If you deleted messages from TB and they were deleted from webmail, that would happen with an IMAP setup (imap.mail.att.net for the incoming) instead of POP (inbound.att.net). If it is IMAP (Server Type in Account Settings, Server Settings), check the box for 'Keep messages for all folders...' under Synchronization & Storage, then right-click the Inbox in the Folder Pane, Properties, Repair Folder, to re-download the Inbox. Right-click the account in the Folder Pane, Subscribe, Refresh, subscribe to the missing folders.

If it's POP, uncheck 'Fetch headers only' in Server Settings, then delete popstate.dat from the account subfolder of Mail in the profile folder, with TB closed. POP only downloads the Inbox.

Thanks.

So you know, I had already turned off fetch headers only and deleted the global-messages-db.sqlite file.

The TB Account Setting/Server Settings say Server Type is "POP Mail Server", but it seems to be acting like IMAP as you have described it. If I delete a message in TB, it gets irretrievably deleted in webmail.

Is there a way to switch to IMAP and download all the webmail folders, not just the inbox?

To switch to IMAP, copy the current POP mail to Local Folders, remove the POP account (Account Actions in Account Settings), then add it as IMAP from File/New/Existing Mail Account.

http://kb.mozillazine.org/Convert_a_POP_account_to_a_IMAP_account

Thanks. I hired a consultant for a half hour, ended up creating an new IMAP account alongside the old POP.

The new IMAP account appears to have downloaded/recreated all the folders from ATT.net (not just the inbox) and downloaded all the messages into them, so I didn't have to manually sort several thousand messages from the inbox again.

I had already checked

• Account Settings, Synchronization & Storage, Message Synchronizing, Keep messages in all folders for this account on this computer, and

• Disk Space, Synchronize all messages locally regardless of age, and

• Don't delete any messages.

Do I still need to create local folders and move the POP account into them, or can I just delete the POP account? It's confusing.

Also, are the folders the IMAP account created "local"? If so, wouldn't creating local accounts duplicate them?

Consultant said wait a couple days before deleting the POP account. I still haven't done it. A bit afraid to.

Thanks

You should see a completely separate set of mirror folders for your IMAP connection. These are locally saved copies of the messages, but they are still linked to the server. You would expect changes on either side should be mirrored to the other. This is very different from purely Local folders where you can add/delete without any effect on your mail on the server.

The POP connection isn't needed for the IMAP mirror folders, and removing a POP connection should not delete any already downloaded messages. But while I say that, I haven't tested it because I haven't used POP mail for over 10 years.

Many thanks. I definitely don't want my TB folders and emails erased if my AT&T account gets erased. Does that mean I have to have a dual set of folders, one IMAP set and one Local set?

You can back up mail by copying it (not moving it) to Local Folders. I mean true TB local folders, and not new folders under the IMAP account mirror folders.

There probably are other backup methods that would work, too, but I haven't looked into them.