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

This thread was archived. Please ask a new question if you need help.

Migration of Thunderbird

  • 3 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 6 views
  • Last reply by sfhowes

David Green
David Green
more options

My PC with Thunderbird installed and running shut down suddenly as a result of a fire on the motherboard. I was able to recover the hard drive and copy most of my files etc to a new machine. I followed the instructions for transferring the thunderbird profiles from the hard disc to my new machine.

Although the transferred profiles on the new machine appear to contain folders and emails, they will not load into the programme and the thunderbird display remains devoid of any user data. I then tried to do the transfer using MosBackup. This told me that the profile was damaged.

I know that migration should take place with thunderbird shut down, but unfortunately the shut down of the old machine was sudden and catastrophic and did not shut down thunderbird in a planned way.

Please can anyone help.

My PC with Thunderbird installed and running shut down suddenly as a result of a fire on the motherboard. I was able to recover the hard drive and copy most of my files etc to a new machine. I followed the instructions for transferring the thunderbird profiles from the hard disc to my new machine. Although the transferred profiles on the new machine appear to contain folders and emails, they will not load into the programme and the thunderbird display remains devoid of any user data. I then tried to do the transfer using MosBackup. This told me that the profile was damaged. I know that migration should take place with thunderbird shut down, but unfortunately the shut down of the old machine was sudden and catastrophic and did not shut down thunderbird in a planned way. Please can anyone help.

Chosen solution

The sudden shutdown may have corrupted the file that registers all the accounts, prefs.js. Look in the profile folder for prefs-1.js, prefs-2.js.... files. Rename the current prefs.js to prefs.bak, then rename the newest prefs-N.js to prefs.js, start TB, and see if the accounts and folders appear.

http://kb.mozillazine.org/Recovering_a_profile_that_suddenly_disappeared#Corrupt_or_empty_prefs.js

Read this answer in context 👍 1

All Replies (3)

Matt
Matt
  • Moderator
  • Top 10 Contributor
more options

try deleting the global index database https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/rebuilding-global-database

David Green
David Green Question owner
more options

Thanks Matt, alas the solution did not work. The installed profile appears to contain all folders and files such as "Mail" and its sub folders such as "Local Folders" however none of the profile information appears in the open thunderbird page. The profile is clearly shown as "default" In Profile Manager.

sfhowes
sfhowes
  • Top 10 Contributor
more options

Chosen Solution

The sudden shutdown may have corrupted the file that registers all the accounts, prefs.js. Look in the profile folder for prefs-1.js, prefs-2.js.... files. Rename the current prefs.js to prefs.bak, then rename the newest prefs-N.js to prefs.js, start TB, and see if the accounts and folders appear.

http://kb.mozillazine.org/Recovering_a_profile_that_suddenly_disappeared#Corrupt_or_empty_prefs.js