Avatar for Username

Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

This thread was archived. Please ask a new question if you need help.

Error when copying Thunderbird Profile folder to new hard drive.

  • 5 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 3 views
  • Last reply by christ1

MrBobBell
MrBobBell
more options

I am migrating Thunderbird to a new hard drive. My email folders have been compacted. Trash has been emptied. Messages are sorted into folders by Inbox and Sent and by month and year. I locate the TBird Default Profiles folder under APPDATA/USERNAME/THUNDERBIRD/PROFILES. I am certain Thunderbird is shut down. However, when I copy the default Profile from my old drive to my new drive, the copying process is suspended by a series of errors, all of which report: "You need permission to perform this action." I have checked the Profiles folder to allow sharing. I have unchecked "Keep Operating System Files Hidden." Alternatively, I have tried using the Backup Thunderbird App. I can launch that app, but it only runs a few moments and then disappears from my screen.

I am migrating Thunderbird to a new hard drive. My email folders have been compacted. Trash has been emptied. Messages are sorted into folders by Inbox and Sent and by month and year. I locate the TBird Default Profiles folder under APPDATA/USERNAME/THUNDERBIRD/PROFILES. I am certain Thunderbird is shut down. However, when I copy the default Profile from my old drive to my new drive, the copying process is suspended by a series of errors, all of which report: "You need permission to perform this action." I have checked the Profiles folder to allow sharing. I have unchecked "Keep Operating System Files Hidden." Alternatively, I have tried using the Backup Thunderbird App. I can launch that app, but it only runs a few moments and then disappears from my screen.

All Replies (5)

christ1
christ1
  • Top 25 Contributor
more options
I locate the TBird Default Profiles folder under APPDATA/USERNAME/THUNDERBIRD/PROFILES

Please provide the correct absolute path for the profile.

I have tried using the Backup Thunderbird App.

I'm not aware of a Thunderbird backup app. Please be more specific.

MrBobBell
MrBobBell Question owner
more options

My first post was in error. I locate the TBird Default Profiles folder under APPDATA/USERNAME/ROAMING/THUNDERBIRD/PROFILES. The free third party app that I tried was "BackupThunderbird.exe". I have also tried MozBackup, but I also get an error message "You need permission to perform this action." before the file copy to the destination has completed.

christ1
christ1
  • Top 25 Contributor
more options

Did you actually check ownership and permissions for the files causing the 'Access denied' error?

Another possibility is that your anti-virus software is holding these files hostage.

MrBobBell
MrBobBell Question owner
more options

The properties of the TBird Default Profiles folder under APPDATA/USERNAME/ROAMING/THUNDERBIRD/PROFILES is set to SHARE. (See screen capture)

I will 1) run an anti-virus scan, 2) take my PC off-line, 3) end task for my anti-virus program. Then I will again try to copy the PROFILES folder to my new hard drive in case my anti-virus software is holding these files hostage. Thank you for your attention to my problem. I will write again if I do not succeed. Bob

christ1
christ1
  • Top 25 Contributor
more options

Are you saying you're copying from a network share? That may explain it. Then except that you're trying to copy your Thunderbird profile, this is more a Windows problem, and not Thunderbird. You may also ask in a forum for Windows.