Netscape 7.2 mail folder to Thunderbird 1.5

I am having trouble migrating from Netscape 7.2 mail to Thunderbird 1.5. When I start the latter it asks if I wish to import from Netscape 7.2 etc. to which I say yes. The import box comes up and the program hangs.

I also wish to keep the mail folder I have and have Thunderbird 1.5 use the current location where I keep it - it is not under c:\program files\netscape..., but under a differ folder. How do I do this?

 

rgm88,

The Thunderbird Mail/mailaccount folders are located here:
C:\Documents and Settings\user_name\Application Data\Thunderbird\Profilesprofilename\abc123de.profilename\Mail\mailaccount

NOTE: These files are hidden by default.
To see hidden files:
1. On the Tools menu in Windows Explorer, click Folder Options
2. Click the View tab
3. Under Hidden files and folders, click Show hidden files and folders
4. Disable "Hide File Extensions for Known Files. "
5. Click OK.
---

There should be no problem with the placement of your Thunderbird subfolder in the Program Folders, as the Mail is in a different location, and not affected by installing or uninstalling the program.

Before you try to migrate your Netscape 7.2 Profile Data into Thunderbird do this:

Close Netscape 7.2
Delete the Cache folder located here:
C:\Documents and Settings\username\Application Data\Thunderbird\Profiles\profilename\abc123de.profilename\Cache

Delete all contents of the Temp folder located here:
C:\Documents and Settings\profilename\Local Settings\Temp

Open Netscape
Empty the Trash folder
Compact all folders

Download a fresh copy of Thunderbird 1.5

Uninstall the current program

Delete the Thunderbird Program Files folder

Rename the current Thunderbird folder to XThunderbird, located here:
C:\Documents and Settings\user_name\Application Data\Thunderbird

REBOOT THE PC

Install the new copy of Thunderbird 1.5

Can you migrate you Profile Data from Netscape 7.2 now?

 

Before I do this I would like to know how I can set up the mail folder for Thunderbird in a separate area from its default.

 

rgm88,

This Thunderbird KB Article explains how to move the Location of the Mail Folder: http://kb.mozillazine.org/Moving_your_mail_storage_location_(Thunderbird)

 

Ramona,

Thank you. Finally got it working. Some problems such a using the spell check - it shows every word as wrong. Not sure what the problem is as it is using the English/US dictionary according to the setting.

 

It comes up, automatically underlined. Are you saying that everything is underlined, or are going somewhere else. I really like the feature as it is. Rxcept for some abbreviation which I use, or last names, it has been very valuable.
I never liked the one that had me fight with one word at a time. But, I surely would want to know how your problem shows up.

 

rgm88,

That's the Inline SpellChecker, which underlines misspelled words as you type.

If you wish to disable:
Tools | Composition | Spelling
Remove the tick beside: Enable spell as you type

From your Netscape 7.2 salted folder, copy this file to Thunderbird: custom.dic. Then rename the file to: persdict.dat. This is your personal dictionary.

You can also install a dictionary for Thunderbird here:
http://dictionaries.mozdev.org/installation.html

Select the: English US

 

Missing address book

Hi Ramona,

There is a bug or error in the importing of information from Netscape 7.2 mail. The address book is missing. How do I import this into the Thunderbird?

Regards,



Ranjiv

 

Ranjiv,

Copy the abook.mab file in the Netscape 7.2 *.slt/salted folder, to the Thunderbird salted folder (aab246lv.profilename).

Or if you have imported the 7.2 Address Book as an ldif file, then you can import this file into Thunderbird.

 

Hi Ramona,

I have actually created a separate folder for my profile and email. Which directory should I copy the address book into? The default directory created when Thunderbird is installed or the one I have created?

 

What does salted directory mean?

 

Ranjiv,

The salted folder is the file that looks similar to this: aab246lv.profilename It is called "salted" because of the random characters which preceed the profile name.

 

Ramona,

Thanks. Everything is working fine now.

Ranjiv

 

Compacting folders

What does compacting folders do? Should this be done on a regular basis?

 

If you delete mail from any folder, it ends in the Trash folder, and you cannot see it in the original folder, but it is still there, in the background. It will be gone only after compacting the folder. In a classic example, which I witnessed, a fellow had four e-mails, and an Inbox of at least 13MB. After the Inbox was compacted, its size dropped to about 60Kb, a more reasonable number for four e-mails. In other words, it removes excess baggage.
I compact more than once a day, especially to remove mail which would have, otherwise gone in the Junk folder, or stuff which I do not care about anymore.

 

Ranjiv,

In the Sticky above, there is a Solutions page for Preventive Browser Maintenance. You might want to check it out, as it gives some suggestions on how to keep your browser running at top efficiency. Compacting folders is one of the suggestions...