I suffered the same issue after applying 76.12.0 also. I have now recovered, moving back to 78.11.0 (thanks to excellent backups). However, the restores didn't entirely solve my problem. I have now corrected the problem, but I'm not sure of the source.

Basically, during/after the 78.12.0 application, and after much diagnosis, I discovered that my direc- tories were incorrectly identified. These are the directories that identify where all messages will be held. I also have the complexity of having Local Folders, which became incorrectly identified also.

My incorrect directories were named both in the email account(s), and the Local Folder(s) definition. The correct directories are also permanently resident on an external drive. But, I've had all these definitions for many years.

So, when Tbird initializes, these named message directories are used. If the named directories can not be found, empty directories will be created on the Tbird install drive, and initialization proceeds.

If initialization completes with empty directories, you'll not see any of your existing email inventory until the reference(s) are corrected. I just don't know what happened with 78.12.0 that referenced empty directories.

As soon as I get setup to recover, and get the time, I'll be again applying 78.12.0 to determine if the problem truly relates to 78.12.0, or comes from somewhere else. If I reproduce the problem using the application of 78.12.0, I'll post my experience here. Otherwise, I'll just chalk this up to one of those unidentified problems.

Thanks,

I just finished the reapplication of 78.12.0, with absolutely no problems.

But, one thing of interest I noted. My original 78.12.0 apply was somewhere near ~50M for download. I thought that strange, as I'd never seen any Tbird update so large. The update I just ran without trouble was around ~4.8M. That seemed more normal to what I'm used to.

I hope this mention had no connection, but it does seem that the 78.12.0 update would normally be static in size. I also remember the first 78.12.0(~50M) entry seemed also to DL quite fast. Much faster than other items of comparable size.

Thanks

twfobe6714

Thank you for the information, however that isn't my situation exactly.

Have no clue what version I was using prior to what seemed to be an automated update. Usually I am made aware of them and either accept or postpone.

Have backed up my entire computer before, however its been sometime. All my emails, including sub-folders which I thought were on my hard drive of the laptop as I know I had pulled them off my server.

I had shut off the computer as I often do for couple hours after working all day and most of the evening. Came back couple hours later to restart the computer and TBird, then there are no emails or anything. Its as if I had never had any accounts before and I needed to start all over again.

There are 6 yrs of emails on this laptop and linked to TBird. There has to be a way to get my prior version back is there not? This is the first time ever to have any trouble with Tbird in more than 20 yrs being with them. I work to get others to use this instead of their typical things.

Not very savvy with all this stuff and just do not know how or where to locate all these programs and such.

It appears on July 14 2021 Firefox (x64 en US) 205 MB Version 90 was downloaded.

This is where it concerns me even more possibly, it must have downloaded an entirely different version or system that I have not noticed before. On July 15 2021, TBird 78.12.0 (x86 en-US) at 196MB. Would that "(x86 en-US)" be something to have caused my issue as it seems to be an entirely different version than I have ever noticed before and more than my computer is setup for?

Not sure if that last sentence makes sense to you.

I thought let me see what the control panel says on what was loaded and when.

Thank you for your effort. I am having to work via my server email applications as I always have done IMAP never a POP..

Regards,

Well first, looking at the basic Tbird panel, at the top of the screen, select >tools >options >general >updates. Then, select the choice - "Check for updates, but ....". This will allow your blessing before promoting updates. Apparently, this panel area will allow you to request Mozilla update history. That clarity might help with you diagnosis.

Now, I've read your last text, but I need to reread it a few times. In the meantime I've got some simple validations to request. Backtracking to my problem narrative momentarily, I don't have a clue what happened applying 78.12.0. I did happen to look at my current level as the update was starting. It was 78.11.0. And, of course, after my recovery restorations, 78.11.0 is where I returned. My system is MS Win10 Pro build 19043.11, I doubt any of this is critically relevant, but it's here if needed.

Now, back to your issue....

Tbird installation builds/allocates/honors/ these message(text) directories. They are located somewhere near the installation program when built by install process. Or, they may simply be allocated, and reused if found existing from prior usage. In the last scenario, the message directories that will be (re)used are the ones the installer has named in the >Server Settings >Loc- al Directory declarations of each email account configuration.

Like me, If you're missing six years of existing mail messages, there's only a few ways for that to happen. 1. Tbird install/update either did not look, or could not find the message directories intended. 2. The intended message directories have been deleted, lost, removed. renamed, or otherwise made inaccessible. 3. The Tbird install/update somehow corrupted the current email account configurations, causing virgin configurations

    to be generated.

So, I want you to try this to identify what/where/how/why your message directories reside. If you're absolutely sure your message directories reside on the Tbird install drive, then we'll only look there. If, like me, you've previously moved your message directories to another drive, we'll have to look there also.

So, open up a file explorer session, and using the "search this pc" facility, scan any/all drives for text="mozmsgs". Wait until the search ends, then look through the search results for the prevalent directory paths finding the mozmsgs text. Unless you've had other earlier Tbird configurations, remaining, there should only be one drive showing a presence of these mozmsgs data. Then make sure all your email accounts via >Server Settings >Local Directory declarations of each email account declaration addresses the correct path/file for that definition.

