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System failure has left me with no access to the profile on my old PC. I have the data files, but cannot see how to load these into the program on the new PC

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  • Last reply by bloke557

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I had a system failure on my computer. I obtained a new PC, and installed Thunderbird, but I cannot access the profile on the old one. I took the C drive from that machine and plugged it in to the new one through a usb dock, but windows 10 will not read the disk. It says the parameter is wrong... Anyway, I have the program, and I have a backup copy of all the data files. I had assumed that this would enable to program to access my email history, not knowing anything about profiles.

Is there any way I can progress from this point? Everything that I can find in here comes back to copying the profile, which is not possible. I have a huge number of important emails stored on there, going back for several years. I had first installed Thunderbird because it was the first program I found which could read and import my years of emails from Eudora...

Please tell me that I am not completely screwed here...

I had a system failure on my computer. I obtained a new PC, and installed Thunderbird, but I cannot access the profile on the old one. I took the C drive from that machine and plugged it in to the new one through a usb dock, but windows 10 will not read the disk. It says the parameter is wrong... Anyway, I have the program, and I have a backup copy of all the data files. I had assumed that this would enable to program to access my email history, not knowing anything about profiles. Is there any way I can progress from this point? Everything that I can find in here comes back to copying the profile, which is not possible. I have a huge number of important emails stored on there, going back for several years. I had first installed Thunderbird because it was the first program I found which could read and import my years of emails from Eudora... Please tell me that I am not completely screwed here...

Chosen solution

I'd go to Tools|Security|Passwords>Saved Passwords and remove any duplicates, or remove all the stored passwords and be prepared to enter them once again first time they are needed.

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Make sure Windows is set to show hidden files and folders: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/14201/windows-show-hidden-files

In your backup, can you find this folder or any Thunderbird folders:

C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird\Profiles

The backup might not show C: as the drive.

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Sorry for the delay... I actually managed to read the old drive, so I followed the instructions for copying the profile across. This gave me access to all my old files *but* it lost the ability to connect. Each time I say to check mail, I have to input the password for both accounts, despite checking the 'use password manager to store' button. I add the password, but the program still doesn't connect, or give any messages as to why not. I have been trying to set up an alternative client, since any responses to this would not have been available to me... I was going to reinstall Thunderbird, to at least get back to where I was this morning, but I cannot find the install program... Basically, I am up the well-known creek, with no sign of a paddle! I don't know if this rambling means anything to you or not... I have the program accessing the original profile, but it is unable to access emails at all..

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Chosen Solution

I'd go to Tools|Security|Passwords>Saved Passwords and remove any duplicates, or remove all the stored passwords and be prepared to enter them once again first time they are needed.

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Ok, thank you guys! It was a combination of all this stuff I think. But, as of this moment I have thunderbird running as my default email, *and* I have all of my back emails and settings, filters, etc.

This has been a major panic situation, trust me.