Mail problem re: upgrading 4.79 to 7.1

I have just upgraded from 4.79 to 7.1. The process seemed to go well but I have discovered that it seems that not all my mail converted correctly. I have many folders set up representing different items I sell in my business. All the folders have migrated to 7.1 but I can only view the individual messages in a handful of them - the majority of them seem to be empty. Any ideas? Thanks

 

Welcome to the Forum, sldurt!

Hi sldurt,

Let's start with the simple workarounds first:

With Netscape closed
Open Windows Explorer and navigate to your Mail Account Folder:
Profiles Folder Location

Delete all files with an MSF extension. Do not delete the files without the MSF extension, as these files contain your mail.

Let us know if this helps.

Ramona

 

Thanks for the reply! I followed your suggestion with no change to my problem. After deleting the msf files I went back into Mail and when I click on some folders I see the messages but others remain empty. These are folders that I know have messages in 4.79 and the files are the same file size in both my new and old mail directory. The folders display but not the messages. I noticed that a new msf file is created for the folders that show messages but not the others that appear empty.

 

sldurt,

In your Communicator Mail that you converted to 7.1, do you have numerous subfolders? Those would be folders named: "xxxxxxxx.sbd "? I'm wonder if those folders converted.

First check here for SBD folders:
C:\Program Files\Netscape\Users\username\Mail

Then check your Netscape 7.1 Mail Account Folder: Profiles Folder Location.

If the SBD Folders are listed in Communicator Mail, and not in Netscape 7.1, then you will want to copy SBD Folders from Communicator, to the Netscape 7.1 Mail Account Folder.

Let us know...

Ramona

P.S. A Screen Shot of the SBD folders in the Communicator Mail Folder.

 

Hi Ramona - Yes the sbd files are there. I had 17 in 4.79 and in 7.1 I now have 16. The one exception is trash.sbd - I am guessing that this is because in 4.79 I had a subfolder that I used to filter spam. I deleted this in 7.1 and started to use the junk mail feature rather than the message filters. Does this make sense? Thanks - Susan

 

Hi Susan,

O.K., let's try to convert your 4.79 Profile again.

But first:
Close Netscape
Back up both your 4.79 Users Folder and your 7.1 Profiles Folder.

Next: remove the 7.1 Profiles Folder from
C:\Windows\Application Data\Mozilla\Profiles (depending on your OS)
Move the folder to another location on your HD, a back up folder if you have created one.

Right click your Netscape 7.1 Desktop Icon, or QuickTray Icon, whichever you use.
In the Target line leaving one space at the end of the line, add this text: -installer
It should look like this:
"C:\Program Files\Netscape\Netscape\Netscp.exe" -installer
Note the space between .exe" and -installer.

This will start Netscape 7.1 with the 4.7x migration window. It should convert your Communicator Users Profile, which has the good data, to the Netscape 7.1 Profile.
This time leave the Profile as is. Then start Netscape and see if you can view all your messages.

Remember to back up both Profiles first!

Ramona

 

Hello Ramona - Thanks again - I appreciate your assistance. I just wanted to let you know that I am out of town for a few days and will try your suggestion when I get back to my computer. I will post my results then. Susan

 

Hello Ramona:

I am writing to tell you that I think the computer gods spoke to me today! I was back at my computer checking my mail and looked again at the folders that are giving me problems. I displayed the column in the mail window that shows how many messages are in each folder. The ones that I can't access showed as "???" Suddenly a pattern seem to appear - it looked like the problem folders were the ones with long names. I started counting and found that the folders with names of 54 or less characters were fine and more than 54 characters in the name were the folders I couldn't see into. I tried to rename and the program gave me an error message (I couldn't delete either). I exited Netscape and renamed the file in Windows Explorer. To my delight when I restarted the program the renamed folder was there and I could access the messages!

Have you heard of this restriction before? I tried to create a new folder with 60 characters and this was not a problem. I guess the restriction must be in the conversion process.

Thanks for your help and your work on this board!
Susan

 

Hi Susan,

Yes, the computer Gods do grant us miracles from time to time!

The character limitation in the conversion process is new to me, but I will make note of it, for future reference. Thanks very much for posting back with your solution!

Ramona