Join the AMA (Ask Me Anything) with the Firefox leadership team to celebrate Firefox 20th anniversary and discuss Firefox’s future on Mozilla Connect. Mark your calendar on Thursday, November 14, 18:00 - 20:00 UTC!

This site will have limited functionality while we undergo maintenance to improve your experience. If an article doesn't solve your issue and you want to ask a question, we have our support community waiting to help you at @FirefoxSupport on Twitter and/r/firefox on Reddit.

Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

After reloading thunderbird my folders have disappeared

  • 12 replies
  • 2 have this problem
  • 7 views
  • Last reply by christ1

more options

My computer had the power supply and motherboard replaced after being damaged, the memory and CPU were OK. Windows 7 and Thunderbird were reloaded and are working OK, Thunderbird displays the emails in Inbox OK except the Folders I had under Local Folders have disappeared. The computer repairer has placed a file called Thunderbird on the desktop and this contains several folders called cache etc. but I can't access anything in the folders. Does anyone have any clues as to where the folders are?

My computer had the power supply and motherboard replaced after being damaged, the memory and CPU were OK. Windows 7 and Thunderbird were reloaded and are working OK, Thunderbird displays the emails in Inbox OK except the Folders I had under Local Folders have disappeared. The computer repairer has placed a file called Thunderbird on the desktop and this contains several folders called cache etc. but I can't access anything in the folders. Does anyone have any clues as to where the folders are?

All Replies (12)

more options

When you started Thunderbird the first time after the repair, Did the new account wizard come up?

Did you re-create your account?

more options

I don't know as to whether the account wizard came up as the computer repairer reloaded the Thunderbird. I'm guessing the the emails that now appear in my Inbox were sitting in my ISP's server and the Folders are some where on my hard drive so I suspect that the account wasn't recreated. Where is the account wizard and can I run it now? I looked and couldn't find it.

more options

Since you already have a working account, there is no point running the wizard again.

Have you changed the 'Local Directory' setting for your account at some point?

Check if you have multiple copies of your account directory.

http://kb.mozillazine.org/Disappearing_mail#Account_specific

more options

Yes I have multiple (2) copies of my account directory, under Imap mail there is folders as shown on the attached screenshot. How can I deal with this?

more options

What's underneath the mail.internode.on.net and mail.internode.on-1.net folders?

Another screenshot would probably be the best.

Modified by christ1

more options

Here's the screenshots

more options

I just realized the screenshots you provided are for your IMAP account. I suppose there are no problems with that account.

Can you look for multiple copies of your 'Local Folders' account directory?

If you move up one level from ImapMail, change to Mail.

Also please check what's underneath 'Local Folders'.

Screenshots will be fine.

more options

Maybe these files are pertinent, they are what the computer repairer placed on the Desktop under a folder called Thunderbird.

more options

You haven't mentioned that before. Those files do not contain mail. Is there anything else you have, e.g. a backup of your profile folder?

more options

Here's what's under Mail,Local Folders

more options

There is no backup of the profile folder so far as I know

more options

I suppose there's no 'Local Folders-1' or something like that underneath 'Mail'?

Is there anything underneath 'Trash.sbd'?

If not, then whatever folders you had underneath 'Local Folders' before is gone.

I don't understand what the computer repairer did, and why he put some useless files to your desktop.

You'd need to provide more details what has been done and whatever 'recovered' data or backups you may have.

Modified by christ1