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computer crashed; migration?

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  • Last reply by Fabio

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My computer crashed and when I launched Thunderbird it came up with opening screen (Set up an existing account). I'm hoping the data and setting are still there. Is there a way to bypass the new account and get to old email?

Or since I'm setting up a new computer can I just follow directions in "Moving Thunderbird to a New Computer"?

My computer crashed and when I launched Thunderbird it came up with opening screen (Set up an existing account). I'm hoping the data and setting are still there. Is there a way to bypass the new account and get to old email? Or since I'm setting up a new computer can I just follow directions in "Moving Thunderbird to a New Computer"?

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hi GuruBesar, too bad that your computer crashed, I know it's a pain to restart all over again, let me start trying to help you. I need know which operating system ("OS") you use in order for me to be more specific, but in general

  • depending what type of crash your data (eg "Profile, se below) may or may not still be there. If you have a backup you could pick it up from there,
  • have a look if you still have your "Profile", this is where I need have your OS, there are many articles describing the location of the "Profile", have a look at this Knowledge Base article (NB! primarily aimed at Linux) Profiles - Where Thunderbird stores your messages and other user data or this article in MozillaZine which gives you directions for other operating systems Profile folder - Thunderbird,
  • if the data eg the Profile is still there you could use the Profile Manager to set Thunderbird to use it (even though it does not find it at start up) by following this Knowledge Base Article Use multiple profiles in Thunderbird
  • depending the type of server solution you were using, eg. either IMAP (emails are kept on the server and a copy downloaded to your computer) or POP (emails are downloaded to your computer, removed from the server), so if you had an IMAP account you can still retrieve your emails,
  • to set up a new "Profile" is quite easily done and you basically only need know your email address and your password with the use of the Automatic Account Configuration Automatic Account Configuration, be sure to have IMAP set as your server type

So again and finally FIRST look for whether your data is still there (eg search for the "Profile") and if there "re-instate" it by using the Profile Manager, and SECOND if no data found, hopefully you can still retrieve your emails by simply setting up an account (Profile) with the use of the Automatic Account Configuration. And lastly if the Automatic Account Configuration "fails" and you need manually set some parameters, happy to support.

All the best from Stockholm.