Can't Copy Archive To New Machine
I used to run Thunderbird on a Windows 10 machine but I have now acquired a Windows 11 box. I tried to port my Thunderbird installation to the new computer by copying folders as recommended on the Web. I was partially successful. I can send and receive emails and my address book seems to be intact, but I lost one connection and most of the messages in the inbox for my main connection. I have lost all my starred and tagged messages and most of my sent and deleted emails. Disturbingly, the archive folder (which has many subfolders) for my main connection was not copied across. Can anyone tell me how to take a copy of an archive folder from the old machine and insert it in the corresponding position in the new one? Alan.
All Replies (3)
Maybe I'm misunderstanding, but moving thunderbird by copying folders isn't the general approach. Instead we recommend copying the profile.
Here is the link for moving a profile in Windows when installed in default location:
https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/moving-thunderbird-data-to-a-new-computer
here is the info in brief steps:
- ensure thunderbird is NOT running on old machine
- enter %appdata% in search window on task bar and press Enter key
- this should open windows file explorer in Appdata\roaming folder
- highlight the Thunderbird folder and copy to external media
- ensure thunderbird is installed on second computer and NOT running
- enter %appdata% in search window on task bar and press Enter key
- you should be in Appdata\roaming folder , copy&paste the exported Thunderbird folder there. This may prompt to overwrite an existing folder of same name. allow it
- start thunderbird and all should be there
David, Thanks for your reply. I'm sorry to respond so slowly, I didn't have a notification that you had posted. I followed your instructions exactly and my archives are still missing. I'm fresh out of ideas, Alan.
@Alan If you still have access to your Win 10 machine open TB and verify where your "Archive" folder tree is located. In some account? In the Local Folders? Did you outsource part of the Thunderbird profile, e. g. the Local Folders?
Modified by Mapenzi
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