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Lost data when compacting folders

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  • Last reply by Wayne Mery

MyUsernameHere
MyUsernameHere
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I am running Thunderbird v78.10.0 with Lightning.

Recently, Thunderbird began prompting me to compact my folders. Because I really don't trust this process for apps in general (not just TB), I closed TB and made a backup copy of my TB profile first, then I opened TB and told it to go ahead. It stopped partway through and said it could not complete the process because a file was in use by another process (I think--I wish I had saved the message).

Anyway, after TB opened, I noticed that most of my calendar reminders were gone and a lot of my appointments were missing from the calendar.

So I just closed TB, restored the profile from my backup, and everything was back to normal. (Needless to say, I did not compact this time.)

Is there a known problem with compacting folders? Is there any way to troubleshoot this?

Thanks!

I am running Thunderbird v78.10.0 with Lightning. Recently, Thunderbird began prompting me to compact my folders. Because I really don't trust this process for apps in general (not just TB), I closed TB and made a backup copy of my TB profile first, then I opened TB and told it to go ahead. It stopped partway through and said it could not complete the process because a file was in use by another process (I think--I wish I had saved the message). Anyway, after TB opened, I noticed that most of my calendar reminders were gone and a lot of my appointments were missing from the calendar. So I just closed TB, restored the profile from my backup, and everything was back to normal. (Needless to say, I did '''not''' compact this time.) Is there a known problem with compacting folders? Is there any way to troubleshoot this? Thanks!

All Replies (3)

Matt
Matt
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compacting involves replacing the files that hold mail on a folder by folder basis. There is no involvement with the calendar at all. It's data is held in an SQLITE database file in another folder entirely.

So my best guess is the two things are entirely unrelated. Compact did not loose any data. A conversation I have been having not since 2012.

I would hazard a guess that preventing streaming backups, cloud and networks backup/storage of the profile and scanning by anti virus products would prevent future issues.

MyUsernameHere
MyUsernameHere Question owner
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@Matt, thanks for the information. That makes my experience seem nearly inexplicable because I am not streaming backups, and I was not using cloud or network backups at the time. If my antivirus was scanning everything as it was compacted, I hope it would not affect compacting.

I suppose you mean that the calendar data are in another folder within the TB profile. Is it not possible that TB is compacting something that affects the calendar? I read something about prefs.js, and I wonder whether that file could be corrupted so that TB loses track of the calendar data.

Anyway, when I have time, I'll try the exercise again and report back.

Wayne Mery
Wayne Mery
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Version 91 comes out in several weeks, in which the language of the compact dialog has been greatly improved. When you install version 91, if compact causes problems, please create a new support topic.

Regarding the "file in use" information, it's OK for that to happen once in a while, but it should not be happening frequently.