Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

Transferring Thunderbird to new computer failed to transfer emails

  • 3 antwoorde
  • 2 hierdie probleem
  • 16 views
  • Laaste antwoord deur ljensen833

more options

I followed the instructions for transferring Thunderbird data from an old PC to a new one. ("Moving Thunderbird Data to a new Computer"). The only email messages that made the transfer were the ones I saved from Outlook Express that were imported into Thunderbird on the old PC in 2014. None of the emails existing in my two important account folders (set up in 2014) made the move. Those, of course, are the most important ones. Now what? PS: I am not an IT professional, just a small business owner that needs to transfer emails from the last couple of years to a new PC because the old one is obsolete. PPS: It was not possible to install Thunderbird on the new PC without creating an account - - the installation program refused to move forward to complete the installation without doing this step. If I understand the instructions in "Moving Thunderbird Data to a New Computer, I was not supposed to create any accounts during the installation process. However, that proved impossible - - the installer would not complete the process without doing this and there was no option to skip creating accounts. After I made my first attempt to install the "Thunderbird" folder (containing the Profile folder, etc.) on the new PC, and finding my most important email messages didn't make the trip with the rest of the Thunderbird folder, I tried deleting the account I had set up as a required step in the installation process in order to install TB on the new PC, then uninstalling Thunderbird, in order to clear the account that I had set up (one of the ones I am trying to transfer over). In other words, I tried to start over with installing Thunderbird on the new PC. However, when I downloaded and installed Thunderbird the second time on the new PC, it reinstalled the account I had deleted!

I followed the instructions for transferring Thunderbird data from an old PC to a new one. ("Moving Thunderbird Data to a new Computer"). The only email messages that made the transfer were the ones I saved from Outlook Express that were imported into Thunderbird on the old PC in 2014. None of the emails existing in my two important account folders (set up in 2014) made the move. Those, of course, are the most important ones. Now what? PS: I am not an IT professional, just a small business owner that needs to transfer emails from the last couple of years to a new PC because the old one is obsolete. PPS: It was not possible to install Thunderbird on the new PC without creating an account - - the installation program refused to move forward to complete the installation without doing this step. If I understand the instructions in "Moving Thunderbird Data to a New Computer, I was not supposed to create any accounts during the installation process. However, that proved impossible - - the installer would not complete the process without doing this and there was no option to skip creating accounts. After I made my first attempt to install the "Thunderbird" folder (containing the Profile folder, etc.) on the new PC, and finding my most important email messages didn't make the trip with the rest of the Thunderbird folder, I tried deleting the account I had set up as a required step in the installation process in order to install TB on the new PC, then uninstalling Thunderbird, in order to clear the account that I had set up (one of the ones I am trying to transfer over). In other words, I tried to start over with installing Thunderbird on the new PC. However, when I downloaded and installed Thunderbird the second time on the new PC, it reinstalled the account I had deleted!

All Replies (3)

more options

Is your account configured for IMAP? Then the transfer expects to be able to download those from your provider.

Helpful?

more options

No, POP accounts. Emails messages from month ago that I still need are not available on webmail at this juncture. I have obtained a backup of my entire computer from Carbonite and have copied over the "Thunderbird" folder from the former PC into the default location, but when I open Thunderbird it doesn't see them. When I Iook in the Roaming file the Thunderbird file shows underneath as having been transferred over to the new PC.

Helpful?

more options

I am still struggling out here. I am in danger of losing several years' worth of important emails necessary to operate my law firm. I have tried copying the Thunderbird folder (under "Roaming" in the users file) from the old computer - - didn't work. I tried copying the Thunderbird folder from a Carbonite backup. Didn't work. I can't use the import/export tool because of the 2GB limit. I'm willing to pay for help. Isn't there someone that can help me?

Notes: I discovered that the emails I want were, for some reason, stored in a profile folder located elsewhere on the outgoing PC. I don't know why it was set up that way. But I copied the Thunderbird folder from that location to a flash drive and tried to replace the Thunderbird folder from the new installation with that. Didn't work. I also tried to replace the newly installed Thunderbird file from the carbonite restore hard drive. Again, didn't work.

Helpful?

Vra 'n vraag

You must log in to your account to reply to posts. Please start a new question, if you do not have an account yet.