Hi there,

I'm just speculating but here's the deal. The first time TB connects to a mail server it queries the remote folders. The folder at Verizon that contains incoming messages is called IN, and there are also folders named TRASH and OUT. TB expects the folder for incoming messages be named INBOX and translates this to Inbox. IN is something TB can't "translate" just as OUT (instead of OUTBOX) and there's probably something similar with TRASH. So you end up with some strangely named folders that contain messages and standard folders that stay empty. 2 workarounds that I can think of: You can change TB display of folders by going to "manage folder subscriptions" and untick the unused folders and just live with IN as the folder for incoming messages. Or (and I haven't tried this one myself) define a rule that moves every incoming message in the IN box to the Inbox.

/Frans

FransdeV-- Thanks for the response. Sorry. I was just abbreviating. "IN" means "Inbox." Both "Inbox" have the same name, so I don't think this is a handshaking problem with Verizon.

   On the left side of my screen is the long column of mailboxes.  They are in two groups.  The first, under the heading "VERIZON," is a group of three  -- "Inbox," "Trash," and "Outbox."  Under that is the usual long list of boxes I have had all along, under the heading "LOCAL," beginning with "Inbox," then "Drafts" and so on.  (Further on is a second Trash and Outbox )
   This came about when I added another account (Atlanticbb.net), then decided to stay with Verizon.  Having a second Inbox above the standard ones, with all emails coming into it, is not a fatal problem but quite annoying.  I fear re-installing, as I don't want to lose the years of stuff in the others folders.

Hi, It sometimes puzzles me how adding another account can screw things up. (no offense) However I see no problem in moving messages from one folder to the other, it is after all just a simple case of drag and drop. Have you tried this already?

/Frans

A global inbox is not the default for Thunderbird, but you can set it that way. (If you use POP.)

http://kb.mozillazine.org/Global_Inbox

Sure, I can move files from box to box. Now, I look in the Verizon Inbox every time for newly arrived emails and then deal with them. Some I simply delete. But the replied-to messages remain there, as do those I haven't dealt with yet. Yes, I can move them down to the Local Inbox. That clears the Verizon Inbox. But WHY the bother? Why the duplicate boxes? I have just ONE account. Why does the second group of boxes even exist? I'd like to get rid of them and have new email arrive in the Local inbox as it is supposed -- and has always done.

Yes, this may be where I find the fix. I will explore and see if I can simply re-direct incoming Verizon email into the Local Inbox.

  Still, I don't HAVE two accounts, even though Thunderbird seems to think so.  When I look at Tools/Account Settings I see in the left (white) panel two accounts: VERIZON, with the usual 7 sub-headings beginning with "Server Settings."  The second account is LOCAL, with just two sub-headings: "Junk Settings" and "Disk Space".  Below that is "Outgoing Server (SMTP)"
  When I select LOCAL, the Account Settings screen notes "The following is a special account.  There are no identities associated with it."  And there are none of the usual data fields to fill in.
  It appears this LOCAL "special account" is what Thunderbird is detecting as Account #1, which causes it to interpret the VERIZON account as a second account, generating the other Inbox, etc.  Yet there is no way to delete it.

Thunderbird always creates a Local Folder account. http://kb.mozillazine.org/Local_Folders

We have a solution! Thanks to the clue from Daveh110, I went to Tools/Account Settings. Selected VERIZON (the first of the two accounts listed), went to Server Settings and under "Message Storage" clicked the "Advanced" box. That pops up the "Advanced Account Settings" screen which invited me to uncheck "Inbox for this server's account" and to check instead the second option "Inbox for different account." I selected "LOCAL."

Bingo. Not only does incoming mail now arrive in the LOCAL Inbox, but the Main page corrected itself! The VERIZON section with its three boxes no longer appears at all. All one sees is LOCAL, followed by Inbox and all the rest of the boxes. No duplications. *sigh*

    THANKS!