Lost mail & newsgroups

My mail and newsgroup side bar are gone. I get a window with a mail account wizard. I am running NS 7.0. Then I lost the mail icon in the quick launch.

When I go to the ".slt" folder I get 5 cache folders, a mail folder with sub-folders "Local Folders ", "local folders-1 ", "mail.ptd-1.net ", "mail.ptd.net, with subfolder Inbox.sbd" which contains 8 pair files, one of each has a .msf
extension.

I ran Adaware, Spybot, HTJ. There was an 02 BHO---nzdd.dll(disabled by
BHODemon that I'm not sure about.
I ran TUT, The Ultimate Troubleshooter, took a couple of their recommendations
but nothing that , I think would cause this problem.
I have since installed a new mail account with PTD.NET and was able to get my new messages. All my newsgroups are gone-that's gonna be a job getting them back
Just remember, I can't edit the profiles in XP HOME- I think!!
I still have my address book.
Thanks for any help, Joe R

 

Joe,

You can edit your files in Windows XP, but first you have to unhide files/folders:

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.

First: Make a copy of your Profiles folder and copy it to your Backup folder, if you have created one. If not, create the folder.

Open Netscape Mail & Newsgroups
Click on: Edit | Mail & Newsgroups Account Settings | Server Settings
Scroll to the bottom of the window and in the Local directory field

Direct the path to mail.ptd.net
C:\Documents and Settings\user_name\Application Data\Mozilla\Profiles\profilename\*.slt\Mail\mail.ptd.net
Close Netscape, and restart.

Now is your original Mail Account viewable? If so, you can copy the Mail files from the mail.ptd-1.net folder to the mail.ptd.net folder.

Close Netscape, and navigate to the mail.ptd-1.net folder
Rename the files without the MSF extensions, i.e., Inbox, Drafts, Templates, Sent, etc., TO: Inbox2, Drafts2, etc.

By doing so, this will prevent overwriting Mail in the default Mail Account.
Copy the renamed files without the MSF extensions, and paste them in the mail.ptd.net folder

If there are any SBD folders, delete the MSF extensions, and copy the SBD folder to the mail.ptd.net folder.

Also delete all the Cache folders in the *.slt folder. You should do this on a frequent basis.

Let us know if you have further questions.

Ramona

 

Lost mail etc

Ramona: Your a genious. I knew they were here someplace.

The complete old ptd.net mail box tree is back, but all my mail are in folders under
local folders, with my original ptd.net boxes above them., but without my
sub-folders.

I did not start renaming files yet. Must I close Netscape before renaming them
in windows explorer? SBD folders- are they my sub-folders under inbox?-if
not-what?

Any idea how this occurred? Also, should I do the same as above to get my news groups back? --.slt\news\news.ptd.net ?

At the bottom of this page under posting rules, HTML and IMG codes are off.
Also ,the smiles on the right are all in text- they used to be the actual smiley

The tool bar for bold, Italic etc. Wrap-Code, Quote are also in text, I tried to quote but was not able.

Just remembered- I lost my password manager and form mgr. Can I get them back?
Thanks again, Joe R.

 

Joe,

By all means close Netscape before you do any editing. Also a good idea to back up your Mail first.

This happens when Windows closes unexpectedly, power outage, etc. Netscape then loses the location of the Profile and creates a new one.

In the left Mail Panel, is your ptd.net Mail Account listed, other than in the Local Folders?

Yes, SBD folders are the subfolders, and should contain all subfolders you created.

To move everything from the old Profile to the new, I have a page which lists all files you should copy: http://home.att.net/~cherokee67/NS7newprofile.html
Specifically: To get your Passwords, and Form Fill, data back do this:

If you have created a password file, e.g., 12345678.s
• Next: copy the somenumber.s password file from the OLD salted folder, to the new salted folder.
• Rename the newly created password file to X12345678.s
• Rename the OLD password file to 12345678.s

Do the same for the Form Fill file: xxxxxxxx.w

As to the BBS, not exactly sure what's going on. Do you have both Java and JavaScript enabled? Let's not worry about that until we get your Profile straighted out, and then we'll tackle the BBS...

Ramona

 

Lost mail etc.

Ramona: Sorry it took me so long to get back here. I think I know what happened!! Yesterday I was experimenting and opened a file in system 32
that was for flashing the BIOS, the screen went black and a message to the effect that I cannot do it. Only way out was to hit the reset button. Then
the mail was gone just like the last time when I did the same thing.

Back to the task at hand. I tried to get screen shots of the following but was
not able. After setting up another mail account, I had a "2" after everything.
I changed the Local Directory to .slt\mail\mail.ptd-1.net for both joeskys
and Local Folders. I deleted all the Cache but not any of the MSF files. Should I just go ahead and delete them now???

