If you are able to create eml files, there is an addon, importexporttools, that has an 'Import messages from folder' feature that could import the messages into a TB folder. Address book in csv works fine.

Seems there is no free way to convert my .pst to eml files . The two I have tried either don't work or say the file is too big .

Just wondering if it would be easier to put thunderbird on my old pc and use TBs import command to get the files straight from outlook??

Yes. TB has the feature to import from Outlook if on same PC. The profile could then be copied to new PC. Once on new PC, install TB and use profile manager to connect profile. That can be done by - invoking command prompt and typing RUN - then typing thunderbird.exe -p - that starts TB with a panel to select profile. click 'create profile' and browse and select wherever you placed profile. - that should do it.

Well, I have got the files out of outlook but messed up profile transfer ! Thought I would try cutting and pasting entire contents of thunderbird folder from old pc to new (having deleted the TB on the new machine which I initially started with ).I think uninstall doesn`t clear the TB folder . Is this the best way and should TB folder on new pc be competely empty before I start ? Or is profile manager better/easier. thunderbird.exe-p doesn`t work. Thanks for your patience .

You can put the profile folder anywhere, since profiles.ini will be updated by profile manager. I have myprofile at c:\\TBIRDPROFILE on running profile manager, you need a space after thunderbird.exe before -p If you have difficulty with the RUN command, you can right-click desktop shortcut and click 'properties' and the change the Target line to so it shows -p to the right of what is there (probably c:\\program files\thunderbird.exe" ). A panel will appear where you can 'create profile' and browse to wherever you saved it. Once it's working, just delete the -p from shortcut.

yes that gets profile manager up thanks, so I now have only 2 questions 1)What files am I bringing across on my usb from the old pc with TB which now has outlookfiles added ? 2)What do I need to delete on new pc (which currently has TB on ) so that new profile is the only one ? Thanks again

First, I assume that TB works on old PC with imported files. You need to bring the entire profile folder. You do not need to delete any old profiles, other than for your own desire for neatness. They are probably in c:\\(username/appdata/thunderbird/profiles with weird names such as 123456.default .

OK, I have the files onboard ,when I create a new profile should I do the choose folder part of the wizard and specify the folder my copied files are in ? ,otherwise when I finish the wizard I just get the enter account screen as if it was a brand new installation .

Click the 'create folder' button and browse and select the folder where you stored the profile. That should do it. Once all is settled, you can remove the -p from shortcut.

That hasn`t worked ,after I finished the wizard it went straight to the enter account start up screen. I put details in but no sign of the old files in the inbox like they are on TB on old pc.

half an hour later it brought in all the sent messages, but not the inbox !

.....and interestingly the whole lot has appeared on my ipad  ! ? !

Can you post an image of what the profile looks like? That is, an image of the directory listing in File Explorer.

The ipad thing is pretty baffling too.

Any further suggestions ?