How can I start out with my profile in a different location before downloading any mail when I install Thunderbird?
I have not installed Thunderbird on my MacBook yet, and I want my mail to be stored on an external drive. I don't want the mail to be downloaded to the internal drive when I first set up the program. I want to install Thunderbird and then immediately relocate my profile so the mail goes to the external drive. I read that by default, when you first start Thunderbird, it will check for messages. I would like that to be disabled the very first time it runs.
Is there some installation procedure that would prevent the initial downloading of mail until I have moved my profile?
Chosen solution
It can only check for messages if it has accounts set up. So straight after installing it can't download messages, but will ask you to set up an account. At this point I'd exit and restart, but using the command line switch for the profile manager, where you can select the location of your profile.
I don't know much about macs. Is it possible for you to guarantee that the external drive will always have the same identifier? (like C: in Windows, or /dev/sba in Linux.) You'll need to enter an absolute pathname when telling Thunderbird where to look for its profile, and this is doomed to failure if it isn't persistent.
Read this answer in context 👍 1All Replies (3)
Chosen Solution
It can only check for messages if it has accounts set up. So straight after installing it can't download messages, but will ask you to set up an account. At this point I'd exit and restart, but using the command line switch for the profile manager, where you can select the location of your profile.
I don't know much about macs. Is it possible for you to guarantee that the external drive will always have the same identifier? (like C: in Windows, or /dev/sba in Linux.) You'll need to enter an absolute pathname when telling Thunderbird where to look for its profile, and this is doomed to failure if it isn't persistent.
Thank you for your reply. I was interpreting the instructions for setting up an account as if it had to happen as part of the installation procedure, but I see that I may be able to put it off. I will try this when I have enough time.
Apparently, on a Mac, you start the path with
/Volumes/
followed by the name of the disk you want to use. After that, there may be some more characters that need to be appended to indicate where the profile should go. I will check to look for more information about indicating the profile location.