cannot find my emails after doing a clean instal windows 7

[IanBarber]

I have just completed a clean install of Windows 7 (from Windows XP SP3), with only directories and not files showing in the inbox.
I found that by running in Windows XP SP3 compatibility, the files became visible.
Is a patch likely to resolve this? I am using a trial copy of Ultimate, and would sooner purchase a cheaper version.

[Daifne]

I use Windows 7 on my laptop and did not have any such problems. How did you move your profile?

[IanBarber]

I did not move my profile. I keep all my files in a separate directory, C:\XXX. I installed Win 7 RC1 into C:\, over writing WinXP. I had expected a Format C:, but this did not happen. All my files were left intact, and I loaded Thunderbird version 2.0.0.23 (20090812). I then manually entered the details and path to the files.

[Daifne]

Hmmm. So you did an upgrade install rather than a full install. I haven't tried that yet. I wiped my drive and did a clean install. I think you may need to create a new profile for Windows 7. Try this method

To make this easier, you need to set Windows to "View hidden files and folders" and to not "Hide extensions for known file types". See this for easy instructions for how to do this: http://spywarewarrior.com/viewtopic.php?t=272 Use the instructions for XP if you're using Vista or Windows 7. They are the same.

Close Thunderbird and open the profile manager. http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_manager
Create your new profile, naming it something other than "default", and setup your accounts. Make sure it's working including for sending and receiving mail.

Then I want you to install this extension: ImportExportTools: http://nic-nac-project.org/~kaosmos/mboximport-en.html

To install a Thunderbird extension do the following:
Right click the download link and choose "Save Link As...". Then open Thunderbird, in Thunderbird go to Tools->Extensions->Install (Tools>Addons>Extensions in version 2.0). Find the just downloaded .xpi file and select it. The installation will now begin. You will need to close and reopen Thunderbird to complete the install.

When it's installed, first select the folder you want to import into and then go to Tools>Import/Export in Mbox/eml format and under it, Import Mbox File. In the next screen you will get a choice to either import a selected file or to select a directory. Select the third option and when you get to the Windows file navigation window, find your OLD profile under C:\Documents and Settings\*user name*\Application Data\Thunderbird\Profiles\*random string.profile name*\Mail and then select each account folder one at a time. This means that you will need to go through the Tools menu once for each account. The messages will be in a new folder named for the original with three numbers, ex: Inbox123, which you can then move the messages out of and sort as you want.

For your address books, install the MoreFunctionsForAddressBook extension. When it's installed you will have some new menu items under Tools in the address book manager. First open the manager with Tools>Address Book. Now go to it's Tools and find Actions for addressbook. Under it, select Import addressbook from mab file. It will ask you to create a new address book by naming it. Do so. Then, in the file navigation window that opens, find your old profile and look for the files with the .mab extension. Your personal address book is abook.mab and the collected is history.mab. You may have others that you either imported from another program or created yourself. You will need to do them one at a time. Once in, you can drag and drop the addresses from the imported books into your new Personal/Collected address book.

If you have any filters set in your accounts, the files you want to copy is msgFilterRules.dat This goes in the Mail/*account* folder. For Junk controls training, the file is training.dat and it is kept in the top level of the profile folder.

When you have completed this, compact your folders now and regularly in the future. http://kb.mozillazine.org/Compacting_folders

That should be everything. Let me know how it turns out.

[IanBarber]

Hmmm. So you did an upgrade install rather than a full install. I haven't tried that yet. I wiped my drive and did a clean install. I think you may need to create a new profile for Windows 7. Try this method

To make this easier, you need to set Windows to "View hidden files and folders" and to not "Hide extensions for known file types". See this for easy instructions for how to do this: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://spywarewarrior.com/viewtopic.php?t=272">http://spywarewarrior.com/viewtopic.php?t=272</a><!-- m --> Use the instructions for XP if you're using Vista or Windows 7. They are the same.

Close Thunderbird and open the profile manager. <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_manager">http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_manager</a><!-- m -->
Create your new profile, naming it something other than "default", and setup your accounts. Make sure it's working including for sending and receiving mail.

Then I want you to install this extension: ImportExportTools: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://nic-nac-project.org/~kaosmos/mboximport-en.html">http://nic-nac-project.org/~kaosmos/mboximport-en.html</a><!-- m -->

To install a Thunderbird extension do the following:
Right click the download link and choose "Save Link As...". Then open Thunderbird, in Thunderbird go to Tools->Extensions->Install (Tools>Addons>Extensions in version 2.0). Find the just downloaded .xpi file and select it. The installation will now begin. You will need to close and reopen Thunderbird to complete the install.

When it's installed, first select the folder you want to import into and then go to Tools>Import/Export in Mbox/eml format and under it, Import Mbox File. In the next screen you will get a choice to either import a selected file or to select a directory. Select the third option and when you get to the Windows file navigation window, find your OLD profile under C:\Documents and Settings\*user name*\Application Data\Thunderbird\Profiles\*random string.profile name*\Mail and then select each account folder one at a time. This means that you will need to go through the Tools menu once for each account. The messages will be in a new folder named for the original with three numbers, ex: Inbox123, which you can then move the messages out of and sort as you want.

For your address books, install the MoreFunctionsForAddressBook extension. When it's installed you will have some new menu items under Tools in the address book manager. First open the manager with Tools>Address Book. Now go to it's Tools and find Actions for addressbook. Under it, select Import addressbook from mab file. It will ask you to create a new address book by naming it. Do so. Then, in the file navigation window that opens, find your old profile and look for the files with the .mab extension. Your personal address book is abook.mab and the collected is history.mab. You may have others that you either imported from another program or created yourself. You will need to do them one at a time. Once in, you can drag and drop the addresses from the imported books into your new Personal/Collected address book.

If you have any filters set in your accounts, the files you want to copy is msgFilterRules.dat This goes in the Mail/*account* folder. For Junk controls training, the file is training.dat and it is kept in the top level of the profile folder.

When you have completed this, compact your folders now and regularly in the future. <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://kb.mozillazine.org/Compacting_folders">http://kb.mozillazine.org/Compacting_folders</a><!-- m -->

That should be everything. Let me know how it turns out.

Thanks for the answer. I have other issues with Win-7 and have reverted to WinXP until I resolve them. Microsoft Security Essentials (anti-virus) seems to be locking my machine up when using a browser, FireFox or IE8.
I will try this when put Win-7 back on.

[Daifne]

Sounds good.

[IanBarber]

Interesting occurrence. I reloaded Win7 and checked to see if the email directories had been marked hidden (they had not).
I set windows to show hidden directories, and then switched off the WinXPSP3 emulation.
The contents of the email folders is visible!
I have switched back to WinXP as I am having issues with TomTom.
Thanks for the help. I will keep the notes in case I have problems when I install the RTM of Win7.
Regards,
Ian Barber

[Daifne]

You're very welcome.