Need help copying email from old profile to new one
I really need help, please!
1) I wanted to create a new profile that contained all settings, email accounts, and folders of my old profile, and followed instructions given in various Tbird community/forum articles, but to no avail -- new profiles never opened in TBird. I'm no longer trying this -- instead:
2) I manually recreated an entirely new profile, that contained all the settings, email accounts, local folders and subfolders of my original profile. It took hours, but it opens and operates perfectly. However:
3) I thought that I would then be able to simply copy and paste the emails from the original profile's .mozmsgs folders to the local folders in my new profile, even though I created identical folders in my new profile, but this doesn't work. *THIS IS WHERE I NEED SOME HELP, PLEASE* :
(i) I notice that the local folders in my original profile are stored (in AppData>Roaming>Tbird>Profiles) as .mozmsgs files, but the local folders in my new profile either have no file extension name or have an .msf extension. Those that have subfolders have a .sbd file extension. Why do these new profile local folders not produce .mozmsg files?
(ii) I have uploaded two screen captures that show this: "old profile folders and files.JPG" shows the .mozmsgs folders and a few associated emails; "new profile folders and files.JPG" shows that - for example - an "Amazon.ca" local folder that I created in the new profile only shows up as two files: "Amazon.ca" and "Amazon.ca.msf". (The folder "David &Phyllis.sbd", directly under the "Local Folders" folder, is a local folder that contains a subfolder.)
If you understand what I'm describing, I would really appreciate your help! Thanks!
All Replies (3)
The mozmsgs folders are created simply to provide digests of your messages to make them accessible to Windows Search. They are not Thunderbird's primary message stores.
You messages are managed by pairs of files, such as Inbox and Inbox.msf. The first is the store, the second is an index. You don't need the index files; they will be re-created if absent.
What are you trying to achieve by simply copying everything from an old profile to a new?
Thanks for this, Zenos. Zenos said
What are you trying to achieve by simply copying everything from an old profile to a new?
I want to pare down the contents of the many local folders that I have, as well as eliminate some old local folders that are no longer necessary. However, I don't want to eliminate those old contents or folders -- I will occasionally need to retrieve them, and so I thought the best solution would be to create a new profile that would continue those contents and local folders still necessary, without requiring that I delete the old profile.
Zenos said
You messages are managed by pairs of files, such as Inbox and Inbox.msf. The first is the store, the second is an index. You don't need the index files; they will be re-created if absent.
If I understand you correctly, this means that the local folders in the new profile are as they should be (good news!). However, I still don't know how to find and copy the emails that I want from the old profile's local folders to those in the new profile. If you can help me with that, I will be very grateful!
Hi again, Zenos (or anyone else who understands this issue); maberly said
. . . I still don't know how to find and copy the emails that I want from the old profile's local folders to those in the new profile.
Just experimented, and I wonder if this is the correct way to do it:
1) In the original profile, find the [Local Folders] file that has the same name as the Local Folders folder name I created in my new profile, and copy it. (If I had not created a new Local Folders folder for it in my new profile, I would find and copy both that file and its associated .msf file.)
2) Paste it into the Local Folders folder in the new profile.
Example: Let's say I want to copy all the emails that I had stored within my original profile's Local Folders' "Car" folder.
To do so, I would go to C:>Users>[username]>AppData>Roaming>Tbird>Profiles>[original profile]>Mail>Local Folders, and scroll down until I'd find "Car".
I'd then copy that file and paste it into C:>Users>[username]>AppData>Romaing>Tbird>Profiles>[new profile]>Mail>Local Folders.
If I had not already re-created all the Local Folders folders in my new profile, I would have to copy and paste each file's associated .msf file, as well.
Is that right?
Is there anywhere online where such procedures are described?