - 2) https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1312937 (this was PC and not aplicable I think)
Steps taken: 1) Create new profile Named Test-A 2) Click "Choose Folder" and select folder with old profile data (folder renamed to Test-A Dump) 3) Click "Done" and "Start Thunderbird"
I can create a new Blank profile that works but if I try and use any of the old profile data I get teh Blank page. Anyone have any suggestions? Thanks in advance for your help.
All Replies (2)
re :old Profile folders
How old ? There were significant changes in updates from version 60* to 68* and yet more significant changes in update between 68* and 78*.
When people updated from 60* to 68* one of the most common problems was the global database. Exiting Thunderbird and deleting the 'global-messages-db.sqlite' file from old profile and then restarting thunderbird often resolved the issue. If you installed version 60.9.1 to see if it worked with an old profile and it was sucessful, I would advise you exit thunderbird, delete that 'global-messages-db.sqlite' file and then install a 68 version. Release note info: Thunderbird version 68.1 is only offered as direct download and not as upgrade from Thunderbird version 60 or earlier. A future version 68.2 will provide updates from earlier versions.
This update also created additional files and was the first instance of the dedicated profile per installation.
The update to 78 saw huge changes to the address books were the mab files got reformatted into sqlite files. The minimum level for TLS was also increased and caused may people to be unable to access server until they reduced the minimum TLS levels.
It might be worth uninstalling Thunderbird and trying an older version and then gradually update to next version until up to date. It might require you to uninstall/ install next level a few times until you have got up to date.
Where are the old versions of Thunderbird? This is a link to the last of the version 60* which is 60.9.1
You would need to select preferred language eg: en-GB is English British Then download the Thunderbird 60.9.1.dmg file.
This is a link to version 68.2.0:
The last of the 68 series is 68.12.1
Please remember to create a backup before updating to 78
The only other solution is use the most up to date and create new existing mail accounts in the default profile that you know works. mbox files stored in old profiles could be copied over to the new profile and placed in 'Local Folders' mail account. So at least you would get access to the old emails.
Modified by Toad-Hall
You could check out info on various release notes: https://www.thunderbird.net/en-US/thunderbird/releases/