Slow downloads - and now constant, uncompleting synchronisation of Inbox after change from POP to IMAP
I had a POP account that began slow downloading a few weeks ago. Opening and reading at the webserver helped subsequent downloads a little. A few days ago I decided to change Tbird server settings from POP to IMAP - to synchronise emails with a new smartphone. I may have made mistakes with the Tbird settings. The result is that Tbird Activity Manager shows constant background activity trying to synchronise Inbox folder "Bringing Inbox folder up to date", but getting nowhere.
To try to clear this up I have Archived on Local Folders all my Tbird-stored emails (1000+) and compacted everything. I also deleted all mails showing on the webserver (Plusnet) and compacted those folders including Delete folder.
After changing to IMAP at Tbird, I believe at some stage I had the wrong settings, i.e., check for new messages at startup and every 10 mins were ticked. Perhaps this caused errors.
Anyway, it seems like Tbird is permanently trying to synchronise the changes to folders (involving repeated timeouts) but without the mails available or the paths to actually do this. Would a solution be to delete the present IMAP account and start a new one with the same name?
Wšě wotmołwy (11)
There is a setting on my Gmail - server for POP or IMAP My other server doesnt have one. so check yours
My issue is with a personal domain server at Plusnet (UK) and my settings at Tbird, which I've recently tried to change from POP to IMAP.
After change to IMAP, server capacity was marked at Tbird as overload at 125%. I deleted all old mails from all folders at the server, and Archived on Local folders all old mails from the previous POP account stored at Tbird.
But Tbird is continuing to try to synchronise the Inbox folder in the background, without making any progress. This activity is slowing arrival of some emails.
I believe my profile folders are corrupted but I dont know how to fix this. Should I delete the present IMAP account at Tbird and start a new one, with the same user name.
When changing from POP to IMAP it is always easier to set the account up as a new one. They have different subdirectories and lots of entries in config as they use different protocols
You need to stop your POP-account from downloading so you might as well delete it, but NOT before you secured that mail by moving it to Local Folders.
If the IMAP-account doesn't have any mail you could delete and start fresh. EDIT: Use the same username /EDIT
Do you have any other accounts? If not you could start with a new profile: (start profilemaker by adding -P. Type Thunderbird -P in RUN (Windows-key + R))
In this case you will need to move your address-book, calendar Its just like moving TB to a new unit
Wot Gnospen změnjeny
Thank you for this reply. The fact is, I did remove the POP account - using Tools>Account actions - before setting up IMAP. This was required because my user@domainname remained the same. (POP does not show in the Tbird server account interface, but I think remains in profile folder.) It seems as if Tbird does not recognise POP account as removed and it is acting on (trying to synchronise) the new IMAP account. If I understand your message correctly, I should now remove the new IMAP account and start again from fresh and that I can do this applying the same username. I hope removing the account will also remove the problem with the legacy POP account.
Re my reply message above... I have stored all my previous emails and sent messages (a lot) in Archives on Local folders with the troublesome IMAP account. These are dated roughly up to the present. Will these disappear if I remove the IMAP account and start a new one. Obviously, I would like to keep them.
Any email you put into 'Local Folders' is kept in your profile name on your computer. To check you have copied over messages and not just headers, go into 'Offline' mode. Can you read messages in Local Folders ? if yes, then they are all stored correctly.
Offline: Click on two blue screen icon located far left in Status bar, it will tun into a two black screen icon when offline. click on two black screen icon to revert to online mode.
Your IMAP -account is NOT under Local Folders. The directories for Local folders and POP-accounts are in your profile under the Mail - directory. IMAP-accounts should be under another directory, ImapMail.
Maybe this is why you have trouble.
I have 4 accounts + Local folders
My MAIL has 4 subdirectories
- Feeds
- Local Folders
- Pop3.bredband.net
- Smart mailboxes
My ImapMail has 3 subdirectories
and 3 files
- Imap.bredband.net.msf
- Imap.bredband-1.net.msf
- Imap.googlemail.com.msf
You shouldn't move a pop-directory into ImapMail
In sub-sub-directories there are folders INBOX, TRASH etc as well as indexfiles (.msf), filter-rules and filterlogfiles (+PopState.dat in pop-accounts)
You said your server was cleaned of mail and you had them all in Local folders. Anything in Local folders are local and should stay intact. If you want to be safe make a backup of at least Local Folders
Thank you for your advice. I have now realised what must be the source of the problem. I DO have a secondary account on Tbird. It is the original server-domain account. After setting up this account, years ago, I created an additional personal domain name account with webspace and email, which is all I have used ever since. The original ISP account is visible in the Tbird folder list but habit made me fail to see it!
So, I have changed my personal domainname account from POP to IMAP, but the originating and active ISP-domainname account remains as POP. The two must be interacting with bad results.
I haven't yet established from my server ISP if it is essential to keep the original ISP-domainname account to maintain my personal domain service. I must assume that I need to maintain both accounts.
Can you tell me what procedure to follow to make both accounts IMAP? Presently, my personal account is now IMAP and I have Archived in local folders all relevant past email and tested that all is still there when offline. I guess I now need to make the original server account IMAP.
One other point, I have found that the original ISP server account has now automatically archived Sent mails and drafts that come from my personal domain account (I have also archived these myself in personal domain folders). Also, using Address book to create a new addressed message now creates a message window with my original ISP server name in the From field, even when I do this from my personal domain account. So the two accounts are definitely interacting in a confused way. Thanks for further advice please.
Please post this info: In Thunderbird Help > Troubleshooting information click on 'Copy text to clipboard' button
In this forum question: right click in a post a reply ' text box and select 'Paste' edit/remove all info on fonts and printers but do not modify anything else.
Below I have pasted the Troubleshooting Information as requested. Unless you see an instant solution to the IMAP problem, I have decided I should return my personal domain account back to a POP account. I have archived all old and recent received and sent messages. Do you foresee any problems with the folder structure, etc., if I just remove the IMAP account and add a POP account with the same user/domainname?
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account1:
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Do you have any further information for me to help resolve this issue? As I have said previously, I have two web/mail accounts: one is a registration/billing account with Plusnet domain (previously Madasafish) server, the other is my personal domain, which is also served by Plusnet.
I would like to either complete the changeover from POP to IMAP for both accounts (madasafish/plusnet is still POP), or return my personal domain account back from IMAP to POP as it was before.
I have archived past emails, but I am worried that perhaps the folders/profile system is corrupted and any changes I make will just make things worse. Presently, Activity Manager still shows continuous synchronizing of my personal Inbox account but without progress. This causes larger emails to not download the body efficiently from the server. I do now get IMAP synchronization of Inbox mails on my smartphone, but proper laptop Thunderbird operation is more important to me.