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Renamed folder and all emails in that folder are gone

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  • Last reply by Tania Tyler

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Hi. I renamed a folder and stupidly used a special character (I think that's what caused the problem). The folder is now empty. Seeing an old reply on the forum, I looked in the file list and see that the data seems to still be there but I don't know how to get it back. I've added an image of the directory. It was called .HOLD and I changed it to .Check Here -> HOLD. I changed it back to .HOLD to see if that would help but it didn't. I closed and restarted Thunderbird and that didn't help either.

Thank you for any help.

Hi. I renamed a folder and stupidly used a special character (I think that's what caused the problem). The folder is now empty. Seeing an old reply on the forum, I looked in the file list and see that the data seems to still be there but I don't know how to get it back. I've added an image of the directory. It was called .HOLD and I changed it to .Check Here -> HOLD. I changed it back to .HOLD to see if that would help but it didn't. I closed and restarted Thunderbird and that didn't help either. Thank you for any help.
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Chosen solution

re :And the file name is now this in the inbox.sbd folder: .Check Here - 512ea649

A Dot - period mark is used to denote that what comes after it is file type, so may be misunderstood.

  • Exit Thunderbird - this is important because you cannot edit anything in the profile because it's in use.
  • Access the profile as per image
  • Manually edit the file called: .Check Here - 572ea649
  • Remove the dot/period so it's now called: Check Here - 572ea649
  • Delete the index file called: .Check Here - 572ea649.msf

The folder called 63259598 if it is empty then delete it. Normally you would expect that folder to have a.sbd extension and also see a file (no extension) of same name in the list below. Normally, that 63259598.sbd would then display the subfolders. But you say it's empty.

When you a folder with a .sbd extension, it means that folder contains subfolders - more mbox files and index files. You can only see emails in that *.sbd folder if there is an mbox text file of same name in the list. Example: The image shows a mbox file called 14fd3587 which is allowing you to see all the subfolders located in the 14fd3587.sbd folder.

Restart Thunderbird The index file should get recreated and you should see a folder called: Check Here - 572ea649

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I would remove the period and just name it HOLD. delete the msf as thunderbird will recreate it. Do this while thunderbird isn't running.

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This is what is under .HOLD folder properties: /AppData/Roaming/Thunderbird/Profiles/0xv7fail.default/Mail/mail.server297.com/Inbox.sbd/63259598/

That folder /63259598/ is empty. And the file name is now this in the inbox.sbd folder: .Check Here - 512ea649

I'm assuming something has to be done with these? Do I change the .HOLD folder property to remove the /63259598/ and rename the file to .HOLD?

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Chosen Solution

re :And the file name is now this in the inbox.sbd folder: .Check Here - 512ea649

A Dot - period mark is used to denote that what comes after it is file type, so may be misunderstood.

  • Exit Thunderbird - this is important because you cannot edit anything in the profile because it's in use.
  • Access the profile as per image
  • Manually edit the file called: .Check Here - 572ea649
  • Remove the dot/period so it's now called: Check Here - 572ea649
  • Delete the index file called: .Check Here - 572ea649.msf

The folder called 63259598 if it is empty then delete it. Normally you would expect that folder to have a.sbd extension and also see a file (no extension) of same name in the list below. Normally, that 63259598.sbd would then display the subfolders. But you say it's empty.

When you a folder with a .sbd extension, it means that folder contains subfolders - more mbox files and index files. You can only see emails in that *.sbd folder if there is an mbox text file of same name in the list. Example: The image shows a mbox file called 14fd3587 which is allowing you to see all the subfolders located in the 14fd3587.sbd folder.

Restart Thunderbird The index file should get recreated and you should see a folder called: Check Here - 572ea649

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Thank you so much! That worked.

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