Email settings corrupted - how do I move/copy JUST SAVED EMAILS AND CONTACTS to a new computer?
When starting Thunderbird on my existing computer, I get all kinds of crazy/repeated/incorrect/partially filled in passwords login attempts - REALLY annoying! - was never able to fix. I just got a new computer and want to set up Thunderbird with a clean profile but migrate my thousands of existing emails (and contacts) without getting those existing email account settings as well. In fact, I have no plans to include all of the existing email accounts on new computer, just a couple. How do I do this? Really don't want to mess up the new computer!
Thank you in advance!
All Replies (5)
I will assume the emails to sae are from POP account. If not, more info may be needed. Here is my recommendation. - assuming Windows, copy this from OLD PC:
c:\users\<yourID>\appdata\roaming\thunderbird to a USB stick while Thunderbird is NOT running.
- install Thunderbird on new PC - copy the usb stick to new PC in same location (although userid may be different. This will overwrite some files which is intended. - now start thunderbird and it should immediately recognize the profile. NOW, delete the unwanted accounts. (deleting unwanted accounts AFTER the move is easier because that is the easiest way to ensure the copying of email messages and addressbook)
Thanks, David, for the prompt response; however, deleting the accounts that I don't plan on activating on the new computer does not solve my problem. All of my email accounts are popping up messed up login/password windows (pre-populating even though I do not have the passwords checked as saved; partially filling in passwords, popping up email accounts that I don't want to log into, plus the Goggle OA2(?) issue message). Have had Thunderbird for years with no problem - these issues started sometime early this year (?) and I did not have password windows opening, before these issues start, until I clicked on Get Mail. Have no idea how it got so messed up. Hence, this is why I am reluctant to transfer my existing profile to my new computer.
I want to set up my two main email account, from scratch, on the new computer, then copy over just my emails (preferably ALL emails as I may active one or more of the other email accounts in the future). I also like to copy over my contacts (I don't use the calendar). By any chance are the emails and contacts stored in their own specific folders?
P.S. I'm not particularly computer savvy, so I may not have explained this issue very well.
I gave you the easiest approach. Copying addressbook and email folders is a touch more complex.
I followed your instructions but the new computer/thunderbird app did not recognize the old profile upon startup. So I recreated one of my email accounts through the initial setup but its defaulting to one of the two profiles created when the new Thunderbird was installed. I tried changing the default to the new (old original) profile but I am only getting the emails still on the server and none of the old emails or any contacts. Am I missing a step?