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How do I install a 2nd but separate thunderbird on same computer

  • 3 replies
  • 2 have this problem
  • 1 view
  • Last reply by duggabe

ChuckG
ChuckG
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I have a very large and very old Thunderbird with a tremendous amount of emails. I would prefer to simply freeze this version (Auto update is turned off), use it as an archive email source and start anew using the latest version. I do NOT wish to copy any emails at all. Well... if I could copy over this years emails I would do it!! Otherwise I simply want to access these archive emails when necessary. So how do I freeze this version and install a new version on the same machine? Also, can I copy my address book, folder names/structure and email filters without copying emails?

I have a very large and very old Thunderbird with a tremendous amount of emails. I would prefer to simply freeze this version (Auto update is turned off), use it as an archive email source and start anew using the latest version. I do NOT wish to copy any emails at all. Well... if I could copy over this years emails I would do it!! Otherwise I simply want to access these archive emails when necessary. So how do I freeze this version and install a new version on the same machine? Also, can I copy my address book, folder names/structure and email filters without copying emails?

All Replies (3)

duggabe
duggabe
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TB uses a 'profile' to store your account data, email, preferences, etc. This profile is not changed when you upgrade your version of TB; so actually you don't have to do anything!

But if you do want to start fresh, I think the easiest approach would be to create a new profile to use going forward, and keep the old profile to reference the old emails. see https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/using-multiple-profiles

You can export your address book from the old profile (use LDIF) and import to the new one.

If you are using IMAP, the folder structures will appear. POP and getting your filters is a little more involved.

ChuckG
ChuckG Question owner
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Thank you for your answer. I think your answer may be a step in the right direction. However, when I download a new version of TB it will find what I have and attempt to upgrade TB. I do not want this to happen at all as the 100,000 plus emails I have seems to choke the process. Either that or Windows 8.1 gets in the way of a successful upgrade. Export of address book highly desirable and export of folder structure, email accounts and email filters would be great but no emails. Perhaps I should make a usable copy of what I have, isolate it by changing windows folder names and whatever else needs chaning, and then erase all the emails in the TB that is to be upgraded and THEN upgrade. That would perhaps be the best solution BUT I need to understand how to save the old version, make it usable for archive reading of emails but make it otherwise dormant and making no attempt to download emails.

duggabe
duggabe
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100,000 emails - wow! OK, how about creating a new profile before you upgrade? then you won't have any email for the new version to choke on. see https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/using-multiple-profiles to create a new profile, but don't delete the old one!

Renaming the old version of the program will save it for future use, but it's the profile that needs to change before you upgrade.