Netscape 7.2 and MS VISTA

I need to migrate all profile information from Netscape 7.2 on my old XP-based PC to a new VISTA based PC. The problem is I want to install and use Thunderbird 1.5 or more recent as my new email software on the VISTA-based PC. I have not installed Thunderbird on my VISTA-based PC. A step by step help would be very much appreciated.

Gteleki

 

Welcome to the Forum, gteleki!

Do you have Netscape 7.2 installed on the new PC? If so, then download Thunderbird 2.0.0.14. There's really no need for a step-by-step instruction, as the install will automatically migrate your Netscape 7.2 Mail, and Profile. I suggest a "Custom" install, which gives you choices of installing several
components.

You might also want to take a look here:
http://kb.mozillazine.org/Getting_started_with_Thunderbird



Let us know if you have further questions.

 

Hey, Dude

It's a snap. Just install TBird, preferably the most recent update, 2.0.0.14. It is really wonderful.

What do you use for a browser? Asked only because you only mentioned email.

N7.2 is way way out of date. If you use Firefox and Thunderbird, you will be excruciatingly happy. If you want a suite like N7.2, then get SeaMonkey 1.1.9. You will likewise be excruciatingly happy.

All of this stuff is up to date, slick, easy to install, easy to use.

Any problems, the people in this forum are just aces. Here, you already met Ramona, who has her own web site. Here you will also meet Westside, a really great person with a deep knowledge, and me, just me.

>>RSM

 

Thanks Romana,
The part about Thunderbird automatically transferring all profile inf from Netscape is clear and that part I did know. The problem (at least in my mind) is that I have a new PC running on VISTA and have not installed Netscape or Thunderbird. All profile info is on the old PC with the Netscape running. The step by step was how to get the Thunderbird running on a VISTA-based PC and secondly how to get the Netscape profiles migrated over to the new PC running VISTA and where I want to use Thunderbird?
So there are a few extra steps I would really need help on.

Also a thanks to RSM--I will take a look at Seamonkey. I use Firefox as my browser.
Believe it or not I have this new pricy laptop since January '08 but have not switched over because I could not get the email bit to work for me. So I have turned to this bbs for help.
G. Teleki

 

G. Teleki,

Have you installed Firefox on the Vista PC? If so, then you really don't need to install Netscape 7.2 at all.

Go ahead and install Thunderbird
When you are on the last window of the install (Congratulations!) ensure that you do NOT enable: Download messages now
See this Screen Shot
This is to ensure no new mail is downloaded to the mail account(s) yet

Open Thunderbird:
Create your Mail Account(s)
Next:
Click on: Tools | Account Settings | Server Settings
Scroll down the window to: Server Settings

Disable/Uncheck: Check for new messages at startup
Disable/Uncheck: Automatically download new messages
This is to ensure no new mail is downloaded to the mail account(s) yet

Close Thunderbird
On your old PC Copy all files in your Mail Account folder without an MSF extension, e.g. Inbox, Sent, Drafts, Templates, etc.

Also copy all SBD folders in your Mail Account folder, as they contain your subfolders.

Your Mail Account folder is located here:
C:\Documents and Settings\user_name\Application Data\Mozilla\Profiles\profile_name\*.slt\Mail\pop.your_isp_name.net

Burn these files/folders to CD, or other whatever storage media that you use

Next:
Open Windows Explorer
Copy the files and folders from your storage media, and paste them into the new Mail Account(s) folder(s) you have created on the Vista PC. When Windows prompts whether or not to replace the existing files, answer YES.

Now, open Thunderbird, and your Mail files should be viewable.

 

gteleki-

Just for the record, I have two (count'em) Vista machines, one Home Premium, one Business. I have not had a lick of trouble with either.

I hope you enjoy the Vista experience.

>>RSM

 

Thanks Ramona--I will try this--Am travelling today and tomorrow--Re the question, will install Firefox on new VISTA-PC a a day or so. Why is that important. I of course have MS browser with VISTA business edition. I'll be in touch for sure--

RSM-Thanks for the reassurance--This is good news indeed--

So far an impressive BBS--The proof will be when I have Thunderbird running on my new PC and all addresses and mail available!

