Computer crashed, need help on how to recover stored emails in old Thunderbird installation.
I have been using Thunderbird on Win7 for years on my Lenovo W530 laptop. Unfortunately it crashed last week and Win7 is gone and I've had to upgrade to Win10. I still my old HDD and it is readable but I've installed a new SSD in my Lenovo.
I now can't boot my old version of Thunderbird and really need all of my saved emails. Is there a way to gain access to all of my saved information? If so, how do I do that? Really appreciate any help.
All Replies (7)
I'm not exactly sure which version of TBird I was using previously but it definitely was several versions back from the latest. I have installed the latest (60.0) on my Win10 installation but I haven't configured it yet. I'm guessing I'll need to move my old profile files from the old to the new installation. But I looked around on my old HDD and wasn't able to find any of those files in the common locations. But maybe I'm just not exactly sure where to look. Again, I can't start the old instance of TBird to have it show me where the profile directory is.
Modified by sealyons
By default Thunderbird stores the profile here: C:\Users\<Windows user name>\AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird\Profiles\<Profile name>\
You may need to make hidden files and folders visible:
- Thunderbird must not be running. So close it if it is running.
On old computer/hardrive
- Locate and copy the 'Thunderbird' folder. It will be in the 'Roaming' folder.
- C:\Users\<Windows user name>\AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird
On new OS hardrive:
- C:\Users\<Windows user name>\AppData\Roaming
- Locate the 'Roaming ' folder
- Paste the copied 'Thunderbird' folder into the 'Roaming' folder.
Note: If you have already installed Thunderbird and run it the first time, it may ask you to create mail account. Do not create mail account. Exit Thunderbird. You may discover a default 'Thunderbird' folder already in the 'Roaming' folder. Delete it and then paste in your copied 'Thunderbird' folder.
Start up Thunderbird.
Problem is I don't have an ..\AppData folder in my old C:\<windows user name> folder. I've certainly been using Thunderbird up until my computer crashed and had tons of saved emails that I need. Again, not sure what version I was using. Could this have been stored somewhere else on an older Thunderbird version?
Modified by sealyons
All the following Windows OS use that location:
- Windows Vista, 7, 8.1 and 10
- C:\Users\<Windows user name>\AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird
The 'Appdata' (Short for 'Application' ) folder is auto hidden by the OS. Appdata folder is used for a load of programs that are not auto installed with Windows.
Have you made files and folders visible?
Windows XP and 2000 used: C:\Documents and Settings\<Windows user name>\Application Data\Thunderbird\
https://support.pointlogic.com/faq/troubleshooting/accessing-the-appdata-folder
I was running Win7 Pro. I'm verifying that I have all hidden files/folders shown.
Thanks. It was hidden. Now I can see the old \AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird folder. I will move it to the new Thunderbird installation.
Modified by sealyons
Awesome! Everything worked! Thank you very much for your help.