wdseml files missing from one folder
I am using Thunderbird 31.5.0 on Win 7 (64). I sort my inbox messages into several subfolders. In Windows Explorer, I drilled down through my profile, and discovered (inside inbox.sbd) that each folder's *.mozmsgs folder contains *.wdseml files, except for one -- the folder that I use, on rare occasions, to store important messages that I want to be able to find easily. (The most recent message in the folder is about 9 months old.)
The messages in that folder ARE present on the regular Thunderbird screen -- they are just missing from the behind-the-scenes storage location.
Are these wdseml files purged automatically when they get too old? Is there any harm in leaving things as they are? (For example, will Windows not be able to index them?) And if there is any value in having the files, is there a way to get them back?
Chosen solution
As Matt said the WDSEML files are just duplicates created to allow Windows Search to search your email. They are contained in mozmsgs sub folders. I don't think you can read them directly and they are not what you read when you use Thunderbird.
Are you trying to read them from Windows Explorer or something
You can turn them off by unchecking Windows Search in Tools Options Advanced General but that will stop creating them. It will not get rid of them. I have not deleted mine so cannot confirm that it makes no difference to Thunderbird but believe Matt will have given the right answer.
Read this answer in context 👍 0All Replies (4)
The files you refer to are created for the sole purpose of allowing the windows search to search your mail. Personally I turned it off, deleted all the files and folders in explorer and never missed them. But I never ever use windows search either. I just see them as wasted disk space, in my case gigabytes of it.
Matt said
The files you refer to are created for the sole purpose of allowing the windows search to search your mail. Personally I turned it off, deleted all the files and folders in explorer and never missed them. But I never ever use windows search either. I just see them as wasted disk space, in my case gigabytes of it.
Modified by Sandy Orr
I cannot read the emails in one of my folders--all it shows are the WDSEML and some MSF files. How do I get to read them again?
Chosen Solution
As Matt said the WDSEML files are just duplicates created to allow Windows Search to search your email. They are contained in mozmsgs sub folders. I don't think you can read them directly and they are not what you read when you use Thunderbird.
Are you trying to read them from Windows Explorer or something
You can turn them off by unchecking Windows Search in Tools Options Advanced General but that will stop creating them. It will not get rid of them. I have not deleted mine so cannot confirm that it makes no difference to Thunderbird but believe Matt will have given the right answer.