Main Thunderbird user file

grabro · 05-04-2016, 07:00 AM

Hi

I have bought a new PC installed KDEMint17.3 on it and also installed Thunderbird. I would like to copy over all my previous email details which were on the old PC. So my question is what is the files name that has the info and where can I find it. The old PC is still available to access exactly for reason like this.

grabro

cliffordw · 05-04-2016, 07:38 AM

Hi there,

Assuming you were running Linux on the old machine too, it should be in the $HOME/.thunderbird/Profiles/ directory. You'll need to copy this entire directory over to the new machine.

You can also find the location by going to Help -> Troubleshooting Information, where you should find a link to open the "Profile Directory". This should work on all platforms as far as I know.

Also see http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_folder_-_Thunderbird for more info.

beachboy2 · 05-05-2016, 01:10 AM

grabro,

On old PC:
Open your Home folder, click on View.

Click on Show Hidden Files.

Click on the .thunderbird folder and copy & paste the ********.default folder to a USB drive or similar.

On new laptop:
You have already opened Thunderbird. Close it.

Open your Home folder, click on View.

Click on Show Hidden Files.

Click on the .thunderbird folder and paste the ********.default folder into it.

Next, open the profiles.ini file and you will see a different default file (xxxxxxxx.default).
Put # in front of this existing folder and then add the line:

Path=********.default

Example:

Code:

[General]
StartWithLastProfile=1

[Profile0]
Name=default
IsRelative=1
#Path=xxxxxxxx.default
Path=********.default
Default=1

Save the file and close it.

Open Thunderbird and your email system is ready to go.

syg00 · 05-05-2016, 01:21 AM

This is documented on mozilla - it is safe to move mail back-and-forth between Windows and Linux if you are careful.
Note the change of default as described above will lose mail if you have set up both sides of the divide - I find it best to set up T/Bird without any accounts on the new system then move the mail/accounts over.