This site will have limited functionality while we undergo maintenance to improve your experience. If an article doesn't solve your issue and you want to ask a question, we have our support community waiting to help you at @FirefoxSupport on Twitter and/r/firefox on Reddit.

Avatar for Username

Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

Èròjà atẹ̀lélànà yii ni a ti fi pamọ́ fọ́jọ́ pípẹ́. Jọ̀wọ́ béèrè ìbéèrè titun bí o bá nílò ìrànwọ́.

Need to recover Folders from Inbox from failed IMAP Server

  • 2 àwọn èsì
  • 1 ní ìṣòro yìí
  • 6 views
  • Èsì tí ó kẹ́hìn lọ́wọ́ bmaloneco

bmaloneco
bmaloneco
more options

Hi, An IMAP server failed and I have a backup of the folders from the Inbox that I need to restore. I cannot use the backup and restore feature because I cannot run an export and subsequent import. The profile has changed as a new server was rebuilt and put into place the original files which were restored on the server from the back up files. Now the folders show as unavailable (greyed out) in the inbox in Thunderbird and have no emails in them.

There is a backup of the folders/files from the profile for the inbox only. There are only current profile files from the current updated server. When Thunderbird connects the profile obviously syncs to the new IMAP server with no emails.

Does someone have a method to either import or reload these files?

Bill

Hi, An IMAP server failed and I have a backup of the folders from the Inbox that I need to restore. I cannot use the backup and restore feature because I cannot run an export and subsequent import. The profile has changed as a new server was rebuilt and put into place the original files which were restored on the server from the back up files. Now the folders show as unavailable (greyed out) in the inbox in Thunderbird and have no emails in them. There is a backup of the folders/files from the profile for the inbox only. There are only current profile files from the current updated server. When Thunderbird connects the profile obviously syncs to the new IMAP server with no emails. Does someone have a method to either import or reload these files? Bill

All Replies (2)

Matt
Matt
  • Moderator
  • Top 10 Contributor
more options

I suggest you revert things to a point where your folders are not in your current profile at all. It may be that the new server simply does not support folders hanging off the inbox. Or it requires then there and only there. the locations of folders under IMAP is entirely based on the server configuration.

Then once you have the folders outside Thunderbird install this add-on https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/thunderbird/addon/importexporttools/

Create a folder in "Local Folders" and import the information using the add-on. If the files are native Thunderbird use the mbox import methods.

bmaloneco
bmaloneco Ìbéèrè olóhun
more options

Hi Matt, thanks for the suggestions, unfortunately, there is no way to revert back to where I was. I have recovered from these folders in the past. I even moved these files folders, when the pc client was offline and before connecting back to the server, into local folders and created a new account on a fresh machine with the attempt to install the folders with no success. Once there is a sync with the server, these old folders/files disappear.

Also, I am familiar with the Import/Export tools and initially ran this application but unfortunately, it wasn't successful.

I was finally able to restore from a backup off the server. Once I returned to the correct user permissions I was able to recover everything. This system uses Dovecot and is similar to the mbox storage method. The key was a precise return to the exact old folders.

Thanks, Bill