here is how i do it: - exit thunderbird on old PC - copy c:\users\<yourid>\appdata\roaming\thunderbird to external media (this assumes you use default installation) - on new PC, install thunderbird and exit - copy the backed-up thunderbird folder to c:\users\<yourid>\appdata\roaming to overwrite the existing thunderbird folder - start thunderbird

Thanks David got it sorted. There were a variety of confusing suggestions that I got lost in. variations of the normal procedures to transfer. But this simple process worked , and i learned something. Maybe your in the top 5 now. Thanks heaps. John

These instructions may be easier to follow:

 https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/moving-thunderbird-data-to-a-new-computer

Thanks again David I followed those instructions in, https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/moving-thunderbird-data-to-a-new-computer but it did not transfer all the saved folders and files. your short cut was perfect. Big thanks.

I was glad to assist. Thanks for the kind words. :)