Minor update: The Bossman folder had an abook entry, but others may not have had one. That isn't a problem, as I see the Paladin folder is clean with nothing extraneous. The Bossman folder had a lot of unnecessary entries and I had assumed the others may have as well. So, if abook isn't found, it's just something that doesn't exist.

I'm kind of tied up today. Will try it tomorrow. THANKS  !!

Tried what you suggested, created 'Bossman' profile. It restarted and shows a 'normal' start screen with Inbox and trash folders. Went to settings and when I tried to set local dir to 'd:\thunderbird\bossman' it gives error msg "The local directory path d:\thunderbird\bossman is not suitable for message storage. please choose another directory." It was set to 'd:\thunderbird\bossman\mail\mail.ezpos.com'.

I'm thinking, best option MIGHT be to uninstall it completely. restart, reinstall and setup accounts with d:\thunderbird as directory (as now.) Then once up, copy old d:\thunderbird folder over new one.

Thoughts???

Still offering to let you log in if that would make things easier...

thanks

The Bossman folder has some extraneous stuff in it that may be confusing to TB. Try the Paladin account, as it is cleaner. Also, I don't know why you're seeing d:\thunderbird\bossman\mail\mail.ezpos.com - that is a non-existent folder and would explain the error message you mentioned.

Let's try again... it is a jpg (bossman.jpg ~275k), shows attached.

I can see a problem. You do not have a 'Mail' folder. It would contain the 'Local Folders' folder and any pop mail account name folders.

You do not have an ImapMail' folder and it would contain all the imap mail account folders.

I can see that the 'profile name' = bossman - folder contains folders and files that should be in the eg: imap mail account name folder or pop account name folder.

EG: 'Archives.sbd' folder, 'Archives' mbox file, 'Archives.msf' MSF file, 'Drafts' mbox file, 'Drafts.msf', 'Inbox', 'Inbox.msf', 'Junk', 'Junk.msf' 'msgFilterRules.dat' and there may be more but image does not show more.

I note the 'Junk' file - Do you normally have a POP mail account ?

Can you post more images, so we can see the entire contents of the D: /Thunderbird/'Bossman' folder.

It is odd that there are no folders for 'Mail', 'pop mail account name folders', 'Local Folders'.

This fully explains why nothing is seen.

There should be a 'prefs.js' file. Please open using 'Notepad' and post images showing all contents of the 'prefs.js' file as this may contain good info on how to recontruct everything.

Toad-Hall, your insight will be helpful. That folder is actually the local folder for the account. It initially confused me because he has lots of items in it that don't belong and that is why I suggested he use a cleaner folder. I had proposed that he change the local folder to his folder on D because that had the mail folders and the link is within the profile's Mail folder. There is no 'Mail' folder because this is within the mail folder. All help is welcome. The profile is on drive c. (Note: My suggestion that he use another, cleaner folder hasn't shown up yet, as it is waiting for moderator approval.)

Understood. Bossman is the account name folder and in Thunderbird the Account Settings - 'Local directory would point to it.

'profile.ini' has D: /Thunderbird/'Bossman' set up as a 'Profile name' folder.

This explains why he has got a load of folders and files in 'Bossman' that you normally see in a 'profile name' folder.

Thunderbird does not see it as a mail account folder - it sees it as a 'profile'.

In 'profiles.ini' I would expect to see:

[Install8216C80C92C4E828] Default=Profiles/mpbe2rhj.default Locked=1

[Profile0] Name=default IsRelative=1 Path=Profiles/mpbe2rhj.default Default=1

[General] StartWithLastProfile=1 Version=2

In 'Bossman' I would expect to see: 'Archives.sbd' folder, 'Archives' mbox file, 'Archives.msf' MSF file, 'Drafts' mbox file, 'Drafts.msf', 'Inbox', 'Inbox.msf', 'Junk', 'Junk.msf', 'msgFilterRules.dat', 'Trash', 'Trash.msf - plus any other mbox files and .msf files I've not listed.

All other folders and files should not be in that folder.

Okay, I think we're getting there. If profile is pointing to D, then need backup and recover the profile you built yesterday from my earlier instructions. If you're getting the account setup wizard, just click the Home tab, right-click near top to tick 'mail bar' and then click help>more troubleshooting information, then scroll down to profile, click About:profile and on next screen click 'create profile' and then first, assign a name, and second, browse and select the profile you just built. continue to TB.

