Thunderbird has an Export feature, that doesn't offer export to a specified folder?

But the thunderbird mail forlder, holds all your mail. So by copying the mail folder (windows/app data/mozilla/thunderb/xxxxxx.default - not exact path but and idea) and overwriting the Mail folder in ubuntu (/home/username/.mozilla-thunderbird/xxxxxx.default/mail) should copy you emails over and thunderbird should hold them.

But it doesn't work like that. I copyied the mail folder over

Windows ME box, to my OCZ jump drive to the linux box

copy command like this

Worked like a charm, bam open thunderbird, no emails are there.

The email files are identical in linux and windows (.mbox)

Anyone have any ideas. The original emails are in thunderbird on windows, and we need to get them on the new ubuntu install, off the new dell inspiron desktop.

I'm not the end user, but the tech guy thats helping them out.

One has to have/create the other thunderbird Mail account directory setup first.

As a suggestion have a look at the Thunderbird Mail folder, do you see two email subdirectories?
If yes then move everything (make sure which one first OK!) from the one to the other overwriting everything.

The ubuntu install of thunderbird is setup. It's just not reading the mail we put into the mail folder.

The mail folder has a config file called policies.ini(not sure if that's exactly what its called) I found a import profile guide in thunderbirds FAQ and if says you need to change this file for the path= is the windows path. After I try to change this file I'll post my findings.

Is there any way to view /. folders in the GUI? Its really hard to navigate folders and open files over the phone with a novice user. A GUI would help out a lot.

To view hidden directories (this is the proper name by the way) simply type in the . in the Location portion of GUI window, example; /home/username/.thunderbird

Or click on View-->Show Hidden Files (KDE for example)

And believe it or not the way I described works, I have moved email from thunderbird (Windows) to/from thunderbird (Linux). Thunderbird email can also be moved back and forth with seamonkey mail this same way.

Here is a sample thunerbird Linux profiles.ini file (the location is /home/username/.thunderbird/) for comparision;

[General]
StartWithLastProfile=1

[Profile0]
Name=default
IsRelative=1
Path=jugno9xg.default

Start thunderbird from the menubar choose;

Edit-->Account Settings-->Server Settings-->Local Directory (near the bottom) 'Browse...' Button