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Lost profiles after Windows 11 upgrade

Michael Grazebrook
Michael Grazebrook
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I have lost access to my profile, including address book and email (which I keep off-line). My installs & profile files:

%APPDATA% = C:\Users\micha\AppData\Roaming

%APPDATA%\Thunderbird\installs.ini [C1263DE4EAE8A7E6] IsRelative=0 Default=D:/Users/micha/AppData/Roaming/Thunderbird/Profiles/hp2fnj5i.default Locked=1

%APP_DATA%\Thunderbird\profile.ini [InstallC1263DE4EAE8A7E6] IsRelative=0 Default=D:/Users/micha/AppData/Roaming/Thunderbird/Profiles/hp2fnj5i.default Locked=1

[Profile1] Name=Michael Grazebrook IsRelative=0 Path=D:/Users/micha/AppData/Roaming/Thunderbird/Profiles/hp2fnj5i.default Default=1

[Profile0] Name=default-release IsRelative=0 Path=D:/Users/micha/AppData/Roaming/Thunderbird/Profiles/hp2fnj5i.default-release

[General] StartWithLastProfile=1 Version=2

The actual location of the profile is the same path except on the D: drive.

I can't find any documentation for installs.ini so I guessed at the correct content. So my main question is how do I get my email back but I'd also like to know where to find documentation for installs.ini

These config files are my best attempt and they don't work. Thunderbird boots with an empty list of profiles (see image)

I have lost access to my profile, including address book and email (which I keep off-line). My installs & profile files: %APPDATA% = C:\Users\micha\AppData\Roaming %APPDATA%\Thunderbird\installs.ini [C1263DE4EAE8A7E6] IsRelative=0 Default=D:/Users/micha/AppData/Roaming/Thunderbird/Profiles/hp2fnj5i.default Locked=1 %APP_DATA%\Thunderbird\profile.ini [InstallC1263DE4EAE8A7E6] IsRelative=0 Default=D:/Users/micha/AppData/Roaming/Thunderbird/Profiles/hp2fnj5i.default Locked=1 [Profile1] Name=Michael Grazebrook IsRelative=0 Path=D:/Users/micha/AppData/Roaming/Thunderbird/Profiles/hp2fnj5i.default Default=1 [Profile0] Name=default-release IsRelative=0 Path=D:/Users/micha/AppData/Roaming/Thunderbird/Profiles/hp2fnj5i.default-release [General] StartWithLastProfile=1 Version=2 The actual location of the profile is the same path except on the D: drive. I can't find any documentation for installs.ini so I guessed at the correct content. So my main question is how do I get my email back but I'd also like to know where to find documentation for installs.ini These config files are my best attempt and they don't work. Thunderbird boots with an empty list of profiles (see image)
Attached screenshots

Chosen solution

Try this: start Profile Manager, Create Profile..., name it, Choose folder..., Browse... and select the folder that has your data, e.g. hp2fnj5i.default.

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All Replies (3)

Michael Grazebrook
Michael Grazebrook Question owner
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PS: This is partly my fault. Previously I'd worked around the problem of needing the email to be on the D: drive not C: by linking the folder from C: to D:. The Windows 11 migration seems to have destroyed the link.

sfhowes
sfhowes
  • Top 10 Contributor
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Chosen Solution

Try this: start Profile Manager, Create Profile..., name it, Choose folder..., Browse... and select the folder that has your data, e.g. hp2fnj5i.default.

Michael Grazebrook
Michael Grazebrook Question owner
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Thank you. That worked.