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

Lolu chungechunge lwabekwa kunqolobane. Uyacelwa ubuze umbuzo omusha uma udinga usizo.

I am unable to open emails saved on thumb drive.

  • 2 uphendule
  • 1 inale nkinga
  • 20 views
  • Igcine ukuphendulwa ngu sfhowes

rbtcolquhoun
rbtcolquhoun
more options

I copied Thunderbird email files to a thumb drive: E:\Thunderbird\Profiles\rhq5i75f.default\Mail\Local Folders

When I attempt to open a local file, I get the message "How do you want to open this file?" Thunderbird is not an option. Then below it reads: "Look for another App on this PC" When I type in "Thunderbird" it reads Open with... Thunderbird File not found Check the file name and try again.

I did install Thunderbird Portable to the same thumb drive, but the pathway must be incorrect to read files.

I am just trying to confirm that the profile was copied correctly, and that I will be able delete the old emails on my PC without having to worry about the safety of the archived emails on the thumb drive.

Is there a particular file "reader" app that I should use to open these kind of files? How do I tell my PC/device that when I insert this thumb drive, it should open the local files and folders the same way it works on the home PC?


Thanks for your assistance, Robert C.

I copied Thunderbird email files to a thumb drive: E:\Thunderbird\Profiles\rhq5i75f.default\Mail\Local Folders When I attempt to open a local file, I get the message "How do you want to open this file?" Thunderbird is not an option. Then below it reads: "Look for another App on this PC" When I type in "Thunderbird" it reads Open with... Thunderbird File not found Check the file name and try again. I did install Thunderbird Portable to the same thumb drive, but the pathway must be incorrect to read files. I am just trying to confirm that the profile was copied correctly, and that I will be able delete the old emails on my PC without having to worry about the safety of the archived emails on the thumb drive. Is there a particular file "reader" app that I should use to open these kind of files? How do I tell my PC/device that when I insert this thumb drive, it should open the local files and folders the same way it works on the home PC? Thanks for your assistance, Robert C.

All Replies (2)

david
david
  • Top 10 Contributor
more options

from TB, click help>more troubleshooting information. scroll down to 'profiles' and click about:profiles. At top of window click 'create new profile' and from there, browse to and select the profile on USB drive and give it a meaningful name to profile manager, e.g. USBprofile and continue to tb. if everything works, then you know the profile is good. you can repeat the help>more trouble shooting information steps, if desired to reconnect with prior profile, but that didn't seem your intent - but you could, if desired.

sfhowes
sfhowes
  • Top 10 Contributor
more options

What kind of file did you try to open in Local Folders? Mail is usually stored in mbox files, as one file per mail folder (mbox files have no extension and are named after folders). Such files cannot be 'opened' in TB the same way an eml file for an individual message can be opened. They can be imported to TB by copying them into the Mail/Local Folders location of an active TB profile, while TB is closed. When TB restarts, the folders should appear under Local Folders in the Folder Pane.