I recently Archived and many folders now have a blank 12/31/1969 email in them
I've read a number of 12/31/69 comments and don't think I've seen the question asked this way. I compact regularly. I read one comment about possible 'corrupted' header and date files. The recommendation was to rebuild the Inbox or folder. I'll try this and comment back if it worked or not
Chosen solution
Ok, background... dates are just numbers. In the case of the the Microsoft C++ Compiler used to compile Thunderbird and other Mozilla products the earliest positive number for a date is 1st January 1970. If a date gets set to Zero then 12/31/1969 is what a computer program will often display.
In the case of Thunderbird a Zero date on an email is just about impossible, unless there is something else wrong. Most usually the mail store has become corrupted so a "not date" gets read into a date field.
Corruption in a mail store is serious business and complete data loss is usually only a short step away. Copy all mail from the affected folder to another then right click the affected folder and select compact from the menu. This will clear the corruption, but usually at the expense of any mail received after that point in the file. Hence the copy them somewhere else first (If you can)
You will see recommendation to move mails to other folders from the inbox as a housekeeping function. The primary purpose is to get your mail out of the inbox as it is the most likely place for corruption to occur as mail gets added removed and moved constantly. In other folders, mail usually just gets added and the file grows.
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Chosen Solution
Ok, background... dates are just numbers. In the case of the the Microsoft C++ Compiler used to compile Thunderbird and other Mozilla products the earliest positive number for a date is 1st January 1970. If a date gets set to Zero then 12/31/1969 is what a computer program will often display.
In the case of Thunderbird a Zero date on an email is just about impossible, unless there is something else wrong. Most usually the mail store has become corrupted so a "not date" gets read into a date field.
Corruption in a mail store is serious business and complete data loss is usually only a short step away. Copy all mail from the affected folder to another then right click the affected folder and select compact from the menu. This will clear the corruption, but usually at the expense of any mail received after that point in the file. Hence the copy them somewhere else first (If you can)
You will see recommendation to move mails to other folders from the inbox as a housekeeping function. The primary purpose is to get your mail out of the inbox as it is the most likely place for corruption to occur as mail gets added removed and moved constantly. In other folders, mail usually just gets added and the file grows.
Modified by Matt
Thank you Matt, I bow before you and announce: I'm not worthy