You interrupted the initial folder move before it was finished, by telling Thunderbird to move it back. This caused a big problem.

If the folder and e-mail are only on your computer (not on the e-mail server), then there is some mucking around we can do with the files on your hard drive to sort things out. NOTE: The probability of success with this will decrease the more you use Thunderbird on the computer, though. So stop using Thunderbird on the computer immediately, and reply here if this is your situation.

If the folder and e-mail were on the e-mail server and you were using IMAP, then the best place to fix this would be using your webmail, since it will not be confused about what is where, like Thunderbird currently is. Quit Thunderbird, then log into your webmail and sort out what is where, and move them to where you want. Then start Thunderbird.

If you are using IMAP with your company server, then you need to get your IT support people to help you sort it out.

Brilliant! all folders remained intact on the web email - wahooo!!

Thank you

Bruce - I am back. There is a lingering issue still from the crazy moves made earlier.

Nearly everything is recovered EXCEPT - there are two email folders with sub folders that appear in their entirety on the browser email but not on the PC email app. Thunderbird was uninstalled off the PC, directories deleted, then installed Thunderbird and allowed it to sit until there was no more activity in the downloading update box.

Please advise.

Another, less significant, artifact is emails are missing during this craziness period - just as a data point - would think nothing here would be lost since the mucked up folders appear complete.

When you uninstall Thunderbird, it leaves behind your Thunderbird Profile folder that contain your e-mail, address books and Thunderbird settings. Then when Thunderbird is installed again, it sees that folder and automatically uses it.

This is by design so people can uninstall and reinstall the program without losing their e-mail. In your case, though, this is a detriment.

What you need to do is create a new Thunderbird Profile, so you can start from scratch. In the new Profile, the IMAP folders will be correctly updated to what is on the server.

Use these instructions to create a new Thunderbird Profile.

On the subject of your "less significant artifact": It is unfortunate, but not unexpected that you have lost some e-mails. At the very moment that you interrupted the move process, those particular e-mails were probably the ones being moved.

Bruce - I am still living off the web based email as my desktop fails to become complete. I just loaded Thunderbird on to a home PC that has never had it loaded before. When I logged into my email account it too is partial compared to the web email, exactly the same as my office PC. I must believe there is a buffer at Thunderbird that is controlling the desktop data - it is not the files within the PC. Please advise.

Thank you

In the normal folders view of Thunderbird, right-click your account name and choose "Subscribe".

Select all the folders and click the "Subscribe" button. Then the "OK" button.

Quit Thunderbird and start it again.

NOTE: Given the "in process" migration of this forum, this response may not be seen later.