what data are lost when copying profile from one winPC to another
In the past I have successfully copied my profiles folder (by selecting Thunderbird in the Roaming directory) from one win10 PC to another. It seemed to work ok but perhaps I missed something.
Today I was about to copy a saved profile from one machine to the same machine to go back in time a few days. But in reviewing how to do it, I noticed comments that it will not copy the embedded images, attachments that are attach with the profile in Thunderbird which causes Data loss.
Does that refer to attachments to emails? If so, that sounds like a problem.
Then I read about a software solution called Recovery Tools MBox Migrator. Is that recommended and necessary? If so I am surprised that within Thunderbird the export/copy function is not provided.
Modified by eberger5
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Hi eberger5, I don't know what comments you're referring to, but from what you're saying, they are incorrect. Are they the same people trying to sell you the recovery tool? ☺️
If you store messages in your Thunderbird profile, the embedded image is stored in the same file as the message.
If you use IMAP (which Thunderbird uses by default), the message and its images are on the server, so there's nothing to copy.
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Hi eberger5, I don't know what comments you're referring to, but from what you're saying, they are incorrect. Are they the same people trying to sell you the recovery tool? ☺️
If you store messages in your Thunderbird profile, the embedded image is stored in the same file as the message.
If you use IMAP (which Thunderbird uses by default), the message and its images are on the server, so there's nothing to copy.
Thank you. One place I read about it was a software vendor, RecoveryTools that does sell the product. The other was SoftwarePro, that does not sell a product and told how to copy the profile, but at the end of their article said this: Limitation: when profile is copied from one computer to another new one computer it will not copy the embedded images, attachments that are attach with the profile in Thunderbird which causes Data loss.
Yes I do use Tbird with an IMAP account but I have many local folders where I store things for long term and/or greater privacy. Those are the emails I am concerned might lose attachments.
Thank you.
PS - I just used the "free" procedure to move my profiles from my main PC to a SurfaceGo. Both run win10, one runs Pro and the Other Home edition. I randomly checked 5 emails in the local folders that either had attachments or embedded images. They all looked ok. I guess I have to agree with you and wonder what the commenters are referring to.
eberger5 said
I guess I have to agree with you and wonder what the commenters are referring to.
The commenters were probably employees of those setting the product, or just made up individuals offering lies to help support sales. Baseless misinformation abounds on the internet.
Thank you both for the replies.