This site will have limited functionality while we undergo maintenance to improve your experience. If an article doesn't solve your issue and you want to ask a question, we have our support community waiting to help you at @FirefoxSupport on Twitter and/r/firefox on Reddit.

Avatar for Username

Mozilla Support में खोजें

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

This thread was archived. Please ask a new question if you need help.

How do I retrieve/open local folders I stored on back-up drive?

  • 3 प्रत्युत्तर
  • 1 यह समस्या है
  • 1 view
  • के द्वारा अंतिम प्रतियुतर skny

skny
skny
more options

My computer died. I had been using Thunderbird on it, and had stored many emails in local folders. Those local folders are/should be backed up on my external back-up drive (WD My Book). I've seen s/thing that says thunderbird profile on the drive; I hope that's it. The problem is I don't know how to open the files that are on the back-up; nor does my new computer. The computer thinks I should use an app, but doesn't know which. How do I open those folders and copy them to my new computer?

My computer died. I had been using Thunderbird on it, and had stored many emails in local folders. Those local folders are/should be backed up on my external back-up drive (WD My Book). I've seen s/thing that says thunderbird profile on the drive; I hope that's it. The problem is I don't know how to open the files that are on the back-up; nor does my new computer. The computer thinks I should use an app, but doesn't know which. How do I open those folders and copy them to my new computer?

चुने गए समाधान

If the TB profile folder was backed up, there will be a Mail folder with a Local Folders subfolder. In that subfolder you should find files with no extension named after the original folder and an accompanying msf file, e.g. MyFolder and MyFolder.msf. While TB is closed, copy just the mbox files, the ones like MyFolder with no extension, into the Mail/Local Folders location in the current TB profile. You can open the current TB profile folder from Help/Troubleshooting Information, click Open Folder; close TB before making any changes. When you restart TB, the copied folder should appear under Local Folders in the Folder Pane.

संदर्भ में यह जवाब पढ़ें 👍 0

All Replies (3)

Toad-Hall
Toad-Hall
  • Top 10 Contributor
more options

What do you mean by 'and had stored many emails in local folders.' Are you talking about the 'Local Folders' mail account in Thunderbird ? Did you do a backup of your 'profile name' folder?

Do you mean you had saved separate emails as *.eml files in a folder on your computer - not in Thunderbird - and that folder is backed up?

sfhowes
sfhowes
  • Top 10 Contributor
more options

चयनित समाधान

If the TB profile folder was backed up, there will be a Mail folder with a Local Folders subfolder. In that subfolder you should find files with no extension named after the original folder and an accompanying msf file, e.g. MyFolder and MyFolder.msf. While TB is closed, copy just the mbox files, the ones like MyFolder with no extension, into the Mail/Local Folders location in the current TB profile. You can open the current TB profile folder from Help/Troubleshooting Information, click Open Folder; close TB before making any changes. When you restart TB, the copied folder should appear under Local Folders in the Folder Pane.

sfhowes द्वारा सम्पादित

skny
skny प्रश्नकर्ता
more options

Took me a bit of time to find the help/troubleshooting section (I'm a bit of a newbie here)....but once I did that, I followed your directions and they worked! I got all my saved folders. Thanks so much for your help