New TB install - imported emails & accounts from OE - but TB trying to redownload all imported (old) emails !!!
I am using TB for the first time, on an XP SP3 machine where I've used Outlook Express ("OE") for years,
Following many articles, I installed TB version 52.9.1 on my XP machine, and I successfully Imported all my accounts and emails from OE. I did this while my XP machine was UNplugged from the network so that I could check settings in TB before TB tried to do anything.
Well, it seemed to look good, as I see all my OE folders in the area at the left, and as far as I can tell, the Account settings (for 8 old Accounts and 2 current Accounts) are correct.
So I turned off TB, plugged the ethernet cable back into the XP machine, started up TB, it prompted me for the password for the first of the two current Accounts it should check all the time, I entered the password, and it started to download emails from six years ago, all of which are in the Imported folders!! So I turned it off.
-- I thought the Import of settings and emails from OE would be smart enough NOT to do that. --
How do I get TB to check ONLY for emails that are new on my two current accounts AFTER the imported emails?
Details:
All my Accounts (old and current) are POP3.
Before I plugged in the ethernet cable, in TB Account Settings, in the 8 old Accounts, I UNchecked "Check for messages every 1 minute". The other settings "Check for messages at startup" and "Automatically download new messages" were already UNchecked.
In the 2 current accounts, "Check for messages every 1 minute" was already checked, and I ALSO checked "Check for messages at startup" and "Automatically download new messages".
In all the Accounts, "Leave messages on server ... Until I delete them" was ALREADY checked, which is good and what I had on OE.
By the way, in the area at left, under "Local Folders", there is no "Sent" or "Drafts". There is only "Inbox", "Trash", "Outbox" and "Outlook Express Import". Of course, "Outlook Express Import" has MANY subfolders.
SO - How do I get TB to check ONLY for emails that are new on my two current accounts AFTER the imported emails?
Thanks.
Modified by glnz
All Replies (6)
It's me again (the Original Poster).
Maybe the answer is to put some type of Filter on the Inbox, so it gets only emails that are On or After X Date (which would be today)?
Would that work, and how would I set it up?
Thunderbird has no knowledge about which messages have already been downloaded to your OE POP3 installation. Since all messages are left on the server Thunderbird will be downloading them all. You may login to your account via browser and check your account settings on the server. Your email provider may offer something to limit the number of messages to be downloaded.
"Check for messages every 1 minute".
A 1 min interval is overkill, and email providers typically limit that to 10 min or so.
christ1 - In another forum, there was a response that I have to go to the webmail servers on a browser and move all old emails into a different webmail folder so that TB doesn't see them.
Is this the only way?
If so, then "Import" seems deficient.
That would be a workaround. But then why keeping all messages on the server in the first place?
Christ1 - In another thread on this forum, with a similar issue -- at <THIS LINK> -- the OP posted at the end:
"It is pop but I was able to change my old messages to imap and those new ones coming in as pop and that appears to have solved my dilemma."
Well, I'm not sure what was meant, but if I was able to change all my old emails on the two current webmail servers (two accounts) to IMAP but keep new emails as POP, would that work? Never heard of that.
Thanks.
Modified by glnz
glnz said
Christ1 - In another thread on this forum, with a similar issue -- at <THIS LINK> -- the OP posted at the end: "It is pop but I was able to change my old messages to imap and those new ones coming in as pop and that appears to have solved my dilemma." Well, I'm not sure what was meant, but if I was able to change all my old emails on the two current webmail servers (two accounts) to IMAP but keep new emails as POP, would that work? Never heard of that. Thanks.
You can add an account as IMAP. it does nothing to convert anything you already have to anything else. But I have to ask. Why use POP if you have all the mail on the server. IMAP would be a far more appropriate protocol. But I suggest you do nothing until you read up on how IMAP and POP work and the differences between them. IT is not like trading in your Ford for a Dodge. It is more akin to joining the library instead of owning your own.
See https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/glossary-terms-including-types-accounts#w_mail-accounts which has links for further reading.