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when I delete some local folders they keep reappearing

  • 8 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 1 view
  • Last reply by Toad-Hall

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I have imported folders from Outlook Express which are all ok but I now wish to delete some of them. When I do this the folders keep reappearing under the deleted icon in Local folders. How can I stop them re appearing please ?

I have imported folders from Outlook Express which are all ok but I now wish to delete some of them. When I do this the folders keep reappearing under the deleted icon in Local folders. How can I stop them re appearing please ?

All Replies (8)

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When you delete a folder from eg: Local Folders, it will be put in the Local Folders 'Deleted' folder.

This is normal, just like when you delete an email, it will also appear in Deleted folder.

If you want to clear the Deleted folder: right click on Folder and select 'Empty Deleted' then right click on folder and select 'compact'.

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The folders underneath the deleted folder that I want to delete, do disappear when I select delete, but reappear exactly in the same place when I restart TB.

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I suggested you do this: 1. right click on Folder and select 'Empty Deleted' 2. right click on folder and select 'compact'.

This removes all traces of marked as deleted. Did you empty and compact the Deleted folder?

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The folders I want to delete are positioned underneath the deleted folder in the local folders section. When I right click on the unwanted folder it does not give the same options as r.clicking on the thunderbird deleted folder in local folders. It only gives delete or compact as the relevant options not 'empty Deleted'. The actual thunderbird deleted folder in local folders is empty. I do appreciate your help in this.

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Sorry I didn't really reply to your question. Yes I right clicked and selected delete on the unwanted (windows) folder which disappeared. and then selected compact on the Thunderbird deleted folder which didn't really do anything. When I close and reopen TB the unwanted (windows) folder reappears.

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Let's start again as I think I may have misunderstood.

You have an unwanted folder in Local Folders which you want to delete. right click on that unwanted folder and select 'Delete'. This should move the folder into the Local Folders 'Deleted' folder.

right click on 'Deleted' /trash Folder and select 'Empty Deleted' this will clear/empty the Deleted folder.

right click on 'Deleted'/trash folder and select 'compact'. This will remove all traces of deleted items.

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I R.click on unwanted folder and the contents do not go into the TB deleted folder- the folder disappears altogether. That would be ok but when I reopen TB its back. If I open unwanted folder and delete the individual messages then yes the messages go into the TB deleted folder and I can select empty deleted and compact as you say . Snag is, when I reopen TB the whole folder is back where it started.Thanks again for your patience !

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Make hidden files and folders visible:

In Thunderbird

  • Help > TRoubleshooting Information
  • click on 'Show folder' button

a new window opens showing the profile folder.

  • Close Thunderbird now, this is important.
  • Click on 'Mail' folder
  • click on 'Local Folders' account
  • locate the unwanted file name which does not have an extention
  • and also file of same name with a .msf extension
  • delete both of these files.
  • Close window - top right X
  • Start Thunderbird.

Has the unwanted folder gone?