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Best method to selectively export/import some folders/files - Thunderbird & Windows 11

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  • Last reply by Matt

Thunderbird User
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Got a new Windows 11 PC -- and needed to move Thunderbird from old Windows 10.

Initially used MozBackUp - which I know is a very old program and not really any longer supported -- but it had always continued to work as recent as about a year ago when a similar transfer had to be made - transferring everything.

However this time (5-22) MozBackUp did not transfer everything. There are some folders/emails that did not properly transfer. Unfortunately the fact everything did not transfer was not immediately noticed -- and the computer user began to use the new Thunderbird install on the new Windows 11 --- gathering new emails/contacts. This means that it is not practical to delete this entire Thunderbird installation and use some alternative method to MozBackUp to try and move Thunderbird and get all files to move.

I've looked into using the add on - 'ImportExportToolsNG' to see if it might be able to selectively export files that never moved the first try - and import them into the new Windows 11 Thunderbird -- but the how-to info is confusing about proper file types to export and be sure they will import and be readable within Thunderbird.

Are there any really good explanation videos/instruction for 'ImportExportToolsNG' that are not old and outdated which cover the type of thing I need -- which is to selectively export and import only certain folders/files?

Or is there another method to handle this better that I am not aware of?

Got a new Windows 11 PC -- and needed to move Thunderbird from old Windows 10. Initially used MozBackUp - which I know is a very old program and not really any longer supported -- but it had always continued to work as recent as about a year ago when a similar transfer had to be made - transferring everything. However this time (5-22) MozBackUp did not transfer everything. There are some folders/emails that did not properly transfer. Unfortunately the fact everything did not transfer was not immediately noticed -- and the computer user began to use the new Thunderbird install on the new Windows 11 --- gathering new emails/contacts. This means that it is not practical to delete this entire Thunderbird installation and use some alternative method to MozBackUp to try and move Thunderbird and get all files to move. I've looked into using the add on - 'ImportExportToolsNG' to see if it might be able to selectively export files that never moved the first try - and import them into the new Windows 11 Thunderbird -- but the how-to info is confusing about proper file types to export and be sure they will import and be readable within Thunderbird. Are there any really good explanation videos/instruction for 'ImportExportToolsNG' that are not old and outdated which cover the type of thing I need -- which is to selectively export and import only certain folders/files? Or is there another method to handle this better that I am not aware of?

All Replies (3)

Matt
Matt
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You are asking for support to do the unsupported, now your asking someone to guess what was and was not messed up and help you.

That is all well and good, but I could write a book about Thunderbird storage and idiosyncrasies and still not cover what exactly your issue is because you really have not said. Starting with what is missing? Were these blocks of email in folders? Individual emails? Whole folders? Where the accounts they existed in IMAP or POP?

If you have issues this the addon documentation that is something you should address with the addon author. Personally I really do not have any issue with right clicking a folder and selecting export folder and pointing it to a destination to export.

Thunderbird User
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That reply from some guy named Matt feels mean spirited --- seriously -- if you can not help - why even reply ......

Matt
Matt
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Thunderbird User said
That reply from some guy named Matt feels mean spirited --- seriously -- if you can not help - why even reply ......

You have failed to actually say what the problem is. But I am mean spirited.

Bye, hopefully you can find someone that can answer you with a best guess. Me I want to know what is missing and why that would be so.