Will my emails be deleted after completing a Windows "refresh"?
My laptop, which is running Windows 8.1, recently wouldn't boot up properly due to an error and after much agony it finally gave me the option of "refreshing" Windows without deleting my files but unfortunately all programs/apps which I've installed will be deleted including Thunderbird.
My question is will all my emails also be deleted along with Thunderbird or are they considered to be files, meaning Windows won't dispose of them and they'll be restored once I install Thunderbird again? I have no way of backing them up as the laptop only boots up as far as recovery options so I'd like to know before I go ahead with the refresh.
Thanks
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My personal understanding is that personal files are those that are created by applications, such as documents, photos, and videos. But I've never done a refresh and cannot speak from experience.
david said
My personal understanding is that personal files are those that are created by applications, such as documents, photos, and videos. But I've never done a refresh and cannot speak from experience.
Thanks. After making this thread, a related thread on the right hand side from a few years ago asking the same question seems to have answered my question - https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1088997
I'll give it a go and report back.
Thunderbird profile data is stored in appdata, a hidden windows folder. It is not backed up or specifically saved when a windows reinstall occurs, although this hidden folder is sometime saved in a windows.old folder on the hard disk.
It will be difficult to access unless you know about the file system and are comfortable working with it even if it is saved. Personally I recommend you proceed as if the data will be erased and make appropriate backups before you risk loosing everything.