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Transfer mail from Windows XP to Windows 7

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  • Last reply by jim.5k

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I want to transfer my mail from an old Windows XP computer running Thunderbird 45.8.0 to a Windows 7 computer (Thunderbird not installed yet). The "How to transfer mail to a new computer" instructions are pretty clear (copy old Thunderbird folder to new computer), but do I have to do anything special regarding the old source files? Can I install the newest version of Thunderbird on Windows 7 and replace the folder with the old one, or do I have to install an old version of Thunderbird (45.8.0) first?

I want to transfer my mail from an old Windows XP computer running Thunderbird 45.8.0 to a Windows 7 computer (Thunderbird not installed yet). The "How to transfer mail to a new computer" instructions are pretty clear (copy old Thunderbird folder to new computer), but do I have to do anything special regarding the old source files? Can I install the newest version of Thunderbird on Windows 7 and replace the folder with the old one, or do I have to install an old version of Thunderbird (45.8.0) first?

Chosen solution

Copy the Thunderbird folder to the W7 computer in this location:

C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming

i.e. the TB folder is a subfolder of Roaming.

AppData is hidden by default.

Then, install TB 60.4; it will read the copied profile folder. You may have to adjust a few things such as the default downloads folder and the default applications for opening attachments, but all the accounts, mail, contacts, calendars etc. should be preserved.

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Chosen Solution

Copy the Thunderbird folder to the W7 computer in this location:

C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming

i.e. the TB folder is a subfolder of Roaming.

AppData is hidden by default.

Then, install TB 60.4; it will read the copied profile folder. You may have to adjust a few things such as the default downloads folder and the default applications for opening attachments, but all the accounts, mail, contacts, calendars etc. should be preserved.

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Thanks. I'll give it a try and let you know.