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migration -- I copied my Tbird folder from old PC to new PC, but I cant see my folders or messages

  • 5 replies
  • 2 have this problem
  • 4 views
  • Last reply by Toad-Hall

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I need to move my Thunderbird content from my old W7 PC to new W10 PC. I followed directions in support video, but I cant see any of my folders or messages on the new newly-installed Thunderbird on the new machine. Any ideas on how to make this work? The transferred Thunderbird folder -- 16.5 GB total -- was copied over the one on the new PC as shown in the video, but no luck.

I need to move my Thunderbird content from my old W7 PC to new W10 PC. I followed directions in support video, but I cant see any of my folders or messages on the new newly-installed Thunderbird on the new machine. Any ideas on how to make this work? The transferred Thunderbird folder -- 16.5 GB total -- was copied over the one on the new PC as shown in the video, but no luck.

All Replies (5)

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Do you have a backup?

Then just reset the backup.

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Thanks for trying to assist. I don't think that I have a backup, but I would check if I understood where it might be located and how to access it. Any ideas on how to do this, or other approaches that might be considered would be much appreciated. Unfortunately, I am not very tech savvy, and haven't done this since i migrated to what is now my old computer in 2010.

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Please help us to understand all the various things going on by answering the queries.

re :my Thunderbird content from my old W7 PC Q: What version of Thunderbird was installed? Q: Was it 'windows32 bit version 68.1.1' ? Q: Was it 'windows64 bit version 68.1.1' ?


re :new W10 PC. Q: What version of Thunderbird is installed? Q: Is it 'windows32 bit version 68.1.1' ? Q: Is it 'windows64 bit version 68.1.1' ?


re :I followed directions in support video, So basically, on old W7PC You Exited Thunderbird and access profile folder. you copied the 'Roaming'/'Thunderbird' folder

On new W10 PC, You Exited Thunderbird and access profile folder. you accessed 'Roaming'/'Thunderbird' deleted the 'Thunderbird' folder then pasted the copied 'Thunderbird' folder into the 'Roaming' folder. So replacing the new default 'Thunderbird' folder with the copied 'Thunderbird'.


I do not mean to be awkward, but you would be amazed how many times people say they followed instructions, but they did not. Some do not exit Thunderbird and some paste the copied 'Thunderbird' folder into the default 'Thunderbird' folder, rather than replace it. Q: Did you something differnt to the above info ? Please explain exactly what you did, so we are on the same page.


When you start Thunderbird. Q: Does it ask you to create mail accounts ? Q: Can you select 'Help' > 'Troubleshooting Information' ? If yes, scroll down and click on 'about:profiles' Q: What do you see ? Q: Is there only one profile and is it set as default? Q: Is there more than one profile? Q: If yes, is the other profile, your old profile with data? click on 'Set as Default profile' click on 'Launch profile in new browser' It will open in a new window. Exit the first Thunderbird window. Q: Did it show old profile. mail accounts etc?

Modified by Toad-Hall

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Some computers with Windows OS are 32 bit and some are 64 bit.

You can install a Thunderbird windows 32 bit version on either OS 32bit or 64bit. At the moment there have been some reports of difficulties with Thunderbird Windows 64 bit versions when installed on same machine where a previous version was for 32bit. Hence I would like to understand what you have on each PC.

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If still an issue: Access profile name folder and tell me if you see more than one 'prefs.js' file or one that has a number eg: 'prefs-1.js' Make sure you have 'View' > 'Details' selected Make sure you have the column headers 'date modified', 'type' and 'size' enabled and visible. Post image showing what you see.