In Folder Pane, 'Sam General' is shown as folder without any sub folders. According to the image supplied, it should have several sub folders.

Looking at the last image showing contents of 'Sam - General.sbd' For each of the *.sbd folders there should be an mbox file and .msf file. It only has *.sbd folders and a few index files that have no mbox files, basically, there are no mbox files that can create the link to the .sbd folders. So Thunderbird does not know they exist.

Exit Thunderbird. In 'Sam - General.sbd' folder. You need to create an mbox file for each of your *.sbd folders.

So, starting with 'CONTACTS.sbd' Right click in blank area below GIGS.msf select 'New' > 'Text Document' change the name of that new text document to say CONTACTS and remove the .txt part. - Make sure you get the spelling exactly the same as used in the 'CONTACTS.sbd' folder. When you remove the .txt part it will say something like 'if you change file extension it could become unusable'. You do want to change it, so say yes. This will create an mbox file called 'CONTACTS'.

Continue creating mbox files for all the other *.sbd folders making sure the spelling is exactly the same.

When completed, Start Thunderbird, it will auto create the relevant .msf file. Then you should be able to see all the sub folders to 'Sam General'

If 'Sam - General.sbd' folder has *.sbd folders that you are not using any more and they are empty. You could delete them to clean up the folder.

Do not delete anything if unsure.

Toad-Hall, you're brilliant! That worked a treat and now I have all the emails back again ... thanks SO much for your help.

That is really good news. Once you had proved that certain files were not corrupt, I knew there was a link somewhere that was not hooking up. You helped to solve the problem by supplying good information as requested and those images made the situation very clear.

I'm glad to hear you are up and running again.

Hello - I have this same issue (similar). However, I am not understanding the solution - it is not working for me. The difference with my issue is these emails went missing when I tried to move folders (under other sub folders).

When I add the new '.txt' file per your instructions it says they are already there. I see that they are there on this example, too.

How are you adding the 'folder' by adding the '.txt' doc - as that seems to be replacing the other .txt file already present?

If you see attached - what is missing are the emails in the mexico and europe files and those folders. However, adding a new 'txt' doesn't solve either issue.

And when I go into Thunderbird - in the 'next' folder - it just hangs in perpetual searching with it being empty.

Help! Thanks!

joy When I add the new '.txt' file per your instructions it says they are already there. I see that they are there on this example, too.

You have not followed the solution.

If the mbox file already exists then you do not need to add it. Do not mess up mbox files that exist because they contain emails.

This particular issue is about subfolders going missing because Thunderbird does not know they exist. In the original case, *.sbd folders contain the mbox files, so emails are ok... Just like you. But there was a missing mbox file which would have same name as the *.sbd folder, so one was created....You have not said if the 'Next' mbox file is missing and as you are not even trying to create one. I conclude you have not understood or misread the instructions.

This solution is about creating mbox files for *.sbd folders, so Thunderbird becomes aware of a bunch of subfolders.

'Europe' and 'Mexico' mbox files should contain emails. They are subfolders in 'Next' folder as indicated by the 'Next.sbd' folder. You are not looking in the correct place. You need to start by seeing what is going on with the 'Next' folder

Access 'Upcoming.sbd' folder. You should see 'Next.sbd' folder. But do you see an mbox file called 'Next' ? Do you see an index file called 'Next.msf' ? If no, there is no mbox file called 'Next' (no extension). Then follow the solution to create a 'Next' mbox file.

Toad-Hall said

Access 'Upcoming.sbd' folder. You should see 'Next.sbd' folder. But do you see an mbox file called 'Next' ? Do you see an index file called 'Next.msf' ? If no, there is no mbox file called 'Next' (no extension). Then follow the solution to create a 'Next' mbox file.

• • I believe the top 'next' is the mbox...is that correct?**

You are absolutely correct that I am confused and not understanding - haha...I am trying really hard though! :-)

Mine is an extra mess as the problem arose from me trying to move folders around to other locations...so they are all over the place duplicated.

However, the similarity remains the same - TB doesn't show the subfolders even though they are still showing in the files.

Joy re :I believe the top 'next' is the mbox...is that correct?**

No. The top 'Next' is a folder not a file. You have an index file called 'Next.msf'. You do not have an mbox file called 'Next'. That is why Thunderbird has no knowledge about the 'Next.sbd' folder containing all those mbox files with emails.

In the 'Upcoming.sbd' folder, you need to create an mbox file called 'Next'. Make sure Thunderbird is closed before doing it.

In the 'Upcoming.sbd' folder: Right click in blank area. select 'New' > 'Text Document' change the name of that new text document to say 'Next' and remove the .txt part. - Make sure you get the spelling exactly the same as used in the 'Next.sbd' folder. When you remove the .txt part it will say something like 'if you change file extension it could become unusable'. You do want to change it, so say yes. This will create an mbox file called 'Next'.

Start Thunderbird.

I have now had this same problem twice and tried to follow the instructions given, but was unsuccessful in fixing the issue. My question is when will Mozilla address this problem since it is obviously a bug in Thunderbird? I've never had this happen before I upgraded to the latest version of the product.

ntuele In order to help you specifically, please start your own question otherwise all your comments will get sent to the original postee of the question and they do not need to receive them.

Please include the following information in the new question. What OS are you using. The version of Thunderbird you are using. State the name of the folder(s) which has missing subfolders. Locate the profile name folder and Post images showing the contents of your profile mail account name folder, so we can see all the mbox files and *.sbd folders. Also post images showing contents of the *.sbd folders.

Many thanks Toad-Hall. Your solution worked for me. I could not work out why the mbox (no extension) files were missing. Have added the relevantly named text files and deleted the extension and all my folders and sub folders have now re-appeared. Thank you.