If you find more unknown paths for these message directories, it means that the message directories either have been changed or not correctly specified.

But, your six years of email has to be on your system somewhere, unless it was deleted by someone. I just think that your Tbird definition is using message directories other than the message directories you need. In the meantime, I'll reread carefully, your last input.

Thanks.

twfobe6714

Thank you for the information, however that isn't my situation exactly.

TWF:You are welcome.

Have no clue what version I was using prior to what seemed to be an automated update. Usually I am made aware of them and either accept or postpone.

TWF:You can, or should, probably turn off automatic updates.

Have backed up my entire computer before, however its been sometime. All my emails, including sub-folders which I thought were on my hard drive of the laptop as I know I had pulled them off my server.

TWF:My interpreted translation:Have complete backup(s) of the laptop where my Tbird problem(s) now reside. But, those backups are quite old relative to typical computer day-to-day changes? As a recovery tactic, I copied all replacement companion Tbird directories from a similar server definition, and migrated those Tbird server directories, back to the laptop, to facilitate recovery?

I had shut off the computer as I often do for couple hours after working all day and most of the evening. Came back couple hours later to restart the computer and TBird, then there are no emails or anything. Its as if I had never had any accounts before and I needed to start all over again.

TWF:My interpreted translation:After using the laptop extensively, I shut it down for a few hours. Upon laptop restart, I realize that my laptop Tbird installation/configuration has changed, and all my laptop resident email inventory is missing. My laptop Tbird system seems not to find/sense/discover all my email directory 6 year inventory, that was present 1-2 days ago?

There are 6 yrs of emails on this laptop and linked to TBird. There has to be a way to get my prior version back is there not? This is the first time ever to have any trouble with Tbird in more than 20 yrs being with them. I work to get others to use this instead of their typical things.

TWF:My interpreted translation:I've been using Tbird for decades, and have accumulated at least 6 years of message inventories in that time. There has to be a way to recover my complete message inventories, that I seem to no longer find?

Not very savvy with all this stuff and just do not know how or where to locate all these programs and such.

TWF:My interpreted translation:I am only moderately skilled in PC and Tbird diagnosis. I am not fluent in how/where to locate my missing email messages, discovered after my recent Tbird 78.12.0 update?

It appears on July 14 2021 Firefox (x64 en US) 205 MB Version 90 was downloaded.

TWF:My interpreted translation:I assume that, via a MS/Win update log, you were able to detect a Tbird version not suited for your system's use, was DL'd in preparation for the 78.12.0 update?

This is where it concerns me even more possibly, it must have downloaded an entirely different version or system that I have not noticed before. On July 15 2021, TBird 78.12.0 (x86 en-US) at 196MB. Would that "(x86 en-US)" be something to have caused my issue as it seems to be an entirely different version than I have ever noticed before and more than my computer is setup for?

TWF:My interpreted translation:Later, over concern about the (x64 en-US 205MB) download, I retried the update only to receive a download presentation of (x86 en-US 196MB). Would this latest 196MB be something causing detrimental harm to my Tbird update operation?

Not sure if that last sentence makes sense to you.

TWF:My interpreted translation:Rephrasing my last comment....?

I thought let me see what the control panel says on what was loaded and when.

TWF:My interpreted translation:I'll take a look at the Tbird program characteristics concerning the recent update?

Thank you for your effort. I am having to work via my server email applications as I always have done IMAP never a POP..

TWF:My interpreted translation:My laptop's Tbird update failure has installed/changed my Tbird definition to POP3 from it's original IMAP. During this Tbird update problem, I have moved to the Tbird email system on my server?

Regards,

Above, have I interpreted your question(s) statement correctly?

You know, another thing that I forgot in my earlier entry yesterday evening. I mentioned only 3 ways that a Tbird generation could bypass finding/using existing message directory(s) definitions. There also is another way, known only to me by way of rumor. And, the rumor applies to any email system, not just Tbird. The rumor goes like this - If you maintain 6 years of message activity in your defined inbox, sent, drafts, outbox, etc containers, you are running the risk of loosing that/those message inventories to many/various/all email systems inadequate abilities to manage those message depositories effectively. IOW., if you're going to store 1,000's of messages indefinitely, in a message folder directly accessible by the email's system management, you may be in for message loss/contamination/complete failure. Of course, the possibility that you've experienced such a problem as this, at exactly the intersection of your Tbird 78.12.0 application, is quite quite coincidental. I too, have 1,000's of historical message from throughout the years. However, the direct access folders(inbox, drafts, outbox, sent, etc) never any more than a handful of messages on hold. Once this hold reason is ended, these pending messages are moved to their respective archive holding directories, for indefinite/permanent storage. Access to these indefinite/permanent storage directories can still be easily made by simply selecting the "Local Directory" root where the indefinite/permanent messages are stored. This provides the standard primary message storage area(inbox, drafts, etc), where access/control is handled by the email system management. And, the secondary message storage area(directories/message names of your choosing). where access/control is handled by the OS file system management. But, I've never actually witnessed/suffered any email message loss by allowing the primary message storage areas(inbox, sent, etc.), to grow to incredible sizes.

Do you have recent backups of the Tbird message directories, from your laptop, produced as recent to the problem as you would be comfortable to reclaim?

Thanks.