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Thunderbird doesn't finish compacting big folder under MacOS because hard disk is full

  • 3 replies
  • 1 has this problem
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  • Last reply by Wayne Mery

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I try to compact a big folder with duplicates but Thunderbird uses hard disk space, as much as it can from more than 50 gb free to zero - I have to stop it, I have to quit Thunderbird! So I can never compact the folder. Please help. Also, can I "repair" the folder (mbox ?). Thanks

I try to compact a big folder with duplicates but Thunderbird uses hard disk space, as much as it can from more than 50 gb free to zero - I have to stop it, I have to quit Thunderbird! So I can never compact the folder. Please help. Also, can I "repair" the folder (mbox ?). Thanks

Chosen solution

The compact copies mail from one file to another, so just how big is the folder of mail on disk? (right click the folder, select properties)

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Chosen Solution

The compact copies mail from one file to another, so just how big is the folder of mail on disk? (right click the folder, select properties)

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Thank you. Altogether mail folder is 83 gb, the biggest mail folder is 45 gb...

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A 46gb "folder", really? HOLY CRAP.

How much free space is on your Mac? If you delete enough from that folder you might be able to compact it. But you would want to shift+delete so that the deleted mail isn't put in your trash folder and take up space that you need to do the compact.