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Help with TB backups into new Win 7

Discussion in 'Firefox, Thunderbird & SeaMonkey' started by lonestar1, 2010/10/23.

  1. 2010/10/23
    lonestar1 Lifetime Subscription

    lonestar1 Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    Hello-All,
    Arie asked me to create a new thread for this nightmare!
    I bought a new Dell with win.7 and was concerned it would function with FF and TB...It does fine..
    I have ALL my life backed up with Carbonite!!! Thinking it would be easier to bring everything into the new Dell.....Obviously, I was wrong! They have NO idea how to get my email and word docs. back into this computer.....My email is especially important, I need it every day!!!
    I can locate my mail folders - but how to import them in TB on win 7...The import function doesn't work...I've tried copying under server/local/dir....doesn't work either...
    I've installed TB, i can send/receive ok...


    Thanks everybody.
     
    lonestar1,
    #1
  2. 2010/10/23
    Westside

    Westside Inactive Alumni

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    This has been said before, but I will try again. I know that people are used to an Import function, but as far as I know it has never work since Netscape6/7, etc. up to the present Thunderbird. The way I have since way back Netscape 6, has been to rename the files in Mail ( with the program closed), in an older system from Inbox to Inboxold (or anything different from the original). It applies to any other such file, like Sent, or any specially created file.
    I am assuming that accounts have been already create in Win7, so right copy the renamed files, one at a time, to avoid errors, and paste them into proper mail folder ( the same one which has Inbox, etc files. When the program is opened again, new folders, called Inboxol, Sentold, and whatever, will be created, and they will contain the old mail.
    As the new folders are created the corresponding .msf files will appear.
    I do not use Word, but similar programs can handle operations as in TB.
     
    Westside,
    #2


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  4. 2010/10/24
    TonyT

    TonyT SuperGeek Staff

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    The first time Thunderbird is run on Windows it will create a profile for the user who is logged on. In Windows 7 this profile is located at:

    C:\Users\<username>\Roaming\Thunderbird\Profiles\<string-of-characters.default

    In the .default directory is where all mail & account settings are stored.

    To migrate TB to a new computer, find the user profile on the old computer and copy all files and folders in that .default folder. Then put those files in the .default folder on the new computer.

    On XP computers the .default directory is located here:
    C:\Documents & Settings\<username>\Application Data\Thunderbird\Profiles\string-of-characters.default

    When I install TB on a new computer, I run it and cancel out of all prompts to setup an email account. This gives an empty profile, but TB does create the .default directory. Then I just copy the old .default files from the old computer to the new .default directory on the new computer. Bingo!

    If you have already been using TB on the new computer, you will lose all messages when replacing the contents of the .default dir. But you probably don't have a lot of new messages just yet, so prior to migrating the old profile, save each message individually as an .eml file. Make a new folder somewhere and put all those .eml files there. After you have copied the old profile contents to the new .default dir, you can run TB. Then open the folder with the .eml messages in it > select all > drag+drop into the TB Inbox folder.
     
    Last edited: 2010/10/24
    TonyT,
    #3
  5. 2010/10/24
    lonestar1 Lifetime Subscription

    lonestar1 Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    Good Moring - Tony,,
    Thanks so much for your reply, it makes sense and if I could copy my profile into TB, but I can't??

    C:\Users\john\Carbonite Restored OLD User Settings\Local Settings\Application Data\Thunderbird\Profiles\8g3eijyh.default

    Above is the path in my local directory....I can't delete or change to what your described above??
    I opened TB in server settings to local dir...isn't that correct?
    This should move the profile over as your said. closing TB and reopening....Nothing is there!!
    What am I doing wrong?
    Thanks for your help.
    John in Dallas
     
    lonestar1,
    #4
  6. 2010/10/24
    Westside

    Westside Inactive Alumni

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    My answer was based on your statement:
    . To me this means that you have already set up your account(s). I have six e-mail accounts, and it is cumbersome to copy/paste all those folders, but copying the profile is iffy. If you have a working profile, used it, and just modify it, by bringing in what you need, i.e copy the contents of the profile, as needed, making sure that you rename the files. If you don't the old Inbox will replace the new one. Ok if you have little or nothing in the new one, but not otherwise. You don't need everything!
    I don't have any idea what you mean by your opening TB. Follow the paths given you by Tony T.
     
    Westside,
    #5
  7. 2010/10/25
    TonyT

    TonyT SuperGeek Staff

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    Follow my instructions.
    When I say "Copy ", I mean use Windows Explorer or My Computer to navigate to the directories. You are NOT importing anything via TB, TB must be closed when you do this.
     
