Thunderbird loads profile but not any messages or folders
Installed Thunderbird on new Windows 7 Pro PC. Used Profile Manager to create profile and checked "Use the selected profile without asking at startup." Copied the contents of profile folder from another PC into the profile folder of the new PC. Profile.ini has the correct information:
[General] StartWithLastProfile=1
[Profile0] Name=David IsRelative=1 Path=Profiles/slj17w49.David Default=1
When I run Thunderbird it displays a window "Welcome to Thunderbird: Would you like to create a new email address." It does not display any accounts or messages. When I look at the files and folders inside the profile, the Date Modified on many of them is the current date/time, so Thunderbird seems to be loading the profile. It's like one part of Thunderbird knows about and loads the profile, but another part of the program doesn't know that it loaded the profile!
Please help!!!
Chosen solution
re :Installed Thunderbird on new Windows 7 Pro PC. Used Profile Manager to create profile
When you first install and run Thunderbird, it automatically creates a new profile name called 'xxxxxxx.default' where the x's are letters and numbers. TB then asks you if you want to add mail accounts, but as you wanted to use a backed up profile then you would not need to enter any mail accounts.
You simply needed to exit Thunderbird and copy paste all the Contents of your backed up old profile name folder into the new default profile name folder overwriting all the ones created by default.
Instructions at the link you mention say: Note: If you just installed Thunderbird on a new computer, you can use the default profile that is automatically created when you first run Thunderbird, instead of creating a new profile.
It seems you did not follow this instruction . Confirm you still have your backed up 'profile name folder' containing all the files and folders.
please supply some info so I can fully understand exactly what you have in your setup.
Post an image showing what you currently have in the Appdata/Roaming/Thunderbird/'Profiles' folder. It should have a list of profile name folders.
Read this answer in context 👍 1All Replies (5)
Please help! I will pay for help if necessary. I followed the instructions on https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/profiles-tb#w_restoring-to-a-different-location and it doesn't work.
Chosen Solution
re :Installed Thunderbird on new Windows 7 Pro PC. Used Profile Manager to create profile
When you first install and run Thunderbird, it automatically creates a new profile name called 'xxxxxxx.default' where the x's are letters and numbers. TB then asks you if you want to add mail accounts, but as you wanted to use a backed up profile then you would not need to enter any mail accounts.
You simply needed to exit Thunderbird and copy paste all the Contents of your backed up old profile name folder into the new default profile name folder overwriting all the ones created by default.
Instructions at the link you mention say: Note: If you just installed Thunderbird on a new computer, you can use the default profile that is automatically created when you first run Thunderbird, instead of creating a new profile.
It seems you did not follow this instruction . Confirm you still have your backed up 'profile name folder' containing all the files and folders.
please supply some info so I can fully understand exactly what you have in your setup.
Post an image showing what you currently have in the Appdata/Roaming/Thunderbird/'Profiles' folder. It should have a list of profile name folders.
Toad-Hall: Thank you thank you thank you for solving my problem!!!
I still don't know what I did wrong. I had the name of my profile folder in the profiles.ini. But when I used the default name in the ini and as the name of the folder, now I see all my mail. I even renamed the file extension in both the ini and as the name of the folder from "default" to my first name and it still shows the mail.
I clicked your name. I'm very impressed with the large number of your contributions to the Mozilla forums. I went to your website and am also very impressed with your other creative projects. I especially like Trompe l'Oeil.
I would be happy to send you some money by PayPal for solving my problem or to make a donation to Mozilla.org/Thunderbird, your choice. :) If you want me to send the money to you, private message me here with an email address for me to use PayPal to send the money. Oh, I see there's an email address on your website. Shall I use that to send money?
Best wishes to you in all your endeavors.
Modified by MozThunderbirdUser
Good to hear all is ok. I offer my services via this forum for free to help other users. but Thunderbird would really benefit from a donation . https://wiki.mozilla.org/Thunderbird/Donate
I have made a donation to mozilla.org/Thunderbird. Thanks again!!!