can you do a screenprint of the profile folder contents? Was the backup created while thunderbird was running?

Not sure this is what you are looking for. I copied this with Thunderbird running. Did you mean this profile or one taken when I ran the backup? Thunderbird would not be running when I took the backup.

[InstallD78BF5DD33499EC2] Default=Profiles/jb1w6eta.default-esr Locked=1

[Profile1] Name=default IsRelative=1 Path=Profiles/ob5lv2co.default Default=1

[Profile0] Name=default-esr IsRelative=1 Path=Profiles/jb1w6eta.default-esr

[General] StartWithLastProfile=1 Version=2

Your screenprint shows two profiles, but your post indicates the desired profile is named jb1w6eta-sdr, which is not shown. Try a screenprint of the contents of the desired profile. Also if the lost messages were in the IMAP account, they will repopulate.

David, I am not sure where you got the profile jb1w6eta-sdr from. One thing I have not tried is a procedure I was given a couple of years ago when I had a different problem but still wanted to restore stuff. Here is what I was told to try:- First I should restore Thunderbird to the version which generated a profile with all the data there.

Exit Thunderbird Win key + R %appdata% OK Opens in Roaming Delete Thunderbird folder Go back to Roaming Copy and Paste from Backup folder Thunderbird into Roaming Start Thunderbird Update Thunderbird to current version.

If this fairly simple procedure would work I have a some of questions:- Do I need to uninstall the current version of Thunderbird? How do I download the version I want? I could not see where to do this in Mozilla. Once that version is installed and I carry out the above procedure, do I then download the latest version of Thunderbird and all should be well? Thanks for any help

Yes, those are the steps. And I got that profile name from your initial post. And 128.6.1 is sufficiently similar to 128.7.1 that it is not an issue. Do not uninstall. Here is a summary of the steps:

Here is the link for moving a profile in Windows when installed in default location:

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/moving-thunderbird-data-to-a-new-computer

here is the info in brief steps:

1. ensure thunderbird is NOT running on old machine
2. enter %appdata% in search window on task bar and press Enter key
3. this should open windows file explorer in Appdata\roaming folder
4. highlight the Thunderbird folder and copy to external media
5. ensure thunderbird is installed on second computer and NOT running
6. enter %appdata% in search window on task bar and press Enter key
7. you should be in Appdata\roaming folder , copy&paste the exported Thunderbird folder there. This may prompt to overwrite an existing folder of same name. allow it
8. start thunderbird and all should be there

Are all your folders and emails visible when you logon to webmail account via a browser ? If yes, then in Folder Pane:

• Right click on the mail account name folder and select 'Subscribe'
• Click on 'REfresh'
• Select folders and click on 'Subscribe'.
• Click on 'OK'

If emails not visible in webmail account then you cannot simply import to replace the imap account because as soon as you start Thunderbird, it can only show whatever is on server and therefore will remove anything you imported.

That means you need to import into the 'Local Folders' account and then 'Copy' batches of emails back into the relevant imap account folders.

It's easier to do this by using an addon called 'ImportExportTools NG' https://addons.thunderbird.net/en-us/thunderbird/addon/importexporttools-ng/

How to install an addon: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/installing-addon-thunderbird

Once you have the addon installed.... In 'Local Folders' Create a new folder to receive emails. Right click on new folder and select: ImportExportTools NG > Import mbox files > All mbox files from directory (with sbd structure) Then locate the backup folder called 'imap.virginmedia.com' and select it Click on 'Select Folder' All mbox files will get imported into the new folder you created.

At this point either leave emails where they are OR you can gradually get all emails back into the imap account and onto the server. Select batches of emails > right click on selected emails and select 'Copy to' and select the imap account folder where you want them copied to. This will then put emails back onto the server. It may take a while as the server may have limits on how many emails can be uploaded in a given period.

Hi guys, Tried the easy solution suggested by David. As Toad-Hall pointed out, since the folders were not showing, this solution did not work. Looks like I will have to try the other, more complicated and time consuming way. Will post once I have tried the procedure. In the meantime thanks for your help.