    TonyT,
    #6
  8. 2010/10/25
    lonestar1 Lifetime Subscription

    lonestar1 Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    ================================
    Good Morning - Tony,
    Well, I just spent 2 hrs. with carbonite!!! They can't help me in getting my email back!! NOW, they say they don't support TB???
    I guess my only recourse is try to copy my profile from my xp machine to win 7???
    My xp runs fine, but can both machines be on with just one monitor? I just don't know!!
    If not, how do I copy my profile over if the win7 machine is off? Do I have to buy a easy transfer cable?
    God!!! this is just a nightmare!!!
    I really appreciate your patience and help. I'm exhausted trying to get this done!
    John in Dallas.
     
    lonestar1,
    #7
  9. 2010/10/25
    TonyT

    TonyT SuperGeek Staff

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    Use a usb thumb drive. They are dirt cheap.
     
    TonyT,
    #8
  10. 2010/10/25
    lonestar1 Lifetime Subscription

    lonestar1 Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    ===============================
    Well, I don't know what to do now! I copied my profile on my external HD//copied fine.
    I'm still not sure how to copy into a blank profile but, I tried and it copied ok, but opening TB ,none of my folders are there?
    Know of anyone here in Dallas I could call/hire to
    help??
    Thanks for help...
     
    lonestar1,
    #9
  11. 2010/10/25
    TonyT

    TonyT SuperGeek Staff

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    1. Was the old profile on an XP computer, then copied to external drive?
    2. New comp is windows 7, did you put all the files that are inside the old profile into the new profile folder?


    1. save all existing messages in the new comp TB.2. close TB.
    2. go to C:\Users\<username>\Roaming\Thunderbird\Profiles\<string-of-characters.default
    3. copy that folder to a safe location as a backup.
    4. go back to C:\Users\<username>\Roaming\Thunderbird\Profiles\<string-of-characters.default, open that folder and delete everything in it.
    5. put all the contents of the OLD profile into this new profile folder.
     
    TonyT,
    #10
  12. 2010/10/26
    lonestar1 Lifetime Subscription

    lonestar1 Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    =======================================================
    Hi Tony,
    Yes, I copied xp profile to ext HD...checked for all files OK... Then copied those files to new profile in win 7.....I think I'm NOT understanding the copy/paste process in win 7...? It does appear to be different than XP....
    Somewhere in that process I'm missing steps....In TB on win 7, it's completely empty profile....I create a new folder and copy contents of xp profile into it!! Still NO LUCK....None of my folders appear in TB?
    I've stepped away from this for a couple of days,,,,just exhausted and not sharp at all!!! I'm sure TB was closed, as you state?? win 7 is so different in searching finding where things are....
    I'll keep at it - maybe one day I'll learn how??
    Thanks Tony, really appreciate your kindness with this old man, here!!!LOL!!
    John in Dallas
     
    lonestar1,
    #11
  13. 2010/10/26
    TonyT

    TonyT SuperGeek Staff

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    If you have been using Thunderbird on Windows 7 then the profile folder cannot be empty. Do this to verify:

    1. click Orb (start button)
    2. click Run
    3, type:
    C:\YOUR-USERNAME\AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird\Profiles
    4. press enter key.

    If Run is not available, rt click the Orb > Properties > Start Menu tab > Customize button > put check next to Run command
     
    TonyT,
    #12
  14. 2010/10/27
    lonestar1 Lifetime Subscription

    lonestar1 Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    ===================================
    Oh - Tony,,
    I can get to my profile by %appdata% -p
    takes me right there...the proper profile is there, i delete the one TB created, try to copy the right one. the copy process pops saying it's copying....try to open TB,,,,pop up says TB is running but not responding.....??? check processes in TM,,,nothing running???
    I've got things so messed up....I give up....!!I'll get a kvm switch and use both machines.... F it!!!
    I'm sure it's something in win7 i'm not doing or don't understand how.....win7 books are coming...
    thanks
     
    lonestar1,
    #13
  15. 2010/10/27
    TonyT

    TonyT SuperGeek Staff

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    After copying, if TB hangs, then reinstall TB. It should then pick up all the stuff you copied. The only thing that could cause this to potentiall fail is if using 2 different versions of TB, i.e. an older version on the new computer.

    Oh, and be sure to copy the original profile from XP, not the backup made by that backup software.
     
    TonyT,
    #14

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