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Computer crashed, need help on how to recover stored emails in old Thunderbird installation.

  • 7 பதிலளிப்புகள்
  • 1 இந்த பிரச்சனை உள்ளது
  • 2 views
  • Last reply by sealyons

I have been using Thunderbird on Win7 for years on my Lenovo W530 laptop. Unfortunately it crashed last week and Win7 is gone and I've had to upgrade to Win10. I still my old HDD and it is readable but I've installed a new SSD in my Lenovo.

I now can't boot my old version of Thunderbird and really need all of my saved emails. Is there a way to gain access to all of my saved information? If so, how do I do that? Really appreciate any help.

I have been using Thunderbird on Win7 for years on my Lenovo W530 laptop. Unfortunately it crashed last week and Win7 is gone and I've had to upgrade to Win10. I still my old HDD and it is readable but I've installed a new SSD in my Lenovo. I now can't boot my old version of Thunderbird and really need all of my saved emails. Is there a way to gain access to all of my saved information? If so, how do I do that? Really appreciate any help.

All Replies (7)

I'm not exactly sure which version of TBird I was using previously but it definitely was several versions back from the latest. I have installed the latest (60.0) on my Win10 installation but I haven't configured it yet. I'm guessing I'll need to move my old profile files from the old to the new installation. But I looked around on my old HDD and wasn't able to find any of those files in the common locations. But maybe I'm just not exactly sure where to look. Again, I can't start the old instance of TBird to have it show me where the profile directory is.

sealyons மூலமாக திருத்தப்பட்டது

By default Thunderbird stores the profile here: C:\Users\<Windows user name>\AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird\Profiles\<Profile name>\

You may need to make hidden files and folders visible:

  • Thunderbird must not be running. So close it if it is running.

On old computer/hardrive

  • Locate and copy the 'Thunderbird' folder. It will be in the 'Roaming' folder.
  • C:\Users\<Windows user name>\AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird

On new OS hardrive:

  • C:\Users\<Windows user name>\AppData\Roaming
  • Locate the 'Roaming ' folder
  • Paste the copied 'Thunderbird' folder into the 'Roaming' folder.

Note: If you have already installed Thunderbird and run it the first time, it may ask you to create mail account. Do not create mail account. Exit Thunderbird. You may discover a default 'Thunderbird' folder already in the 'Roaming' folder. Delete it and then paste in your copied 'Thunderbird' folder.

Start up Thunderbird.

Problem is I don't have an ..\AppData folder in my old C:\<windows user name> folder. I've certainly been using Thunderbird up until my computer crashed and had tons of saved emails that I need. Again, not sure what version I was using. Could this have been stored somewhere else on an older Thunderbird version?

sealyons மூலமாக திருத்தப்பட்டது

All the following Windows OS use that location:

  • Windows Vista, 7, 8.1 and 10
  • C:\Users\<Windows user name>\AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird

The 'Appdata' (Short for 'Application' ) folder is auto hidden by the OS. Appdata folder is used for a load of programs that are not auto installed with Windows.

Have you made files and folders visible?

Windows XP and 2000 used: C:\Documents and Settings\<Windows user name>\Application Data\Thunderbird\


https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-performance/where-can-i-find-application-data-folders-in/26f4d163-7340-4974-b513-72bfcd1f54a5

https://support.pointlogic.com/faq/troubleshooting/accessing-the-appdata-folder

I was running Win7 Pro. I'm verifying that I have all hidden files/folders shown.

Thanks. It was hidden. Now I can see the old \AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird folder. I will move it to the new Thunderbird installation.

sealyons மூலமாக திருத்தப்பட்டது

Awesome! Everything worked! Thank you very much for your help.