Where are my Thunderbird mail "folders" for backing up?

In trying to create a new mail account I've just discovered that I haven't been backing up most of my mail accounts! Searching this forum tells me that my mail accounts are supposed to be in \Documents and Settings\MYNAME\Application Data\Thunderbird\... but only one of my accounts is there!

Where are the other ones? Is there someplace Thunderbird typically puts them or how can I find them and put them back to where they should be?

-- Rich --

 

You are in the right place.
There is a Mail directory with a directory for each of your accounts. Just backup the profiles directory and it will contain all of them.....

 

Actually - not, unless I'm not understanding things correctly?

The profiles directory has a single msrm6lut.default folder and it has only one mail folder, and in that mail folder are 6 folders which are:

• Local Folder
• mail.comcast.net-1 (the one I use the most)
• mail.comcast.net-2 (which has a few comcast boilerplate messages and a few spams)
• mail.comcast.net-3 (completely empty)
• mail.comcast.net-4 (completely empty)
• relay.pair.com (which I recongize as one of my job accounts)

But I have 3 more accounts which don't appear there!

Also - would anything bad happen if I delete 2,3,4?

-- Rich --

 

I may not understand exactly what your saying. Do you have a total of 7 accounts or a total of 4 as indicated by the "mail.comcast.net-?" in the above quote.

If it is a total of 4 then, the 3 missing folders you can't seem to find should be the mail.comcast.net-2 - 3 and 4 which you say with the exception of 2 is completely empty.

Why don't your go to the server settings on each of your mail accounts and check the location where the mail is being stowed such as is shown on the image located here:... http://www.raysmyth.net/s-set-1.jpg

Unless directed to do otherwise TB creates such folders as shown for each different mail account.

I also suggest you send a Test Message to each of the 4 accounts and see if they go to the correct address i.e. the correct folder.

Let us know how you make out. Ray

 

Ah, thanks! So simple when someone shows you how/where.

I think my problem had to do with that the name of the accounts as I see in Thunderbird and the names of the folders I see with Windows Explorer are completely different - so I've tried going into the WE folders the only way I know how: using WordPad. But that is so difficult wading through all those lines of text and code (mainly images and HTML?).

My main account was easy because there were folders in it I recognise. The others weren't as I rarely use them so have no subfolders.

But yes, I have 6 accounts showing in Thunderbird (including the Local Folders) and there are 7 in the WE, 2 which are empty. One of them was probably the one I tried creating but couldn't seem to get the mail to "enter" in (went to Local Folders instead), so I deleted it and made the second (which still has no mails but a couple of successful test-mails).

I assume that I can delete from WE the botched new account?

Also - can I rename the WE folders if I change the name of the place it goes to in the TB/Tools/Account Settings/Server Settings?

-- Rich --

 

Being a cantankerous old man at age 74, let me see if I can help you a little with the terminology or perhaps you will learn me something.

So far as I know, there is no such thing as a WE (Windows Explorer) folder as you seem to indicate. Folders are all over the hard drive within a path off of the root folder. A folder is a folder is a folder and once upon a time in the days of MS-DOS a folder was even a Directory. In simple terms a folder is a divider or like a room in your house. i.e a place to stow files on the H/D.

You might like to read a document about the Path Command - Hard Drive and Windows Explorer at:.. http://www.raysmyth.net/dunce/09-hd/00-hd.html

I assume your asking if you can delete the botched new account while being viewed with Windows Explorer (WE) and the answer would be YES. However, if I was doing it I would delete it from within Thunderbird simply because Thunderbird created it and deleting it with Thunderbird puts it in my comfort zone.

Again there is no WE folder -- You could probably rename the folders but, here is my cautious approach and how I would do it to accomplish your question.

I would use Windows Explorer and create and name mail folders any name and place your heart desires for each of the mail accounts you have.

Frankly, my recommendation is to create these folders off of the MAIL folder Thunderbird itself creates by default off of whatever Profile was created.

I expect your current profile and mail path looks something like the following:..
C:\Documents and Settings\RAY\Application Data\Thunderbird\Profiles\m4g3pt4g.RAY-2008\Mail\mail.bellsouth.net

I would therefore create new folders in the same path as is mail.bellsouth.net

I would then copy just the main Inbox and Sent files from the old accounts to the corresponding new folders. Draft and Template files ok too if you have anything in them. Otherwise don't copy them or any of the other files. Do not copy the msf file.

Next I would load Thunderbird and change the incoming server settings for each account to use the new folder for that account.

After all accounts have been redirected to use the new folders, unload and reload Thunderbird.

After reviewing and verify all accounts have the correct mail in them same as prior to this procedure. I would then use Windows Explorer and delete the previous folders of "mail.comcast.net-1" etc etc.


Cheers, Ray

 

Sorry - I meant that I was using the WE program to look at and deal with (renaming, deleting, moving...) files (and directories/folders).

Good stuff here, but...

What about all my mail? I have scores of folder where I put my mail after I've dealt with them from the Inbox and Sent folders. I assume you mean for me to copy them too?

I've always wondered what those files are... what ARE they? I have LOTS of them.

You mean the server name? I don't see anything specifically called "incoming ". Or maybe you mean the "local directory "?

-- Rich --

 

Well-Well-Well, since I don't know where you have these extra folders created and exactly how your doing it. I suggest you take Windows Explorer and make a backup copy of your Profile folder which I assume will include your mail folders providing you are using the defaults settings for the mail folders.

You could then rename all you mail accounts and reset the server to reflect this renaming change as previously discussed.

Your above quote was in regards to MSF files. MSF stands for "Mail Summary File ", but, rather then me attempt to explain, which I really can't, how about going to Google and search for "MSF Files" and you will have 591,000 other people that will provide you more answers then you will care to learn about.

A short answer for why you don't also copy them is because you are changing things by copying the inbox and/or sent file and when thunderbird loads the next time it will rebuild a new summary file.

Rich, again review the link at:.. http://www.raysmyth.net/s-set-1.jpg I have added some comments in blue text to help you with this question.

Good luck with the renaming and don't forget to backup the profile first.

Ray

 

Yes I am, so those extra (or sub-) folders are "in" the main account folders.

Sounds pretty clear now, thanks!

That's what I usually do when I don't understand something but in the heat of the response I just stuck it in there. Sorry!

That really helps too. So many experienced people take things for granted when something as simple as using "Incoming Server" rather than "Server Settings" would make life easier for the rest of the 95% of us. That way it makes sense that you also have an "Outgoing Server ".

Actually, until just now I always thought that both tasks were handled by the same computer! The "Server Settings" name had reinforced my erroneism.

-- Rich --

 

Of course, both tasks can be served by the same computer! As to how the server is set up, it is not important.