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Can I recover e-mails after a re-installation of Windows 10 without a back-up?

  • 4 replies
  • 1 has this problem
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  • Last reply by Lorenzo371

Lorenzo371
Lorenzo371
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Hi. Can I recover e-mails after a re-installation of Windows 10 without a back-up? When I use recover-software, in C:\Users\NAME\AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird only the data after the re-installation are found. Thank you in advance

Hi. Can I recover e-mails after a re-installation of Windows 10 without a back-up? When I use recover-software, in C:\Users\NAME\AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird only the data after the re-installation are found. Thank you in advance

All Replies (4)

Toad-Hall
Toad-Hall
  • Top 10 Contributor
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Sounds like you do not perform regular backups. 

Do you see a 'windows.old' folder on the desktop?

If yes, look in that 'windows.old' folder. Typically it would have been in this location: C:\Users\<Windows user name>\AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird\Profiles\<Profile name>\

Does it have that 'Thunderbird' folder in it?

You may need to make hidden files and folders visible:

If yes.

  • Copy that 'backup 'Thunderbird ' folder.
  • Exit Thunderbird if it is running.
  • Locate the 'Roaming' folder on computer: C:\Users\<Windows user name>\AppData\Roaming
  • delete the 'Thunderbird' folder that is in the 'Roaming' folder.
  • Then, in the 'Roaming' folder, right click and paste the copied backup of 'Thunderbird' folder.

Start Thunderbird.

Modified by Toad-Hall

Lorenzo371
Lorenzo371 Question owner
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Hi Toad-Hall, I don't have a 'windows.old'-folder.

Toad-Hall
Toad-Hall
  • Top 10 Contributor
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When you perform a complete reinstallation of Operating System, everything is wiped as if starting anew.

If it was an upgrade to Windows 10 or restore then usually there is a 'windows.old' folder created automatically by Windows.

re :When I use recover-software What recover software are you talking about?

There is an Thunderbird addon designed to recover deleted emails from non-compacted folders, but that is not the same as recovering deleted files after an OS reinstallation.

Lorenzo371
Lorenzo371 Question owner
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I tried software as Recuva, Hetman Partition Recovery, Stellar Phoenix Win Recovery,... As I did have a complete reinstallation I accept my mails are lost. Thanks anyway