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emails in just my inbox are listed but I can't read them after compact and fix file

wlcraig
wlcraig
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Thunderbird periodically request to compact my emails. I generally do the compact when requested. The last time I did a compact the emails in my inbox were still listed in the message list header pane but when I tried to go back and read them, they were either blank or a whole bunch of alphanumeric characters were displayed. The emails in my send file were not affected and none of the emails in my other various folders were affected. Searching around on this forum I found that selecting the inbox folder and then properties->repair may be the answer, but it just wiped out the recent inbox emails. The emails that had come in after the compact process. All new emails that come in are readable and I can see them in the message pane. I hope you can help. Thank you

I am using windows 10 Edition Windows 10 Pro Version 22H2 Installed on ‎8/‎24/‎2020 OS build 19045.4780 Experience Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.19060.1000.0

Thunderbird version 128.1.1esr (32-bit)

Thunderbird periodically request to compact my emails. I generally do the compact when requested. The last time I did a compact the emails in my inbox were still listed in the message list header pane but when I tried to go back and read them, they were either blank or a whole bunch of alphanumeric characters were displayed. The emails in my send file were not affected and none of the emails in my other various folders were affected. Searching around on this forum I found that selecting the inbox folder and then properties->repair may be the answer, but it just wiped out the recent inbox emails. The emails that had come in after the compact process. All new emails that come in are readable and I can see them in the message pane. I hope you can help. Thank you I am using windows 10 Edition Windows 10 Pro Version 22H2 Installed on ‎8/‎24/‎2020 OS build 19045.4780 Experience Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.19060.1000.0 Thunderbird version 128.1.1esr (32-bit)

All Replies (5)

Wayne Mery
Wayne Mery
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right click on the inbox > properties. what is the size?

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wlcraig
wlcraig Question owner
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Says 4GB. I am guessing that since Thunderbird is a 32 bit program it can only access 2^32 = 4 GB and so I am stuck. Thoughts??

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Wayne Mery
Wayne Mery
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wlcraig said
Says 4GB. I am guessing that since Thunderbird is a 32 bit program it can only access 2^32 = 4 GB and so I am stuck. Thoughts??

The 32bit program can handle >4gb files. The problem is prior to 128.1.1 it had a bug where compact truncated the file.

Do you have a backup of the file?

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wlcraig
wlcraig Question owner
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Hello Wayne, Thanks very much for taking the time to respond. Unfortunately, I don't have a backup so I may be just out of luck. Thunderbird is again asking to compact my emails and I am a bit frightened to do so.

What do you think my best way forward should be?

Thanks again Bill

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Wayne Mery
Wayne Mery
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https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/profiles-where-thunderbird-stores-user-data#w_backing-up-a-profile describes how to backup a profile.

If you are running 128.1.1 then doing your compact should be fine.

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