Thunderbird deletes compacted mails
I've seen this topic again and again. but none of the answers were helpful so far.
I just wanted to check some older mails in my Thunderbird and sadly had to realize, that all mails, older than a few weeks/months were unreadable.
In fact. All mails that were "compacted" are not accessible anymore. I followed the tipps i read, that i should stop Thunderbird, delete the msf-files and start again.
I did so and then had to see, that all compacted mails had actually been deleted.
Is there any way to get those mails back.
Just to answer some questions which will definitally follow beforehand.
Yes. I did compact regularly. But after this incident i turned compacting of today. I can't risk to lose more mails.
Yes a lot of those mails were still in my inbox.
No, none of those mails were in my trash
Yes, my Junkfolder was empty before.
I hope someone will be able to give a solid and helpful answer. So far i mostly read "people need to learn how to maintain their inbox" and this is not a helpful solution if a program accidentally deletes the users data without warning.
Semua Balasan (6)
So far i mostly read "people need to learn how to maintain their inbox"
The most likely reason for data loss is anti-virus software causing mail file corruption. So the correct answer would be "people need to learn how to properly configure their anti-virus software so that it won't mess with Thunderbird mail files."
Is there any way to get those mails back.
Restore them from a backup you create on a regular basis.
christ1 schrieb
So the correct answer would be "people need to learn how to properly configure their anti-virus software so that it won't mess with Thunderbird mail files."
Why did i know the only answer would be an unqualified one?
How do i know it's not the antivirus? Before i already made sure it doesn't automatically quarantine and delete mails in my mail program.
Fortunately i do make regular backups. I'm currently trying to bring back the files.
The problem can clearly be tracked back to the "compacting"-function which deletes instead of actually compacting. The size of my inbox-file was 400 Mb (thanks to attachments) 3 months ago. After "compacting" it shrinks down to 20MB, deleting all the attachments and mails.
Instead of blaming the users on "not handling the software correctly" programmers should actually make sure that the software doesn't need a special handling.
I found my solution. I simply disable to compacting-function and keep working with my programm, moving important mails into different folders and keep doing backups.
But not every user has the knowledge how to do this and frankly put. This issue seems to exist for YEARS now. Just trying to put the blame on "stupid users" is extremely unprofessional and self-rightious. Especially if the problem even occurs to people who've been working in IT for decades.
Maybe if you learned what Compacting does in Thunderbird you could understand.
http://kb.mozillazine.org/Thunderbird_:_Tips_:_Compacting_Folders
Because users like you that just stop maintaining their folders are the ones here complaining about losing data. Personally I maintain my folders and have never lost anything. But I understand that compacting deletes files and does not zip them up to make them smaller. And I worked in IT for 31 years so what,s your point?
I found my solution. I simply disable to compacting-function
Apparently you know better. Good luck with that.
Airmail said
so what,s your point?
My point is, that you guys treat people searching for help like idiots because they assumed, that the term "compact" means "making smaller" instead of "Deleting stuff".
Stop blaming people if the company is unable to use the correct terms.
You are right. We live in a time when no one takes responsibility for their own destiny. It is always someone else's fault. .
You do realize that you guys" are Thunderbird users that volunteer their time to try and help those that do not want to make the effort to learn how the program works. They just want to use it for free and complain. Well, your welcome.