Changing from NS 7.2 mail to alternative

My desktop is set up with Netscape 7.2 and I need to move to a laptop. Netscape 8 doesn't have email and they recommend Thunderbird. I'm looking for the best way to migrate a few years worth of emails and my addressbooks to the new computer. Instructions for the addressbook are pretty clear but I can't find a definition of the files to backup or instructions for an export.

I can install NS 7 on the laptop. How do I convert?
Ted Halloran

 

Welcome to the Forum, thalloran!

Ted,

If you install Netscape 7.2 on the laptop, and then install Thunderbird, there is a Import Wizard which will ask from what program you wish to migrate your Profile. When you select Netscape 7.2, then the migration is automatic. Thunderbird will migrate all your Mail and your Address Book. See this Screen Shot

I would forgo the pleasure of AOL's Netscape 8, and instead install Firefox. Firefox will follow the same process as Thunderbird, by automatically migrating your 7.2 Profile to Firefox.

 

Ramona,

I'm open to any browser and email other than MS. I've got NS 7.2 loaded on my laptop but now I need to get my address book and archived mail over to it. I found this last night..

http://www.citadel.edu/computing/backup/backupnetscape.htm

Which tells me where the files are but doesn't get into the nuances of the restore process. I guess you just copy the files, creating the directories if need be and then say a prayer. The good news is that all the experimenting is going on on the new box so hopefully I don't run the risk of losing my stuff...yet.

Does this sound like it makes sense? Any wisdom you can add would be appreciated.

Ted

 

I would follow Ramona's page to transfer mail files to a new profile . So, you install NS7.2 on your laptop, and, then, transfer the mail files which you had backed up. I don't know how to transfer by connecting the desktop to the laptop.
One fact which is not mentioned, which worked for me all but once (huge address book) is to export the address book(s) from the Address Book part of NS7.2, as .ldif files. You should save those files to be imported into your laptop address book. I, still have the address books from another computer with Win98, which were save as .ldif files. Although Netscape (and related programs) store the AB files as .mab file with no description, if I have an address book with the name: family.ldif, it will show up with that name in a new computer, or profile.
Of course, you may just copy the abook.mab file, and paste it.
Once you have your NS7.2 going, and, are satisfied, you can consider Thunderbird, as Ramona mentioned.
I prefer to start afresh, but adding manually, or importing, if possible, all the files which I can have. It is not a guessing game, by any means. If you don't do it right, it won't work.

 

Okay, I'm sneaking up on it. I have successfully migrated my emails to Netscape 7.2 on the laptop. All good as far as I can tell, in Netscape 7.2.

However, when I installed Thunderbird I didn't get the screen that offers the option of moving the mail from Netscape. I saw that screen on my first try, before I had the files on the laptop, so I know it's there, but now it's hiding from me.

I did uninstall Thunderbird and reinstall but there must be a remnant in a cookie that's telling it not to go through the whole process.

Is there a way to force the automatic update option or how can I set my old email files as the Thunderbird default? I tried changing the file location in settings but it didn't take.

Thanks so much for your help.

Ted

 

Unfortumately, you are not asked again. Options|Import, still, does not seem to know about NS7.2. I think that the only solution would be to remove the Thunderbird profile, which I am, pretty sure, that you kept, and clean up the Registry, after having uninstalled TB, as well. However, if your NS7.2 is up and running, you can manually, copy the mail files, and paste them in the TB profile folder. As for the address books, you can still Import them into TB, as Options|Import|Address book|from file.

 

Ted,

Yes, you can force the Import Wizard.

You can bring up the Import Wizard again by exiting Thunderbird, using the Thunderbird Profile Manager to delete all of the profiles listed, exiting the Profile Manager, and then launching Thunderbird again.

If that fails to bring up the Import Wizard, then delete, or rename the "Thunderbird" folder that contains the "Profiles" subfolder and the "profiles.ini" "pluginreg.dat" and "registry.dat" files, e.g., delete the
C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Application Data\Thunderbird folder, and then launch Thunderbird.

From the Thunderbird KB:
http://kb.mozillazine.org/Migrate_from_Mozilla_Suite_or_Netscape_to_Thunderbird