Then, set the local directory for Paladin, as I recall it was clean of extraneous items. Per Toad-Hall's insight, review all remaining folders in D, not just Bossman, to ensure they do not have any unwanted files or folders removed and then continue to set their local folders. I would have suggested removing the unwanted items in Bossman earlier, but since you had been using it for a mail folder, I didn't want to change it yet - and I didn't realize that TB would reject it. Toad-Hall has more experience than I and his input is much appreciated. Do let me know how it goes from here. Other than this setback, please keep to the earlier post with numbered steps.

I didn't understand much of the above comments. I do have a profiles.ini in appdata\roaming\thunderbird.

[Install8216C80C92C4E828] Default=D:\Thunderbird\Bossman Locked=1

[Profile1] Name=bossman IsRelative=0 Path=D:\Thunderbird\Bossman

[Profile0] Name=default IsRelative=1 Path=Profiles/mpbe2rhj.default Default=1

[General] StartWithLastProfile=1 Version=2

Should I make edits to that or what?

Tell me if this would be easier or better: - backup EVERYTHING - uninstallthunderbird -reinstall it, add my 'profiles' (bossman, bruce, paladin, etc). - copy select files from backup to 'import' old emails (need to know what ones)

thoughts????????

You said it should look like your wife's image info.

re: l it, add my 'profiles' (bossman, bruce, paladin, etc). They are not 'profiles' - they are 'mail accounts' which you have copied from the 'profile' location and put into D:\Thunderbird\ Then you changed the 'Account Settings' 'local directory to point to that D:\Thunderbird\'Bossman' location. We can easily fix the 'Bossman' folder. It is easy to point everything to those 'mail accounts' again. So do not do anything to them at this moment.

The 'profiles.ini' file is a mess - it thinks 'Bossman' is a profile and that's why 'Bossman' has a load of folders and files which it should not have. - Bossman should look like 'Bruce'.

- I'm not sure what you did but it seems you have tried to create a new profile and point the actual profile to your mail account. So the mention of 'Bossman' in the 'profiles.ini' file is wrong. It should not be mentioned.

The 'profiles.ini' says You have a mail profile name folder and it is here: Path=Profiles/mpbe2rhj.default

• C:/Users/user name/Appdata/Roaming/Thunderbird/Profiles/mpbe2rhj.default

What is in that mpbe2rhj.default profile name folder ? Does it exist ? Did you delete it ?

• C:/Users/user name/Appdata/Roaming/Thunderbird/Profiles

Please show image which displays all contents of that 'Profiles' folder.

Do you only have that ' c0f770m.bruceN' profile name folder ?

As previously advised, I tried creating a new 'identity' (or whatever you call it) with my bossman email and called it bruceN. Then tried deleting it after that didn't work. I've made backups of things before doing anything and after each unsuccessful repair attempt.

Only c0f770Im.bruceN folder in profiles (sea attached for it and it's contents.)

Don't have backup of C drive part from before my first attempts as I didn't any info was there (thought only basic program install).

that's why I suggested wiping and reinstalling, then copying email info back in - that was 'infrastructure' would be correct.

I'm also open to someone logging in remotely via teamvier or distant desktop if that would be easier and more time efficient.

again, thanks for help. I'm up the crick without a paddle now not having access to several email accounts  :)

UPDATE: Make sure Thunderbird is not running.

If this does not exist: C:/Users/user name/Appdata/Roaming/Thunderbird/Profiles/mpbe2rhj.default

If this is the only one you see: C:/Users/user name/Appdata/Roaming/Thunderbird/Profiles/c0f770m.bruceN

Then do the following in the order stated: Access:

• C:/Users/user name/Appdata/Roaming/Thunderbird/Profiles folder
• Delete 'c0f770m.bruceN' folder

So now there are no folders in the 'Profiles' folder.

Access:

• C:/Users/user name/Appdata/Roaming/Thunderbird folder
• delete the 'profiles.ini' file

Access: D:\Thunderbird\Bossman folder

You need to keep these files and folders as they contain your emails: 'Archives.sbd' folder, 'Archives' mbox file, 'Archives.msf' MSF file, 'Drafts' mbox file, 'Drafts.msf', 'Inbox', 'Inbox.msf', 'Junk', 'Junk.msf', 'filterLog.html', 'msgFilterRules.dat', popstate.dat, 'Trash', 'Trash.msf - plus any other mbox files and .msf files - they will have same sort of names as folders you normally see in Folder Pane.

