thunderbird profile copy-paste fails due to windows long file name problem
Copying the thunderbird profile folder (to back it up) from the HD to an ext HD fails because of the windows long file name limitation problem. The folder within the profile folder: 3647222921wleabcEoxlt-eengsairo.files will not paste because its file name path is too long. Even when I edited the windows registry to allow long file names (changed the registry value for long file names from 0 to 1) I still get the same error message when pasting the copied profile folder into an external hard drive. Will the backed up copy of the profile folder if installed into a new computer still allow thunderbird to function properly without that folder (i opened that folder and it is actually empty)? Can thunderbird's code be rewritten to shorten this file name? Other solutions anyone can recommend? thank you
Modified by billJ24556
Chosen solution
Well I just solved my own problem. For those of you still using the old method of making a profile folder backup (as I was) - old method: where you go to thunderbird help > troubleshooting information > scroll down to profile folder - click on open profile folder >> then close thunderbird and go one level up in the folder tree and copy the folder "thunderbird" - that is the profile folder then paste it into an external drive - this is the backup. This unzipped copy of all the profile files contains these long file names. Searching for tools in mozilla right after i posted this i found that the new/better way is to use the thunderbird export tool - my profile folder is >> larger than 2GB so i used the large size method - into a zip and of course that copy/pasted just fine because now the only file name is the name of the zip file. Here's the link for the "new" method: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/thunderbird-export#w_how-to-backup-your-profile-with-the-export-tool
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Just speaking as a volunteer, and not as a guru on the code itself, if Thunderbird can work with that file on one PC, I imagine it could on another, to answer your question.In my two decades of using Thunderbird, I have never seen a file name longer than 30-40 characters or that could not be copied, so there must be a reason why you have one so long--and empty. If this is a problem, it is a Windows problem, and not a Thunderbird one. Just my thoughts...
Chosen Solution
Well I just solved my own problem. For those of you still using the old method of making a profile folder backup (as I was) - old method: where you go to thunderbird help > troubleshooting information > scroll down to profile folder - click on open profile folder >> then close thunderbird and go one level up in the folder tree and copy the folder "thunderbird" - that is the profile folder then paste it into an external drive - this is the backup. This unzipped copy of all the profile files contains these long file names. Searching for tools in mozilla right after i posted this i found that the new/better way is to use the thunderbird export tool - my profile folder is >> larger than 2GB so i used the large size method - into a zip and of course that copy/pasted just fine because now the only file name is the name of the zip file. Here's the link for the "new" method: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/thunderbird-export#w_how-to-backup-your-profile-with-the-export-tool
david said
Just speaking as a volunteer, and not as a guru on the code itself, if Thunderbird can work with that file on one PC, I imagine it could on another, to answer your question.In my two decades of using Thunderbird, I have never seen a file name longer than 30-40 characters or that could not be copied, so there must be a reason why you have one so long--and empty. If this is a problem, it is a Windows problem, and not a Thunderbird one. Just my thoughts...
Thank you David for your reply. I agree that must be a reason though i have no idea what it might be or what to do about it. However i just found the work around - backup the profile folder using thunderbird's export tool - it compresses all the files into a zip so no "exposed" long file names that run afoul of the windows long file name problem.