I don't understand why you would have multiple Inbox files, unless you have multiple accounts, or maybe multiple profiles. However...

Make a subfolder under Local Folders. Close Thunderbird, find your profile and locate your new subfolder. Copy your Inbox files into that. You'll probably have to rename them so each one has a unique name.

I have come to the conclusion that if you want to loose mail, let an ISP "help" you with your problems. They have little or no idea and usually start with "delete the account" perhaps the worst thing you could do short of dropping the device in the bathtub.

However to test your ideas, install the import export tools add-on.

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/thunderbird/addon/importexporttools/ create a folder under "Local Folders" and then right click it to use the import tools to import from an MBOX file. Then point it to those inbox files. you will get whatever mail they contain.

Dear Matt, I love both your dry sense of humor and the glimpse you afford me of the fragility that hides behind the corporate rock-hard stability of one particular ISP, at least. . . I'm working on your solution, which sounds promising, but I have some questions. 1) I've downloaded the import/export addon (made by that brilliant Italian, Paol Kaosmos : ), but when I go to my DOWNLOADS folder, and locate the import/export addon, there is no "INSTALL" option. Please?

Zenos said

I don't understand why you would have multiple Inbox files, unless you have multiple accounts, or maybe multiple profiles. However... Make a subfolder under Local Folders. Close Thunderbird, find your profile and locate your new subfolder. Copy your Inbox files into that. You'll probably have to rename them so each one has a unique name.

Dear Zeno (as opposed to Xeno, who stopped Aristotelian kinematics in ints tracks--SUCH a naysayer : ) You are right, I have a bunch of email accounts ( 6 at last count, will probably cut back a bit after this unsettling nonsense...) So before I copy my inbox fires into the Local Folders subfolder, somehow need to identify which INBOX is for my email that has had thousands of emails deleted. There MUST be away to force each of my INBOX folders to declare what inbox they go to...

Try the handy dandy install an add-on instruction I stole from Zenos. https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/installing-addon-thunderbird

At this point the less idea case applies I think.

Matt said

Try the handy dandy install an add-on instruction I stole from Zenos. https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/installing-addon-thunderbird At this point the less idea case applies I think.

Dear Matt, I was able to successfully open the HD Intall an Add-on Instruction, courtesy Zeno, but when I got to your instructions that say: "Open the Add-ons window in Thunderbird. There's a button to the left of the search window. Click this and from the subsequent menu select Install Add-on From File." I had problems. First, I went to Thunderbird, the email program, that has all my email addresses that I open, read, and send from every day. To get to Add Ons, I first clicked on "Tools", that from that subsequent directory, clicked on Add Ons. The next page that came up showed 6 Featured Add-ons, but I could not locate the import/export add-on which I'd downloaded, and so achingly wanted to install. Stuck again : (

BruceRatcliffe said

Zenos said

I don't understand why you would have multiple Inbox files, unless you have multiple accounts, or maybe multiple profiles. However... Make a subfolder under Local Folders. Close Thunderbird, find your profile and locate your new subfolder. Copy your Inbox files into that. You'll probably have to rename them so each one has a unique name.

Dear Zeno (as opposed to Xeno, who stopped Aristotelian kinematics in ints tracks--SUCH a naysayer : ) You are right, I have a bunch of email accounts ( 6 at last count, will probably cut back a bit after this unsettling nonsense...) So before I copy my inbox fires into the Local Folders subfolder, somehow need to identify which INBOX is for my email that has had thousands of emails deleted. There MUST be away to force each of my INBOX folders to declare what inbox they go to...

Dear Zeno, Another problem: I was able to add a subfolder ("Lost ehs emails") to my Local Folders directory, which shows up working withing Thunderbird, but when I try to locate Lost ehs emails using File explorer in Windows 8, it cannot be found as a subfolder in "Local Folders". Hummm...

Matt has come in from a different direction, but essentially the same solution; get your errant Inbox mbox files into Local Folders. I'd assumed that since you'd discovered Inbox files in your profile, advising you to move them directly would be appropriate.

The ImportExportTools add-on gets you to the same place but without you having to make sense of the profile structure.

Have you enabled viewing of hidden files? Did you close Thunderbird before looking for the new subfolder?

The article is out of date. The button you need now appears, inexplicably, on the "Extensions" tab. The "Get add-ons" tab has become, IMHO, almost totally useless. But you could still just drag-and-drop your xpi file onto the add-ons page.

I must remember to fix that article. Here is my original. I don't recall if it says anything additional that may have been omitted when ported into the mozilla site.

http://xenos-email-notes.simplesite.com/416814616

Zenos said

The button you need now appears, inexplicably, on the "Extensions" tab.

inexplicable and IMHO somewhat silly as well. Although I had missed the change entirely as it is a long time since I look on get add-ons. I was never very happy with it.

Like the awkwardness of locating a complete theme.

I must remember to fix that article. Here is my original.

I have dome some edits Xenos, have a look and if you approve I will release them. (I always like someone else to look before I turn my grammar and ideas loose on the KB site