Notes said

3) I don't know how she (or I) did it but her mail seems to be saved in a Thunderbird folder in her Documents folder, is this a problem? If so how do I rectify that.

Huge problem, but it will not affect a reinstall, mostly because it is extremely rare for Thunderbird to spontaneously fix anything from a reinstall except some system integration problems and corrupt program files.

So try the reinstall, and then we can try and work through the issues.

Thanks Matt,

When doing the reinstall, where should I move the files in the documents folder if they aren't recognized?

I have a long day at work today, so I'll probably not be able to get to this until Wednesday.

Bob

What Windows OS does your wife use?

re :'Thunderbird' folder in her 'Documents' folder,

Does that 'Thunderbird' folder contain a 'Profiles' folder and a 'profiles.ini' file ? If yes: Does that 'Profiles' folder contain a 'profile name' folder ? A 'profile name' folder by default is 'xxxxxxxx.default' where the x's are letters and numbers.

It would be helpful if you posted some images showing what that 'Thunderbird' folder contains and what the 'Profiles' folder contains.

I'll have to get back to you, but I believe she has her mailboxes there, as she wanted to be able to back up her mail when she used sync toy on her documents folder. Profiles are probably in that folder, but I can't be sure.

We worked late yesterday, got extra work today, and I just got home. Brain is too fried to work on her computer. I'm going to have her do a complete Acronis disk image tonight so that if I totally screw things up we can get back here.

Bob

Notes said

I'll have to get back to you, but I believe she has her mailboxes there, as she wanted to be able to back up her mail when she used sync toy on her documents folder. Profiles are probably in that folder, but I can't be sure. We worked late yesterday, got extra work today, and I just got home. Brain is too fried to work on her computer. I'm going to have her do a complete Acronis disk image tonight so that if I totally screw things up we can get back here. Bob

She must have made the change in the fairly distant past, Thunderbird now actively refuses to allow mail to be stored in the documents folders as they are considered "unsafe" locations. I suggest you have the discussion about that is not possible any longer, get a product that can backup the locations you needs, not one that makes you place things where it like them.

OK, where do they belong? If I'm going to fix her T-Bird, I want to fix it right.

I can modify her Microsoft SyncToy to backup any folder I want. I also have her use Acronis at least once a week to do an entire disc image.

So getting the data in the right location is not a problem. The new Install will probably create that folder, and I imagine all I have do do is move the data from her documents folder to the one that T-Bird makes, overwriting what was there.

Better option? Move the folder first?

All I need to know is where to put it.

Thanks again, Bob

The default location for storing profiles in Windows OS: C:\Users\<Windows user name>\AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird\Profiles\<Profile name>\

So, if that 'documents' folder contains the 'Thunderbird' folder with everything including 'profiles.ini' file, then you would copy the 'Thunderbird' folder in her 'Documents' folder and put it in the 'Roaming' folder, replacing the default 'Thunderbird' folder.

see images below as guide.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

It worked, everything is OK now.

I deleted the old, copied the Thunderbird folder to the location you indicated and downloaded/installed the latest version.

My wife is happy, and when she is happy, so am I :) (actually she is quite supportive)

Bob