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Can't seem to import local storage folders from Windows Live Mail

  • 7 replies
  • 6 have this problem
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  • Last reply by Bibb

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I have just today installed Thunderbird Email program and adding 2 of my email accounts. After installing the Import Export Tool 3.2.4.1 I followed the instructions to locate and import my local folders from Windows Live Mail under the special account Local Folders. Everything goes well right down to where I select the folder, Storage Folders, that contains all the local folders I want to capture. Each sub folder of Storage Folders contains two sub folders Sent and In. When I select open nothing happens. I have also tried selecting one sub folder of Storage Folders and this works somewhat. It imports the 2 sub folders of the folder selected but does not import the parent folder. As I understood the instructions on the web site I would be able to import all the storage folders at once. It now appears that I will have to create all of the parent folders first in Thunderbird and then import their sub folders. This will be time consuming and not what I expected from a sophisticated product from Mozilla.

How do I get around this?

I have just today installed Thunderbird Email program and adding 2 of my email accounts. After installing the Import Export Tool 3.2.4.1 I followed the instructions to locate and import my local folders from Windows Live Mail under the special account Local Folders. Everything goes well right down to where I select the folder, Storage Folders, that contains all the local folders I want to capture. Each sub folder of Storage Folders contains two sub folders Sent and In. When I select open nothing happens. I have also tried selecting one sub folder of Storage Folders and this works somewhat. It imports the 2 sub folders of the folder selected but does not import the parent folder. As I understood the instructions on the web site I would be able to import all the storage folders at once. It now appears that I will have to create all of the parent folders first in Thunderbird and then import their sub folders. This will be time consuming and not what I expected from a sophisticated product from Mozilla. How do I get around this?

Chosen solution

If you have them saved as .eml files in the folders. Create a new folder in Thunderbird Local Folders account. right click on folder select: ImportExportTools select: Import all messages from a directory choose one the next options to import just directory or to include sub directory select the folder and clickon 'Select folder'

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All Replies (7)

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Did you do this: right click on 'Local Folders' mail account select : ImportExporttools select : Import mbox file select: import one or more mbox files, with it's/their subdirectory click on OK locate 'Storage Folders' which I'm assuming is an mbox file at the top level. click on Open.

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Chosen Solution

If you have them saved as .eml files in the folders. Create a new folder in Thunderbird Local Folders account. right click on folder select: ImportExportTools select: Import all messages from a directory choose one the next options to import just directory or to include sub directory select the folder and clickon 'Select folder'

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Hi Toad-Hall, I tried your first solution but it did not get me what I wanted. I finally just created the folders under the local folders account and then imported them individually. A long process but it worked. which is what your second suggestion was. Thanks for taking the time to respons.

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KuchleiT said

I have just today installed Thunderbird Email program and adding 2 of my email accounts. After installing the Import Export Tool 3.2.4.1 I followed the instructions to locate and import my local folders from Windows Live Mail under the special account Local Folders. Everything goes well right down to where I select the folder, Storage Folders, that contains all the local folders I want to capture. Each sub folder of Storage Folders contains two sub folders Sent and In. When I select open nothing happens. I have also tried selecting one sub folder of Storage Folders and this works somewhat. It imports the 2 sub folders of the folder selected but does not import the parent folder. As I understood the instructions on the web site I would be able to import all the storage folders at once. It now appears that I will have to create all of the parent folders first in Thunderbird and then import their sub folders. This will be time consuming and not what I expected from a sophisticated product from Mozilla. How do I get around this?
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When I create a new folder in Local Folders and right click on either Local Folders or the new subfolder I just created the is no: select: ImportExportTools in the list on either one. I don't know where I can see that ImportExportTools!

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Bibb re:I don't know where I can see that ImportExportTools! Have you installed the 'ImportExportTools' addon extension?

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No I had not and I didn't know I had to install that extension! Thanks for your help.