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Moving thunderbird data to a new computer WHEN SERVER IS DOWN

  • 4 replies
  • 0 have this problem
  • 8 views
  • Last reply by david

itzdoom
itzdoom
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Hello.

I've followed the steps in this article with no luck: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/moving-thunderbird-data-to-a-new-computer

I want to move the thunderbird data (emails) to a new computer. I copied the "Thunderbird" folder when the mail server was still alive. Now that the server is down (and it no longer exists), I've pasted that folder to a new computer. When I restart Thunderbird, I can see the messages in the inbox but after a minute or so, it all disappears and I cannot see the emails anymore.

I think this happens after Thunderbird tries to connect to the server requesting for more emails but the server is down so it receives a "timeout" error.

Is there a way to disable this request to the server and/or what should I do in order to view the emails?? Any help would be much appreciated.

Thank you very much in advance

Hello. I've followed the steps in this article with no luck: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/moving-thunderbird-data-to-a-new-computer I want to move the thunderbird data (emails) to a new computer. I copied the "Thunderbird" folder when the mail server was still alive. Now that the server is down (and it no longer exists), I've pasted that folder to a new computer. When I restart Thunderbird, I can see the messages in the inbox but after a minute or so, it all disappears and I cannot see the emails anymore. I think this happens after Thunderbird tries to connect to the server requesting for more emails but the server is down so it receives a "timeout" error. Is there a way to disable this request to the server and/or what should I do in order to view the emails?? Any help would be much appreciated. Thank you very much in advance

All Replies (4)

david
david
  • Top 10 Contributor
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I suggest, when thunderbird is not running, to copy the folders from the account to Local Folders. You can get there by starting thunderbird, clicking help>moretroubleshootinginformation, scroll down to 'profile folder', click 'open folder', and exit thunderbird. Those steps leave you in the profile. Assuming your account is POP, click the Mail folder, and then the account folder. You should see the folders there, eg, Inbox, sent, etc. COPY them and place in Mail\Local Folders area. then restart thunderbird and you should see them in local folders. If all goes well, you can then delete the old account.

itzdoom
itzdoom Question owner
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Thank you very much for your quick response, David :))

Unfortunately, I couldn't make it work. There is a Mail folder and, at the same level, an ImapMail (so I guess it's not a POP account but and IMAP one). Inside Mail folder there is only a "Local Folders" folder. There are several folders inside the ImapMail folder and I've tried to move them to the Local Folders but when I open Thunderbird I see no emails in these folders.

I don't know what to do in order to be able to read the emails again :(

I'm gonna attached some screenshots of the different folders I have. Again, any help would be much appreciated.

gp
gp
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Hello

how about starting offline using

Thunderbid --ProfileManager

david
david
  • Top 10 Contributor
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Your screenshots do not show the size of the files . Seeing the sizes would be very helpful in identifying where the messages are.