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How to restore a removed account in Thunderbird

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  • Last reply by Toad-Hall

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Hello, I have recently changed my Host and in the process of trying to reconfigure my server details for my new mail account I accidentally removed my account, thereby losing all mails and folders including my customer database, which leaves me feeling bereft.

Looking at similar questions it seems that it is possible to restore the lost mails and folders but unfortunately I am not that savy with this stuff and find it all rather difficult and scary.

Are there any step by step instructions on how I can restore my account or simply get access to my lost mails and folders ?

Thank you very much for any assistance.

Ray

Hello, I have recently changed my Host and in the process of trying to reconfigure my server details for my new mail account I accidentally removed my account, thereby losing all mails and folders including my customer database, which leaves me feeling bereft. Looking at similar questions it seems that it is possible to restore the lost mails and folders but unfortunately I am not that savy with this stuff and find it all rather difficult and scary. Are there any step by step instructions on how I can restore my account or simply get access to my lost mails and folders ? Thank you very much for any assistance. Ray

Chosen solution

Hi Toad-Hall

I have ALL of my files and folders back ! :-)

The key was realising that all files and subfolders in 'Local Folders' were empty whilst everything with the same names in pop3.raysloan-9.com > Inbox.sbd were full of data. I basically copied the lost data across to 'Local Folders'.

I guess this is the reason that in TB the folder names were there but they were all empty. The first folder I got back was my Client database - what a relief and moment of joy that was !

I cannot thank you enough Toad-Hall ! You have been so patient, tolerant, kind and generous. THANK YOU a thousand times !

My very best wishes to you

Ray

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I am really so sorry T-H but I have really done everything you asked me to do' I renamed Inbox.sdb because 'Business' did not work. I have again renamed it Business.sdb and followed all instructions I have attached a screenshot of my Thunderbird menu now, which has progress as it shows my Folders, EXCEPT 'Customers' is not there and all of the folders are empty ?

I do apologise for the hassle !

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flynnboy said

I did that and when I restarted Thunderbird it did indeed have a 'Business' folder but what is in there is exactly the same as what is in the 'sent' folder at the top i.e. all emails sent up to 2014 ?

You used another mbox file - Sent-Copy to create the Business mbox file - so it will have a load of sent mail in it - just delete the emails in the Business folder and then compact the folder.

If you have done the previous comment and renamed that 'Inbox.sbd' folder back to a 'Business.sbd' folder then when you restarted Thunderbird, you should see subfolders in the Business folder.

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Yes I now see subfolders, except 'customers', and all subfolders are empty

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For information: in pop3.raysloan-9.com > Inbox - all subfolders are populated with email data

In 'Local Folders' > Business.sbd most of those same folders are empty, except 'customers'

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Chosen Solution

Hi Toad-Hall

I have ALL of my files and folders back ! :-)

The key was realising that all files and subfolders in 'Local Folders' were empty whilst everything with the same names in pop3.raysloan-9.com > Inbox.sbd were full of data. I basically copied the lost data across to 'Local Folders'.

I guess this is the reason that in TB the folder names were there but they were all empty. The first folder I got back was my Client database - what a relief and moment of joy that was !

I cannot thank you enough Toad-Hall ! You have been so patient, tolerant, kind and generous. THANK YOU a thousand times !

My very best wishes to you

Ray

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I was about to tell you to get copies of the mbox files into Local folders, but you have realised this was required. Good to hear all is now ok.

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