Thunderbird Help Needed Urgently

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[Lani]

Well, I think it's urgent. 

Came home and launched my computer.  Opened Thunderbird.  Nothing there.  No emails, no account settings.  Nothing.

Why?  And where has all my data gone? And how do I get it back?

Not happy. 

[Nomesque]

Have a look at this folder in Windows Explorer:

C:\Documents and Settings\<your Windows login name, or Default>\Application Data\Thunderbird\Profiles\<something.default>\Mail

Is there anything there?

[FormerAdmin]

Hi Lani,

hope you fix it.

Best regards, Andrew

[Lani]

Just looked there.  There isn't even a folder called Application Data, which is worrying.  Just running a search for *.default on the hard drive now.

[Nomesque]

Just looked there.  There isn't even a folder called Application Data, which is worrying.  Just running a search for *.default on the hard drive now.

GAH. Ummm... hidden folder? Click on Tools -> Folder Options, click on the View tab, tick the Show hidden files and folders option.

Sorry if I'm teaching you to suck eggs, here - I'm not sure of your Windows-savvy-level

[Lani]

No, it's great.  I was just having the same thought but couldn't remember which menu the option was in.  I now.

So now I've found the *.default (Obviously hidden files don't get searched.  I hate MS.) Do you know how to get Thunderbird to accept it again.

As for computer-savvy, I'm brilliant with software and not too bad on coding.  I'm an absolute zero on hardware and operating systems. 

[Nomesque]

OK... try this:

- go to Tools -> Options
- click on the General tab
- click on the Config Editor button
- find mail.root.pop3 in the Preference Name column
- see what value it has (for some reason mine is all correct except for the drive letter - showing up as D: instead of C: ... weird?)

Is it the correct path?

[clutterbells]

Lani

You have everybody's worst nightmare. Hope it works out. I have gazillions of important stuff tied up in these programmes for my work and personal life.

Scary.

[Snoskred]

Yeah that sounds like a corrupted database. We had it happen to a friend ages ago.

It may be because Thunderbird thinks it is already open elsewhere.

Close thunderbird down.

Check to see if this file exists -

C:\Documents and Settings\**your_username**\Application Data\Thunderbird\Profiles\********.default\parent.lock

If yes, delete it.

[Lani]

Yup, just what i wanted to come home to.

Nomesque, there is no mail.root

Snosk, will check for the parentlock now.

[Lani]

no parent.lock

[Lani]

Okay, this is what I'm looking at now.

Transferring data to a new profile - Thunderbird

Am I at that point?  I really do not want to be at that point. 

[Nomesque]

Whoops - there's an easier way. Hopefully.

Tools -> Account settings
Select Local Folders
Check the Local directory field.

If that doesn't help:

- go to Tools -> Options
- click on the General tab
- click on the Config Editor button
- right-click on any entry and select New -> String
- enter mail.root.pop3
- enter the full path of your mail folder and hit enter
- cross fingers
- restart thunderbird

[Nomesque]

Okay, this is what I'm looking at now.

Transferring data to a new profile - Thunderbird

Am I at that point?  I really do not want to be at that point. 

Theoretically.... only if you were using a profile other than the default Thunderbird profile. Which you probably weren't.

[Lani]

I was using the default.  Gotta put my bub to bed now, will try this out in 20.  Thanks guys.  Fingers crossed.

[Nomesque]

I was using the default.  Gotta put my bub to bed now, will try this out in 20.  Thanks guys.  Fingers crossed.

OK, hope you get it sorted! I've gotta go home.

[Lani]

There is no "local folders" to select.  Account settings just shows outgoing smtp.

[Lani]

Okay.  Turns out my whatever.js was corrupted.  I added the accounts back in, then moved my mail to the new "Local Folders-1".  I pfaffed around a bit trying to get the folder names tidy again but in the end couldn't be stuffed.  It works so I don't care. 

Big thank you to Nomesque and Snosk.  Really helpful having you guys give me some direction while my mind was about to explode.

[Nomesque]

Woohoo! I'm glad you got it sorted