You said to Copy and Paste files from one folder to another. I dragged and droped them.then clicked copy. OK??.

In Windows Explorer> .slt\mail\local folders> 5 files & 5 MSF files
" " " -1 >5 files & 1 MSF file(all 0 KB)
" " " -2 >5 files & 5 MSF files(all 0 KB)
" " \mail.ptd-1.net> 5 different files each with
a "2" & also MSF(20 total)
The un-numbered files are
0 KB. The "2" files>Inbox2
2351KB-Sent2 160 Kb-
Trash2 182 KB
" " \mail.ptd-2.net> Epmpty

" " \mail.ptd.net >unsent messages.MSF 2KB
> " " 0 KB
>Trash.msf 6 KB
> " 75KB
> Trash2 182 KB
>Templets 0KB
> " 2 0KB
> " .msf 2KB
>Sent 24269KB
> " 2 160KB
> " .msf 32 KB
>Inbox 48895 KB
> " 2 2351 KB
> " .msf 32 KB
>Drafts 166 KB
> " 2 0 KB
> " .msf 4 KB
> INBOX.sbd File Folder
7 Files-7Files.msf
1 Net file
1 Net File.msf

My concerns:The local directory>mail.ptd-1.net or mail.ptd.net
Should I just go ahead and delete all the MSF files-NOW.
Will I get the -1 and -2 out of the .slt\mail folder?
After we get this fixed, I'll do the Form Fill & Password files.
Maybe you can tell me how to get screen shots to post here.

I have the .slt backed up on a Scandisk flash from about 2 months ago.!!!

Thanks for your help Joe R

 

Drag and drop is ok, but dangerous, because you are removing the files, and hope you are getting them in the correct place. Copy and paste is much better.
You are listing a bunch of stuff which is irrelevant. In general, local folders will have copies of IMAP accounts sent mail, and newsgroup replies (but not this newsgroup). The .msf file should never be copied and pasted, but you have no choice since you dragged and dropped them.
And, if you had an account set up, removed it and then put it back in, you will a number tacked on. So, I must assume that .ptd.net is your provided, and the original stuff will remain on you computer.
Things should be very simple. Set up your account, copy your original files and paste them in the same folder, then rename the copy. At this point, you should have two identical files, but with different name. Only a renamed file should be copy and pasted in your latest account. This way you will avoid overwriting of your present mail. And, all you needed to copy and paste are the Inbox and Sent file(with no.msf). If you like to play in the Trash, and other files copy them, but there is no sense in copying 0Kb files. All you are:
Inbox 48895 KB and Sent 24269KB. Drafts is the same as Unsent.
So, I am not sure what you did, but there is a vastly simple way to do things, and what appears to be simple, like drag and drop, never is. and, don't worry about the numbers with the e-mail, the account is still the same.
I do not want to go any further, because I would like you to understand the concept, first.

 

Set up your account, copy your original files and paste them in the same folder, then rename the copy. At this point, you should have two identical files, but with different name. Only a renamed file should be copy and pasted in your latest account. This way you will avoid overwriting of your present mail. And, all you needed to copy and paste are the Inbox and Sent file(with no.msf).

Westside: The above is from your reply. My vB Code is off so I could not
Quote. Also, in my post, it looks confusing because when I composed it, I used ditto marks (''-- ") in a tree like format and it posted all aligned to the left.

You say-- "C & P original files in the same folder then rename the copy ". If I
copy Inbox2 to the mail.ptd.net folder, it shows up as "Inbox2 ", then rename it to "Inbox ", or rename it to "Inbox" and then C&P to the mail.ptd.net folder??
Can I just delete ALL .msf files right now??

What should the "Local Directory" in Server Account Settings be-as I asked in my concerns in my last post- "mail.ptd1.net" or "mail.ptd2.net" or
"mail.ptd.net ",also what does the entry in Local Directory control??

Just noticed, that in mail.ptd1.net, I have "Inbox 0 KB" and "Inbox2 2351 KB "
and in "mail.ptd.net" I have "Inbox 48895 KB" and "Inbox2 2351 KB" Since
"Inbox2" is already in "mail.ptd.net" folder, could I just delete it? Also
"Inbox 0 KB "

If you will address paragraph 3, it will remove some confusion from my thick
head.
Thanks for the help, Joe R.

 

Joe,

Rename the original Inbox file to Inbox2, then copy/paste to the mail.ptd.net folder. Go back to the original file, and rename it back to "Inbox ".

Local directory settings should point to mail.ptd.net, as that appears to have the majority of your Mail contained in the Account. The Local directory setting points to the path on your HDD which contains the default Profile's Mail Account folders.

