Copying Thunderbird profile

User Help for Mozilla Thunderbird
Post Reply
Beadmaster
Posts: 94
Joined: June 9th, 2004, 3:58 am

Copying Thunderbird profile

Post by Beadmaster »

Hi, I have a newer computer, where I'm trying to get my existing Thunderbird profile from an older computer copied over, in order to keep getting email at my regular email addresses.

I placed the old profile folder in the correct directory, renamed it to the one that was in the directory after installation, but it still wants me to set up email as if there's nothing on the system. I have about 5 addresses with years of email in them in the new profile folder, taken from the older computer. I've tried rebooting, but it still asks me to enter an email address as if there's nothing there.

I also need to know how to do the opposite on the other end of this...take the email profile folder from the new computer (which will have new emails as well as old), put them onto the old computer and ensure the additional emails will be copied onto the old computer so no email is missing.

Thank you for any assistance!
Beadmaster
Posts: 94
Joined: June 9th, 2004, 3:58 am

Re: Copying Thunderbird profile

Post by Beadmaster »

Additional info: the system was rebooted, but still, Thunderbird didn't recognize the folder.
User avatar
DanRaisch
Moderator
Posts: 127188
Joined: September 23rd, 2004, 8:57 pm
Location: Somewhere on the right coast

Re: Copying Thunderbird profile

Post by DanRaisch »

The likelihood is that you renamed the directory but did not take into account the difference in Windows user ID's. Compare the file profiles.ini on both systems and make sure that they match -- http://kb.mozillazine.org/Transferring_ ... hunderbird
For a concise, less detailed version of the process, see this thread --
http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic ... 5#p7251375

For an alternative approach, see tanstaafl's posts in this thread -- http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic ... #p14209121
Post Reply