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Lost address book after upgrade

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I recently upgraded my mom's Linux Mint installation to the latest version. However, her address book is now empty -- Thunderbird no longer recognizes the files somehow. I was able to recover some of the addresses by converting them to LDAP format and importing them, but how can I get Thunderbird to recognize the old address book? Mom is panicking.

I recently upgraded my mom's Linux Mint installation to the latest version. However, her address book is now empty -- Thunderbird no longer recognizes the files somehow. I was able to recover some of the addresses by converting them to LDAP format and importing them, but how can I get Thunderbird to recognize the old address book? Mom is panicking.

All Replies (6)

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Hello there madwand99 We have read your message . We try to help you.

Using Linux Mint version Open source Os. On a pc or laptop.

You are using Thunderbird software version s. Oké you re adress book is still there but it is missing the index. If you exactly know where they place that adressbook. Then you can copy it and paste it back.

Most of the people try to use the wizard for it. But most of the people don t have.

The addresses (abook.mab and history.mab) are stored in that directory. Do you know how to get there?

If you erased them then they are not there. But give it a try to find them.




Greetings Firefox volunteer.

Modified by Googlethunderbird

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Hello there again.



If your looking for the Thunderbird profile folder that is located over here

C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird\Profiles\8charstring.default

This will take you to the view of hidden folders and files. There are located adress books : abook.mab and history.mab. If the two old files stored here then you can copy them. Copy them into the profile and it s overwriting the old files in there. That how you probably have lost your old one.


Greetings Firefox volunteer

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I have found the *.mab files, and the old files are present in the Thunderbird profile directory. However, Thunderbird does not read the .mab files: no address book entries are present when starting the new Thunderbird version. There appears to be a bug reading old address book files on the new Thunderbird version. I am reporting this bug, and asking if there is a workaround that would allow Thunderbird to read the files.

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Hello there again


Did you try to copy the addresses? Reinstall a fresh version and paste them into the new version. Or manually?

You have found your old addresses again ,oke good. A work around?


The option is there to make a new map a submap. Try to compact it with the addresses inside. Included the *.mab files. Use this map to work with.


Greetings Firefox volunteer.

Modified by Googlethunderbird

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Yes. Is there a version of Firefox that does not have the bug, for example?

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Hello there again.


Yes I can send you that full version that overwrites all other versions. Beforehand starting this procedure . Shure to be safe with the addresses.

Then clean your pc again for the be shure that you erased every piece of Thunderbird software. Delete the old version of Thunderbird that you are using now. Clean the pc again . CCleaner is oké for that.

I will send you the latest normal version of Thunderbird. And not a beta version try not to use that at this moment.

https://www.thunderbird.net/en-US/thunderbird/releases/

Greetings Firefox volunteer.

Modified by Googlethunderbird