Thunderbird Folders won't delete and i can't move messages

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Nick Colyer
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Thunderbird Folders won't delete and i can't move messages

Post by Nick Colyer »

Hi there

I've got a strange problem with one of my client's Thunderbird mail.

There are 4 POP mailboxes setup each containing various folders. The profile size is around 4gb.

However whenever we try to move some e-mails into a folder we get a message saying try compacting folders as it can't move the mail.

If we try to delete those folders which are empty it does not let us which is really strange.

Also sometimes accessing folders that do contain lots of e-mails just hangs thunderbird with an egg timer but if you click another folder with the egg timer up it's fine and sometimes when you go back into that previous folder you tried after it is fine as well.

Any suggestions? (i've already tried deleting the MSF files)
Nick Colyer
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Re: Thunderbird Folders won't delete and i can't move messages

Post by Nick Colyer »

Just to add when I try to move one of the messages to one of these folders I get the following Error:

"The messages could not be moved or copied to folder "xxx" because writing to the folder failed. To gain disc space, from the File menu, first choose Empty Deleted, and then choose Compact Folders, and then try again.

Doing what it said had no effect though :(
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Daifne
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Re: Thunderbird Folders won't delete and i can't move messages

Post by Daifne »

Close Thunderbird. Find and delete all of the files with the .msf file extension in your profile folder/Mail http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_folder_-_Thunderbird including your Local Folders, especially if you are using the global inbox. You must have "View hidden files and folders" on http://spywarewarrior.com/viewtopic.php?t=272 and you need to set "hide extensions for known file types" off (just below View Hidden) if you are using Windows. For VIsta, use the XP instructions. These are your mail summary files and do not hold any messages themselves. They will be rebuilt the next time you open each folder in Thunderbird. Compact all your folders when you have completed this. http://kb.mozillazine.org/Compacting_folders

To avoid this happening again, see the tips in these articles:
http://kb.mozillazine.org/Keep_it_worki ... derbird%29
http://kb.mozillazine.org/Performance_%28Thunderbird%29
Nick Colyer
Guest

Re: Thunderbird Folders won't delete and i can't move messages

Post by Nick Colyer »

Thanks but I'm still getting the exact same error :(

"The messages could not be moved or copied to folder "xxx" because writing to the folder failed. To gain disc space, from the File menu, first choose Empty Deleted, and then choose Compact Folders, and then try again.
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Daifne
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Re: Thunderbird Folders won't delete and i can't move messages

Post by Daifne »

How big is the file for the folder after compacting? I'm wondering if it's over the Operating System limits for the file size.
Nick Colyer
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Re: Thunderbird Folders won't delete and i can't move messages

Post by Nick Colyer »

Well it happens on various e-mails. Some that are tiny. The folder i'm trying to move the e-mails into has no e-mails in it. It also will not let me delete the empty folder.

The total capacity of the entire Folder for that Mailbox is 724mb.

the operating system is Windows XP.

Some folders are working fine, that's the weird thing :S
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Daifne
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Re: Thunderbird Folders won't delete and i can't move messages

Post by Daifne »

Let's clear that folder from the profile level and then you can recreate it. Try this:
With Thunderbird closed, go into your profile. http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_folder#Thunderbird If you are using Windows, you need to have View Hidden files and Folders set. http://spywarewarrior.com/viewtopic.php?t=272

In the profile, find the Mail folder and then the account folder for this account (or Local folders if the folder is in there). Now find these files with the name of the folder, Folder (no extension), Folder.msf and Folder.sbd. Delete them all. Reopen Thunderbird and it should be gone now.
Nick Colyer
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Re: Thunderbird Folders won't delete and i can't move messages

Post by Nick Colyer »

Ok that seems to work. However there was no .sbd folder file for the ones I deleted.

Now when I recreate the folder in Thunderbird it seems to be fine.

Is there a maximum file size for a profile by the way as this current one is over 4GB?

And final question, is it possible to export Thunderbird mail into normal windows folders for archiving with our normal client folders? i.e. and if so do I have to do each message one at a time or can you recommend any good addons.

Thanks again for your help with this.
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Daifne
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Re: Thunderbird Folders won't delete and i can't move messages

Post by Daifne »

http://kb.mozillazine.org/Limits_%28Thunderbird%29
The file size limits are the limits dictated by your operating system.

There will only be .sbd folders if the folder in question has subfolders. Don't worry about that.

http://kb.mozillazine.org/Archiving_your_e-mail
I would use the ImportExportTools extension mentioned in that article. It can export the messages in various formats.
A2JC4life
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Re: Thunderbird Folders won't delete and i can't move messages

Post by A2JC4life »

Thanks for the info about archiving. I opened this thread to check out the solutions for the original problem (which I am also having), but came across this, which answers a question I've had for a long time!
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LIMPET235
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Re: Thunderbird Folders won't delete and i can't move messages

Post by LIMPET235 »

That's good news. Glad you finally fixed your glitch.
Now locking this old thread.
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