Problems with Thunderbird

I placed this question at another newsgroup, but I will skip the details, and try here, as well. My Thunderbird profiles seem to have gone crazy. Basically, I can start TB, and even see that there are X number of e-mails, the progress line goes a line way, and it gives the infamous time thingy, and it is as locked up as possible. I think that I tried every remedy, but it does not work. A second profile shows the single account which I had all along, and the fomer renamed Inbox does not produce an equivalent .msf file, and three other attempt to create profiles just don't work.

 

Westside,

Try this in the OLD Profile that's giving you fits (if you haven't already):

Delete the Mail Account, then recreate it
Does this work? If not:

Rename the Mail folder: XMail

Start TB and recreate your Account, then manually move the Mail files.

Ramona

 

Thanks Ramona,
I should have quit when I was ahead. I had actually renamed the Mail folder, and was able to get the first account, by just directing the Local Directory. I assumed that all was fine after that. Not so. After directing all accounts, I was back to square one. I finally deleted the Mail folder, neglecting to back up the files, and, at least, I got my wife's account from another semi dead profile. All the subfolders are gone, along with some useful mail. I am stopping now before I cause more damage.
By the way, assumptions are not good, as we well know. I thought that it was possible to set up a profile in a non-default location, but changed my mind, when it did not work. That was my archive folder, with some useful stuff there. Only one file is left now. Thunderbird 100-Westside 1 (thanks to you).

 

Again, I decided to be too greedy. I copy/pasted all the subfolders. Now TB opens and closes immediately. This is a sick puppy.

 

Westside ...

There should be no problem with setting up your profile somewhere other than the default location, as long as you pay attention to one simple rule:

You must clean the registry (I use RegSeeker) of all references to Thunderbird (same applies to Firefox if you move its profile) before running the Profile Manager to create a new profile location.​

I learned this the hard way, believe me. Just two days ago I relocated my Tbird profile, and couldn't understand why none of my mail was displayed when the program opened. Finally, the light bulb came on above my head ... fortunately, no one was around to see how foolish I felt.

Edit: BTW, the latest nightlies (I use the zipped builds) have been working just fine.

 

Thanks Jim,
my problem has been more profound that what you describe.
I made only one attempt to have a profile outside the default location folder, and with out cleaning the registry. It did not work, but I was completely baffled by the fact that the "default" profile which had never been moved would not stay open for more than a second. I did not even think about my foray outside th default folder until I noticed that three shortcut had changed to the old fashioned square appearance, indicating that they were no longer shortcuts. Almost all the folders in this folder were gone. I could be a coincidence, but quite a coincidence. Finally, I was able to create one profile in the default location which has worked, for nearly 24 hrs, now.
I spent too much time on this, but I will keep in mind what you said, if I want to do it again. The last 24 hrs have been survival, and I can understand why some people go berserk. I knew what I was doing, and I was confident that I will get it. Why, all the problems, I do not even care now.