How to create an address book/add addresses to it -- error message and book remains empty
For over a year now I have had no address book. Can't import or open -- get the error message about 'may be read only' etc. The address book is listed but empty and I can not add addresses to it manually or by hitting the little star. The content of my old address book is lurking in the bowels of my computer but I can not retrieve it. I tried reloading TB but it did not fix the problem. I tried an add on but it is apparently not compatible with the latest version of TB. I like TB but I am running a fairly large charity out of my home office and the lack of an email address but is going to send me to the dark side...
All Replies (5)
On the toolbar 
> Help> Troubleshooting information.
Click the show profile button. Close Thunderbird once windows explorer opens locate the abook.mab file in Explorer right click it. select properties. Is it read only?;
- if yes change that property.
- If no, move it to your desktop.
Restart Thunderbird.
You should now have a working address book. Even if it is empty.
Unable to load address book file abook.mab. It may be read-only, or locked by another application. Please try again later.
It is not read only and I have no idea what other application might block it. Still no address book and can't access all those saved addresses...
So did you move the file? with Thunderbird closed?
If the answer to that is yes,
- Restart Thunderbird with add-ons disabled (Thunderbird Safe Mode). On the Help menu, click on "Restart with Add-ons Disabled". If Thunderbird works like normal, there is an Add-on or Theme interfering with normal operations. You will need to re-enable add-ons one at a time until you locate the offender.
Still can not load any addresses and still have not got a working address book, old or new. I have been working my way through every suggested fix I can find on line and nothing has made any difference. I was a big fan of Thunderbird but this has just about ended the romance. I have been without a working address book or any saved addresses for almost a year and a half. I have been reluctant to switch to another email program because I kept hoping I could salvage the old addresses (which include the entire mailing list of almost 1000 addresses for our newsletters) but I have lost hope. Thank you for trying to help.
I am not interested in what online fixes you have worked through. There are some 20 million users of Thunderbird. You are the only one in support with a read only address book.
You are the only one I have seen in support that either safe mode of the complete removal of the mab files did not fix. But seriously you have not answered the questions so I am only assuming what you have done.
Did you try safe mode? Did you remove the files from the profile as requested? and I mean remove I said move, but you can delete them.
Please add the troubleshooting information to your post To find the Troubleshooting information:
- Open Help (or click on three-line-icon and select Help)
- Choose Troubleshooting Information
- Use the button Copy to clipboard to select all. Do not check box "Include account names"!
- Paste this in your post.