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Can copy profile to new computer, but can't connect to mail server (ISP provider)

  • 2 replies
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  • Last reply by K in NC

K in NC
K in NC
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I've just copied* my Thunderbird profile from my desktop to my (only occasionally used) laptop, and everything appears to have copied just fine (i.e., all settings are there, as are all my folders of old mail, and recently received emails appear in the inbox).

But I can't connect to the mail server. The Thunderbird message is : "Could not connect to [twc server name]; the connection was refused." I know there's nothing wrong with the server because I downloaded mail to my desktop shortly before copying the profile and again shortly after getting the problem message on my laptop.

I've copied my profile in the past when I need to use my laptop (about 3-4 times per year when I travel and need current and recent emails). And it's always worked just fine before, so I'm totally confused.

Two things to mention, if they happen to be pertinent: (1) My desktop is still on W10 1909, and the laptop's on 20H2. And (2) Thunderbird was installed (by the Thunderbird installer without intervention by me) to the Program Files (x86) folder on my desktop, but to the plain Program Files folder on the laptop.

  • Again, I went through the copying steps I've always used before: (1) copying the Thunderbird folder and subfolders from the C:\users ... \roaming folder of my desktop to the roaming folder on my laptop, and (2) just copying the contents of the jibberish-named profile folder from my desktop to the different jibberish-named profile folder on my laptop.

Any advice would be much appreciated. I will have to replace my desktop soon (it fails miserably every time I try to install Windows 10 20H2), and I really need to be able to use my laptop for email until I get a new desktop up and running (and now I'm frightened I won't be able to copy my profile to the new desktop!).

I've just copied* my Thunderbird profile from my desktop to my (only occasionally used) laptop, and everything appears to have copied just fine (i.e., all settings are there, as are all my folders of old mail, and recently received emails appear in the inbox). But I can't connect to the mail server. The Thunderbird message is : "Could not connect to [twc server name]; the connection was refused." I know there's nothing wrong with the server because I downloaded mail to my desktop shortly before copying the profile and again shortly after getting the problem message on my laptop. I've copied my profile in the past when I need to use my laptop (about 3-4 times per year when I travel and need current and recent emails). And it's always worked just fine before, so I'm totally confused. Two things to mention, if they happen to be pertinent: (1) My desktop is still on W10 1909, and the laptop's on 20H2. And (2) Thunderbird was installed (by the Thunderbird installer without intervention by me) to the Program Files (x86) folder on my desktop, but to the plain Program Files folder on the laptop. *Again, I went through the copying steps I've always used before: (1) copying the Thunderbird folder and subfolders from the C:\users ... \roaming folder of my desktop to the roaming folder on my laptop, and (2) just copying the contents of the jibberish-named profile folder from my desktop to the different jibberish-named profile folder on my laptop. Any advice would be much appreciated. I will have to replace my desktop soon (it fails miserably every time I try to install Windows 10 20H2), and I really need to be able to use my laptop for email until I get a new desktop up and running (and now I'm frightened I won't be able to copy my profile to the new desktop!).

Chosen solution

Actually, this proved not to be my VPN (which is only supposed to kick in when I'm not using my home WiFi, though I've found that's not always the case).

What I found -- and in what of the last places I looked because I regarded it as an unlikely cause -- was that my firewall had somehow gotten set to block Thunderbird. This is a computer I've used for a few years, and the same firewall (part of Bitdefender), so I'm guessing something in the latest Bitdefender update, or something else I can only guess at, set up the firewall block.

Ah, well ...

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All Replies (2)

Matt
Matt
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New machine... so new anti virus and perhaps VPN? Most of the new issues appear to relate to these VPN's everyone is embracing them, except mail providers that know you live somewhere and use their ISP service so when you connect from somewhere else simply refuse connection. Some internet service providers simply do not allow you to connect to their mail servers unless you use their service. Something a VPN hides.

K in NC
K in NC Question owner
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Chosen Solution

Actually, this proved not to be my VPN (which is only supposed to kick in when I'm not using my home WiFi, though I've found that's not always the case).

What I found -- and in what of the last places I looked because I regarded it as an unlikely cause -- was that my firewall had somehow gotten set to block Thunderbird. This is a computer I've used for a few years, and the same firewall (part of Bitdefender), so I'm guessing something in the latest Bitdefender update, or something else I can only guess at, set up the firewall block.

Ah, well ...