Don't delete anything yet. Wait until you are certain that all Mail is showing in your mail.ptd.net account, at least a couple of days. Then I wouldn't delete, but move the ptd-1, and ptd-2 accounts out of the Mail Account folder to a temporary folder on your HD. Make a Backup folder, and keep them there.

Did you copy msf files to the mail.ptd.net account? If so, then yes, I would delete all msf files from the mail.ptd.net account, i.e., Inbox.msf, Drafts.msf, etc. Also delete the SBD subfolder msf files.

To indent, you must use the vB codes:

Code:

[indent]

Ramona

 

Lost Mail---

Westside & Ramona: I think I'm getting it. I renamed the Local Directory back
to the original mail.ptd.net and WOW>95% of the inbox, etc. files were back.
In the mail.ptd.net folder I have a Inbox file with 48895 KB & Inbox2 file with 2351 KB. They are one under the other. Inbox2 has 11 messages with dates
that were downloaded when I had the other Local Directory.

To put the Inbox2 file in the Inbox file >C&P Inbox2 to Inbox.
Then, rename the Inbox2 file to Inbox. Right??????????

I still have 3 Local Folders but most of the files in them are already in my
mail.ptd.net folder.

In a couple days when I'm sure all is well here, I'll go after the .s & .w files.

Ramona: I have Java and Java Script enabled as you asked in your Feb. 12th post.
I cannot subscribe to a thread, use vB or smilies.

Thanks again, Joe R.

 

I think that you got into enough problems, so don't try to put one file into another. I find very convenient to keep a separate folder for Archive, so, unless you want to have everything in one spot, which is a bad idea, I would leave things the way they are. But, you can move individual e-mails from one folder into another.
And, don't mistake the Local directory setting with Local Folders.
And, please no renaming to Inbox. Don't you have one already? If you do that, you are back to square one.

 

Lost Mail etc.

In my #3 post I asked about smilies and vB Code.
In mail pref. I had to ckeck "Compose in HTML" format.
Now the tool bar looks normal but it won't let me use it.
Also, the smilies are there but will not go to message.

In another post, you gave 2 links to Proflies and pref.
and Browser Maint.
Very informative.
I tried to open Prefs.js but got an error message but
Prefs.Bak opened and showed all.
In my last post I typed:

To put the Inbox2 file in the Inbox file >C&P Inbox2 to Inbox.
Then, rename the Inbox2 file to Inbox. Right??????????

Is that correct? Joe R.

P.S. Would really like to be able to use vB Code and Smilies

 

You probably received a Windows Scripting Host - Security Execution Error

Script: (Path to the prefs.js file)
Line Number: ....
Category: ....
Description: ....

This error indicates that Windows Scripting Host is currently set up as the default application to open .js files. The error occurs because prefs.js isn't a Windows Script file. Use Notepad to edit the file instead. There are several ways to open the prefs.js file in Notepad:

Before editing the prefs.js file, you must first ensure that Netscape is closed.
Launch Notepad, go to the File menu, select Open, and navigate to the prefs.js file.
OR
Drag and drop the prefs.js file on top of an open Notepad window (or the Notepad icon).

No, that isn't correct. Paste the Inbox2 files into the Mail Account Folder. When you open Netscape, you will see both the Inbox, and Inbox2 folders. Just leave them as is. Normally I would have you copy those messages in Inbox2 to the Inbox folder. However, your Inbox would be much too large, and you risk losing Mail if you let it grow to a disproportionate size.

The Inbox isn't intended for Archiving. What I would do is rename Inbox2 to Archive, and copy some of the existing messages in your Inbox to the Archive folder.

When you reply, there are two options just above the message window:
Guided Mode and Enhanced Mode. Enable the "Enhanced ". Does this help?

Ramona

 

Regained email but now lost Passwords

I had lost everything in my mail browser, address book and password manager files. Eventually got the email back and running... and some of address book, but can only find one *.s file in the new .slt folder that has passwords in it. And it only has 14.

I have a copy of previous .slt folder and it contained several *.s and *.w files which both held all (many!) passwords etc.

How can I get the new .slt to accept all of these as well??

Many thanks!

Sandy

 

<Specifically: To get your Passwords, and Form Fill, data back do this:

If you have created a password file, e.g., 12345678.s
• Next: copy the somenumber.s password file from the OLD salted folder, to the new salted folder.
• Rename the newly created password file to X12345678.s
• Rename the OLD password file to 12345678.s

Do the same for the Form Fill file: xxxxxxxx.w>


This is what I was trying to do but my old salted folder had more than one .s file. (I have alot of passwords stored ).