Create a folder on desktop and call it 'TBIRD' Move all those other folders into 'TBIRD' eg: cache2, calendar-data, crashes, datareporting,minidumps, etc. Move all other files which are not mentioned above and put them in 'TBIRD' We are keeping all those files because I'm not sure what you did earlier and some of those files might contain data like address books. So just leave them in that' TBIRD' folder for now.

The result is 'Bossman' folder contents now look like eg: 'Bruce' folder contents.

Now start Thunderbird.

It will act like it is new and ask you create mail accounts for each email address. Please create POP mail account for bossman email address. Do not allow any download of any emails.

When you have created the mail account for bossman: In Account Settings , select 'Server Settings' for bossman account Bottom right - 'Local directory' - click on 'Browse' Locate the : D:\Thunderbird\Bossman folder - select 'Bossman' folder and click on OK So 'Local directory now says: D:\Thunderbird\Bossman

Check you can access emails in the Folder Pane.

Then repeat the same process for 'Bruce' email address. But obviously this time in 'Local directory' - click on 'Browse' Locate the : D:\Thunderbird\Bruce folder - select 'Bruce' folder and click on OK So 'Local directory text now says: D:\Thunderbird\Bruce

Let's back up. You created a profile for all of your mail clients. You were then going to link each accounts mail folder to the setting at tools>accounts>server settings. The setup of the profile went properly. The profiles.ini was correct. Unfortunately, the first account to add was the Bossman account with the unwanted components. That cause profiles.ini to be set incorrectly. As I mentioned earlier, you can get back on track by 1. Cleaning up bossman profile per Toad-Halls comments (and reviewing other folders to ensure none of them have the unwanted components) 2. Fixing profiles.ini per my comments (that is, resetting the profile properly) 3. Resuming where you left off

Anything else you do will be repeating what you recently did.

Okay, Toad-Hall's most recent post is very similar to my earlier post. Follow either as you prefer.

Worked basically (couldn't stop it from downloading messages, but they didn't delete from server. Copied the original email files (as saved from your list. Loaded fine and downloaded messages again (still on server, can change that setting.) Only issue I see in quick look is my archives didn't restore properly. That isn't real critical, but would be nice to have.

See image of c:\.... profiles. Does everything need to be in ktd8yl5w.default-releaswe folder or is some of that crap that can be deleted.

Once I know we are fine, I'll try same on other email addresses...

MUCHO THANKSO...... If you ever get to New Orleans, give me call (I live about 45 min away on the northshore of the lake

the bruce email is an IMAP... is the procedure any different for that one? tnx

Yes, there is some junk, but don't worry about it for now. Easy to do later. IMAP is the same. Once defined in profile, use the tools>account>server pane to set link to the D drive. (BE SURE to check all folders so they do NOT have any extraneous stuff or you will repeat the Bossman problem.) And remember to stay offline to ensure you don't download any POP mail on the POP accounts until they're all there. Keep me posted.

Got bossman basically working (can get email, have old emails - except archived stuff), but can't send. That's likely a password or config issue I can get squared with provider.

Did same for bruce. Seemed to work, but I can't get my old messages. I copy from the saved 'bruce' folder into the new d:\thunderbird\bruce folder (see bruce1.png.) After I start TB, without donig anything... it changes the bruce folder to what's on bruce2.png .

thoughts.... we ARE making progress  :)

(all the other accounts are POP and from same server as bossman, so I don't expect issues with those)

Hello and congratulations on progress. I suggest you pause, with TB not running, and copy your profile at c:\users\yourid\appdata\roaming\thunderbird to a safe place, possibly drive D. That ensures that, if anything goes wrong, that you don't have to repeat all you've done so far. I would do that after each successful step is completed.

I cannot tell which is bruce1 and bruce2. Very important that the files match what you defined in setting up the account. Reupload one of them and tell whether it was 1 or 2 and then I can figure out the other one. Overall, good news.

My bad... I should have specified which is which.

For some reason, it doesn't want to let me upload file today (had that issue a few times previously and had to wait a while and try again.)

Bruce 1 is the ORIGINAL file group from before 'hiccup' (with folder for 'guns & ammo - yeah, big believer in 2nd amendment) and subfolder 'Archive.sbd.

Bruce 2 is what it somehow changes to after opening TB.

Mucho Thankso  :)