 

Netscape 7.1 and Thunderbird-transfer of address book

Sorry --but I forgot to ask--do your instruction include the transfer of all addresses (address book) as well or is that a separate set of tasks--as I recall it is? Help please.
Thanks very much.

 

gteleki,

Below is the very easiest way to move the Address Book:

Copy the abook.mab file from the Netscape 7.2 xxxxxxxx.slt folder to your storage media.

Paste the file into the Thunderbird xxxxxxxx.profilename folder on the Vista PC.

 

the .msf folders

Ok thanks that sounds simple--will do. However,as these things go--nothing is drop dead easy! Ugh.
I note that on opening my mail account folder, specifically the pop3.gteleki@isp.net where all messages are stored, I get a bunch of folders that do not have the .MSF extension (as identified by you), plus a much larger batch of files (not folders) that have .MSF extensions. Any idea; since these files refer to emails for which there do not appear to be folders, or something like that. Can I recover those or should I just delete?

Thanks again

 

Do the folders have any extension? Could you give me a couple of the folder names for clarification.

The files without msf extensions should be the Mail folders in Netscape Mail, i.e., Inbox, Sent, etc. What are the names of the files that you are questioning?

 

Netscape 7.1 and VISTA

Here is an example of the folders and files;

For the client ANZDEC I have the following mail folders/files:

ANZDEC-Gnrl.sbd (this one has a folder icon preceeding it)
The following two files are listed after all the ones with folder icons in front!
ANZDEC-Gnrl ( this has a generic file icon preceeding it)--
ANZDEC-Gnrl.msf ( this has a generic file icon preceeding it).

I have loaded Thunderbird on to the VISTA machine successfully as in structed--but cannot find the Mail Account Folder in the VISTA machine-Windows VISTA has renamed these folders--I traced the folder locations but could not find anything beyond the C:\users\my user_name\ folder. Could the rest be hidden? I checked the 'account settings in the newly installed T-Bird and know the path but cannot seem to access it to paste in the folders as instructed?
Thanks

Geza Teleki

 

Netscape 7.2 and VISTA

OK I just discovered how to unhide the folders in VISTA (tools, folder options) and have indeed found the Mail folder I need to replace--More later--but would still appreciate some comment on the files--e.g. simply delete all msf files?

 

gteleki,

These files/folders you listed:

ANZDEC-Gnrl.sbd (this one has a folder icon preceeding it)
The following two files are listed after all the ones with folder icons in front!
ANZDEC-Gnrl ( this has a generic file icon preceeding it)--
ANZDEC-Gnrl.msf ( this has a generic file icon preceeding it).

The sbd folder is a "subfolder ", which is created by Thunderbird
The ANZDEC-Gnri file contains the messages, do not delete
The ANZDEC-Gnri.msf file is the one you want to delete

The icons are fine, and no need to worry...

As I stated in my earlier reply, delete all msf files, so the new install of Thunderbird will create pristine msf files.

Ensure that you have made a backup copy of your Thunderbird Profile, before starting the edit.

Let us know if you have further questions.

 

Netscape 7.2 and VISTA

Ok I have Thunderbird working--Have addresses, but try as i might no mail messages. I saved the mail account folder pop3.attglobal.net on an portable hard drive. When Mail account is located in the following folder:
c:>Geza>AppData>Roaming>Thunderbird>Profiles>0877/1am.default>Mail>pop3.attglobal.net
But when I drop and drag the pop3.attglobal.net from the external drive to the same folder in the new PC--I am not asked--do you want to replace??

Any idea--should I start over? Frustrating!

 

gteleki,

In the original instructions, I believe you missed this:

Copy files, not the mail account folder itself.

Did you create the Mail Account in Thunderbird first?

 

Dear Ramona,
I want to thank you for your great help--All is functioning well and Thunderbird is up and running.
Geza Teleki

 

Good work, and hope you enjoy Thunderbird!