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can't restore profile to a different computer despite reading articles, trying multiple times

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  • Last reply by Zenos

Danac44
Danac44
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My old laptop crashed, but we were able to save the Thunderbird app data. There are multiple profiles in the Profile folders. I have been trying to restore these profiles to two new computers: 1 is running Windows 7; the other is running Windows 10.

Following the article on restoring to a different location https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/profiles-where-thunderbird-stores-user-data#w_restoring-to-a-different-location, I first created backup copies of the profiles on my backup storage device.

I installed Thunderbird on the two new computers, using IMAP as the server in both cases, since I want to synch them (could this have any bearing on the problem?) Thunderbird was closed on both the target computers when I performed the operations in the next paragraph.

Then I copied all the folders and files in the first backup profile, and I pasted them into the default profile created in each of the two target computers, and these files seemed to overwrite the folders/files created on installation of Thunderbird.

However, when I opened Thunderbird on each of the computers and set up my email addresses (I use two), none of the material in the older profile showed up. Instead I saw all the emails on the server since May 24. (it’s now July 6), and my address book was blank.

I tried adding a new profile on the profile manager and pasting the old profile contents (folders and files) into the new profile, but then when I opened Thunderbird, I had to recreate my two email addresses, and then I just got the current emails (May 24-July 6) and a blank address book.

I removed all the profiles using the Profile Manager (since they were useless) and uninstalled Thunderbird on both of the computers. I repeated the above steps with the same lack of results.

I uninstalled Thunderbird again after removing the profiles with Profile manager. I tried (per one of the responses to a similar question in the forum) deleting all contents of the default file and then pasting in the contents of my backup profile. No progress.

On my Windows 10 computer (the one I’m working on now), I have one Thunderbird Profile: kwdphwa1.to May 23, 2017 The contents of the profiles.ini file are:

[General] StartWithLastProfile=0

[Profile0] Name=to May 23, 2017 IsRelative=1 Path=Profiles/kwdphwa1.to May 23, 2017 Default=1

I have no more ideas. The problems seem to be the same whether I’m on the Windows 7 or the Windows 10 computer.

I hope someone can help. Thanks.

My old laptop crashed, but we were able to save the Thunderbird app data. There are multiple profiles in the Profile folders. I have been trying to restore these profiles to two new computers: 1 is running Windows 7; the other is running Windows 10. Following the article on restoring to a different location https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/profiles-where-thunderbird-stores-user-data#w_restoring-to-a-different-location, I first created backup copies of the profiles on my backup storage device. I installed Thunderbird on the two new computers, using IMAP as the server in both cases, since I want to synch them (could this have any bearing on the problem?) Thunderbird was closed on both the target computers when I performed the operations in the next paragraph. Then I copied all the folders and files in the first backup profile, and I pasted them into the default profile created in each of the two target computers, and these files seemed to overwrite the folders/files created on installation of Thunderbird. However, when I opened Thunderbird on each of the computers and set up my email addresses (I use two), none of the material in the older profile showed up. Instead I saw all the emails on the server since May 24. (it’s now July 6), and my address book was blank. I tried adding a new profile on the profile manager and pasting the old profile contents (folders and files) into the new profile, but then when I opened Thunderbird, I had to recreate my two email addresses, and then I just got the current emails (May 24-July 6) and a blank address book. I removed all the profiles using the Profile Manager (since they were useless) and uninstalled Thunderbird on both of the computers. I repeated the above steps with the same lack of results. I uninstalled Thunderbird again after removing the profiles with Profile manager. I tried (per one of the responses to a similar question in the forum) deleting all contents of the default file and then pasting in the contents of my backup profile. No progress. On my Windows 10 computer (the one I’m working on now), I have one Thunderbird Profile: kwdphwa1.to May 23, 2017 The contents of the profiles.ini file are: [General] StartWithLastProfile=0 [Profile0] Name=to May 23, 2017 IsRelative=1 Path=Profiles/kwdphwa1.to May 23, 2017 Default=1 I have no more ideas. The problems seem to be the same whether I’m on the Windows 7 or the Windows 10 computer. I hope someone can help. Thanks.

All Replies (3)

Danac44
Danac44 Question owner
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providing additional information. I think the problem may be in the backed up profiles. I think I actually may have successfully migrated a profile that has very little old data in it. I'm going to remove the current profile with Profile Manager, then uninstall Thunderbird, then reinstalling, and then going through each of the backed up profiles -- pasting them in to the default profile of the newly installed application, and look very carefully at what I get each time. So perhaps no one needs to work on this yet.

Zenos
Zenos
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I don't think you can paste folders into an IMAP account's folders in the profile. The synchronization process can't match them up with what is on the server so removes them.

But why bother? It's all on the server, isn't it?

If you have old material that is only stored locally then paste it into Local Folders, under Mail in your profile. I'd suggest you give yourself a starting point by creating a new subfolder under Local Folders in Thunderbird, then looking for that subfolder and pasting into it in your file manager. You'll need to enable viewing of hidden files to do this in your file manager.

I am nervous about your profile names (e.g. to May 23, 2017). I don't trust the spaces to work for you. If you must use dates, 20170523 would be safer. But I don't understand this fixation on multiple profiles; they're hard to work with and you can't access or copy data in one from another.

Zenos
Zenos
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There is a profile switcher add-on allowing you to easily hop from one profile to another. I haven't used it myself; I believe multiple profiles are the work of the devil.

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/thunderbird/addon/profileswitcher/