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

why did thunderbird find my accounts after a complete os re-install? that was kind of spooky

  • 2 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 4 views
  • Last reply by Digimage

more options

I did a complete OS re-install of Windows 10. Programs and OS are on one drive, all my data files including email are on another. I did save my windows user data to a third hard drive, but I don't remember copying that back for Thunderbird because I wasn't sure I was going to re-install Thunderbird. Thunderbird doesn't save account data online somewhere does it?

I did a complete OS re-install of Windows 10. Programs and OS are on one drive, all my data files including email are on another. I did save my windows user data to a third hard drive, but I don't remember copying that back for Thunderbird because I wasn't sure I was going to re-install Thunderbird. Thunderbird doesn't save account data online somewhere does it?

Chosen solution

Hi I think your question may answer how that happened. Your OS is on one drive. Your emails are on another drive. If the entire "profile" folder for Thunderbird is on the drive that was not reinstalled, all of your profile would be unchanged. That includes emails, account settings and preferences, all saved in the profile. All Thunderbird needs to know is where the profile is. It would normally be in User Data (%appdata%) - not in the same place as the Thunderbird program. I hope that helps?

Read this answer in context 👍 1

All Replies (2)

more options

Chosen Solution

Hi I think your question may answer how that happened. Your OS is on one drive. Your emails are on another drive. If the entire "profile" folder for Thunderbird is on the drive that was not reinstalled, all of your profile would be unchanged. That includes emails, account settings and preferences, all saved in the profile. All Thunderbird needs to know is where the profile is. It would normally be in User Data (%appdata%) - not in the same place as the Thunderbird program. I hope that helps?

more options

Thanks! I think I may have copied the profile over.