Restoring emails from archive files
Hello. I have followed various sites to try to make an easy archive of my emails without using an addon. Big mistake. Result I have deleted most of the emails from my account. I read other posts and restored my INBOX from the deleted files. The problem is I had other folders in my email, and getting those emails is required. This is how it looked like:
>>Inbox >>Sent >>Important
I archived them with the same structure to files. Then tried to restore them by copying them to the "local folder", because I saw no emails restored I did this a couple of times until I made the mistake of deleting the original archive. All I have left now are the files from my previous attempts in my windows trashcan. When I copy these files to the local folder, the typical windows circle that means "working" appears, but nothing happens. The archive files are around 0.5 to 1 GB, but the TB settings say there is no messages, 0 KB.
Can anyone tell me how to recover those archive emails? Is the .msf file required together with the archive file?
Thanks in advance.
Modified by migel90as
Chosen solution
If Thunderbird will respond, create a folder under the Local Folders account. Call it something relevant, say "Restored". Create a subfolder under Restored and call it "Temp", then Quit Thunderbird. Next, open your profile folder and go to Mail > Local Folders > Restored.sbd. Copy your archive files to this location and remove them from where you initially had them then launch Tbird. See if it now loads your archives.
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No, the msf files are NOT required and shouldn't be backed up or restored. Thunderbird will simply recreate them as needed. If anything, excluding them from the backup/restore process is a good thing. If you copied the archive files to Local Folders while Thunderbird was running, you should restart Thunderbird. Better yet, Quit Thunderbird before copying the archives, then restart Tbird.
Thank you for you answer Stans. I did this precisely. The windows working status seems to never go off, TB is working when I click on the archive but there is no text describing the action in the status bar at the bottom (as it happens when you copy things). Do I have to just wait or did I brick the archives?
Chosen Solution
If Thunderbird will respond, create a folder under the Local Folders account. Call it something relevant, say "Restored". Create a subfolder under Restored and call it "Temp", then Quit Thunderbird. Next, open your profile folder and go to Mail > Local Folders > Restored.sbd. Copy your archive files to this location and remove them from where you initially had them then launch Tbird. See if it now loads your archives.
Stans said
If Thunderbird will respond, create a folder under the Local Folders account. Call it something relevant, say "Restored". Create a subfolder under Restored and call it "Temp", then Quit Thunderbird. Next, open your profile folder and go to Mail > Local Folders > Restored.sbd. Copy your archive files to this location and remove them from where you initially had them then launch Tbird. See if it now loads your archives.
Simply Amazing! It took seconds to process all. I would have never guessed this trick. Thank you!
You're welcome.