I followed the directions to move my address book over to new computer.

What directions exactly?

What are the versions of Thunderbird on both, the old, and the new computer?

All went well and when I downloaded address book to new computer - took about eight hours.

Eight hours? I wouldn't call that "All went well".

Thank you for responding.

I followed the directions in the direction section on how to transfer which has the video. https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/moving-thunderbird-data-to-a-new-computer

my old computer has 91.11.0 (32bit)

new computer is 102.0.2 (64 bit)

as far as the eight hours - did not know how long it would take - I assumed because it took that long it was working. (smile emoji here)

new computer is 102.0.2 (64 bit)

I'd advise against upgrading at this time. Thunderbird 102 is still very much work-in-progress with many features destined for version 102 still incomplete and various bugs not fixed in the current release version. There are problems with folder corruption (including dataloss), a yet incomplete new address book, problems with NNTP, and filters. I'd stay on v91.11.0 for the time being. There will still be a TB v91.12 and 91.13. By then hopefully the issues with 102 have been fixed.

Therefore I'd suggest to uninstall TB102 on the new computer.

You can download the latest TB91 (currently 91.11.0) from https://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/thunderbird/releases/91.11.0/win64/ Pick the locale you want (e.g. en-US), download the full installer (Thunderbird Setup 91.11.0.exe), and run it.

Delete the existing profile you created for TB102 on the new computer. You can keep the data for the time being just in case. Use the Profile Manager and follow the instructions to delete a profile. https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/using-multiple-profiles

If this was the only profile Thunderbird will create a new empty profile upon starting. Then close Thunderbird and repeat the steps you did the first time when copying over the profile from the old to the new computer.

Unless your profile is huge I wouldn't expect it to take eight hours though.

For the future make sure to regularly create backups of your profile folder.

thank you for your response. that first link you provide just gives me a list of items which I do not know what to do with.

If you're using the American English (en-US) version use this link. https://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/thunderbird/releases/91.11.0/win64/en-US/Thunderbird%20Setup%2091.11.0.exe

If you use any other locale, please post your Troubleshooting Information. At the top right of the Thunderbird window, click the menu button , then select Help > Troubleshooting Information. Press the "Copy text to clipboard button" and paste the information into your reply.

Thank you again for your patience and kindness in answering my questions. I think I am making progress.

deleted new version and have older version on my new computer. did the copy address/profile action from old computer to new computer. it did load up very quickly this time.

however, when I go to address book - info does not show up anywhere. there is only one profile showing up.

Open your Troubleshooting Information. At the top right of the Thunderbird window, click the menu button , then select Help > Troubleshooting Information.

Look for Profiles and click about:profiles. Post screenshot(s) with all profiles shown. https://support.mozilla.org/kb/how-do-i-create-screenshot-my-problem

this is only one

here it is

As per your screenshot, there are three profiles. The profile default-release1 is the one currently being used.

To which of those three profiles did you copy the contents of the backed up profile from the old computer?

I did see I had three profiles which I thought was not a good thing and I had no idea which profile I had put the address book into.

so I deleted the whole thing and reuploaded the program. Now I have one profile.

I tried to upload the profile file I had to the thunderbird but it was going to take 12 hours again and you said that should not happen.

I read some more on the thunderbird site and see that my profile folder is about 12 gb which I guess is rather large. i am sure that is the problem.

my question is - before we go any further. if and when we upload my address book - will the notes I have written on each person be transferred or will it only be their names and emails? should I just accept that information will not make it over?

When you transfer the entire TB profile from the old to the new computer, that will include all the address book data.

I don't get. I saved my old address book to a zip file and downloaded to new computer. things look like they are copying over but nothing. I copied profile to profile and nothing.

I am not sure what I am doing wrong.

When you open Thunderbird on the old computer, do you see all address books and contacts?

What exactly did you copy over to the new computer, and from where? Please provide the full path and file name(s).

in my old computer - I open address book and under personal address book - I have 11 folders with my groups. it says I have 502 contacts. In collected addresses it says i have 1787 contacts.

to move them over - I go to help, more troubleshooting info. I go to profile folder, open the folder. then I close thunderbird in the profile document that opened up - I go to the Thunderbird heading, click on that and there are three folders crash reports, pending pings, profiles and to other item - installs and profiles I copy the file called profile - save that to zip move Zip file to my new computer it downloaded as three zip folders. I copied the profile folder in each one and they combined.

I then go to my new computer - go to help, open up profiles. close the email program. go to the profile folder and copy the new one. it looks like it is copying but the way I have it set up - groups, addresses, notes does not show up. the only thing that is listed is person's name and email address.

You need to follow instructions and copy the correct folder. There is only one folder you need to copy. You do not need to make this complicated. Do not zip anything.

Make sure you have same version on the new as you are already using on the old.

Your old computer - has 91.11.0 (32bit)

On old computer:

1. Exit Thunderbird if it is running.
2. In bottom search type : %Appdata% and select the 'Appdata' file folder option
3. Select 'Roaming'
4. Copy the 'Thunderbird' folder to an external Device for moving to new computer.

See image below as guide.

On new computer: Install same version : get it from this link - you may have already done this. If you're using the American English (en-US) version use this link. https://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/thunderbird/releases/91.11.0/win64/en-US/Thunderbird%20Setup%2091.11.0.exe Install program, but do not run it. If you already installed it and ran it no worries.

1. Exit Thunderbird if it is running.
2. In bottom search type : %Appdata% and select the 'Appdata' file folder option
3. Select 'Roaming'
4. This time Delete the 'Thunderbird' folder
5. Paste the 'copied' 'Thunderbird' folder from external drive into the 'Roaming' folder. Thus replacing the one you deleted.
6. Start Thunderbird.

That's all there is to do Copy and Paste one folder called 'Thunderbird'.

On new computer - Did you uninstall version 102 ? Did you download and install 91.11.0 ?

Yes, I installed the 91.11.0 version of thunderbird.

Thank you, I did all that you said and still not transferring all the data. names and email addresses, that is it.