I then renamed the new .default profile and copied the Carbonite .default profile, and renamed it appropriately.

You didn't explain what 'renamed it appropriately' means. Basically you do need a new virgin profile. Thunderbird does automatically create one in case none exists. Alternatively you can manually create one using the profile manager. https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/using-multiple-profiles

There is no need to manually set up your existing accounts again. Simply copy the contents of the backed up profile over the new one while Thunderbird is closed.

This did not work.

I opened Profile Manager and created a new profile named benjamin. I closed Profile Manager. .benjmain had one folder times.json I copied the folders and files from my backed up .default folder into .benjamin. I reopened Profile manager. I started Thunderbird with .benjamin It put more than 20 files in .benjamin. Many were JSON files. These were not in the original profile.

Thunderbird opened as if it were a completely new installation, asking me to set up an account.

H E L P ! !

What is the exact path to your newly created profile folder, including the full name?

Please post the contents of your profiles.ini file.

These instructions should do. https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/profiles-tb#w_restoring-a-profile-backup

I noticed when I create a new folder after entering the name that you show the profile directory, but selecting the profile folder that I want seemed to have no effect.

This is a reply to your message of 9:27 am (12:27 EDT)

I have been trying to follow the restoring-a-profile-backup instructions you. cite.

The new profile is at Users\Ben-2010\AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird\Profiles\5xv8mr3n.benjamin

(should be all on line with Ben-2010)

so open Users\Ben-2010\AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird\Profiles\5xv8mr3n.benjamin do you have any .MAB files? do they have the same size and data as the ones from carbonite?

Thanks for our interest.

The folder has abook.mab and history.mab

My Carbonite folder has no .MAB files. Below is what it looks like.

ImapMail Mail webapps cookies.sqlite-shm global-messages-db.sqlite parent.lock plaes.sqlite-shn urclassifier2.sqlite webappstore.sqlite-shm webappstore.sqlite-wal

My Carbonite folder has no .MAB files.

Sounds like Carbonite has only backed up parts of your profile folder. You should check with Carbonite.

If you carbonite backup has no mab files that your address books were not backed up.

MAB==== Mozilla Address Book.

Abook is the personal address book, history is the collected address book and numbered files are others you create.

Yes !! A new restore from Carbonite worked. The prior restore had been done for me by a technician who who remotely took over my computer. Thank you so very much.

Hello my question is this, from you post. I too have a carbonite restore file. All my sub folders are there but nothing has been restored to my Thunderbird? So i read this and wondered if i need to do this??? There is no need to manually set up your existing accounts again. Simply copy the contents of the backed up profile over the new one while Thunderbird is closed. How can this be done?

mikebergyone,

This thread has been marked as 'Solved'. Please start a new thread for your problem. https://support.mozilla.org/questions/new