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Cannot import my exported 'Local Folder' filed emails via Tools Import function after Windows 11 upgrade

  • 22 ŋuɖoɖowo
  • 0 masɔmasɔ sia le wosi
  • Nuɖoɖo mlɔetɔ David Ellis

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I just upgraded my desktop pc from Windows 10 to 11, and before the upgrade I used the Tools Export function to export my complete Thunderbird profile, so I could import it after the upgrade. Unfortunately the export file cannot be read on my upgraded pc using the Import function - Thunderbird gives me error messages every time, that suggest the exported folder might be corrupted or invalid.

My IMAP emails are fine, as I have set those accounts up from scratch and the folders have now populated with all the emails - the problem is all my filed emails, dating back many years, which were all stored manually in a filing system under Local Folders.

I tried manually copying across the individual files from the extracted back-up folder into my live Thunderbird profile and then reopened Thunderbird...which worked to some extent...as in, all the folders are there, but no emails are showing! It shows no messages under each folder, even though if you look under the Profile you can see that the email files exist.

I tried various ways to bring them in, including zipping one of the folders and trying to import from the zip file (which also brought in a folder but no emails) but even though the email files are clearly there under my profile, Thunderbird shows 0 messages in all my Local Folders. It's as though it is unaware the files exist, so I suspect it needs them to be formally imported somehow?

I would hate to lose the emails, as they document important information and purchases etc over many years, along with archived emails for my charity work, social events, etc. As I said, I can see the files are there but simply copying the files to my profile has only worked to the extent the filing 'structure' is visible, Thunderbird doesn't display any of the emails.

I have included two images...one of my Thunderbird Local Folders as they currently look, and the other showing the backed up files existing in my Profile, which I hope are helpful.

Can anyone help please? I am running a desktop PC on Windows 11. Thanks, David.

I just upgraded my desktop pc from Windows 10 to 11, and before the upgrade I used the Tools Export function to export my complete Thunderbird profile, so I could import it after the upgrade. Unfortunately the export file cannot be read on my upgraded pc using the Import function - Thunderbird gives me error messages every time, that suggest the exported folder might be corrupted or invalid. My IMAP emails are fine, as I have set those accounts up from scratch and the folders have now populated with all the emails - the problem is all my filed emails, dating back many years, which were all stored manually in a filing system under Local Folders. I tried manually copying across the individual files from the extracted back-up folder into my live Thunderbird profile and then reopened Thunderbird...which worked to some extent...as in, all the folders are there, but no emails are showing! It shows no messages under each folder, even though if you look under the Profile you can see that the email files exist. I tried various ways to bring them in, including zipping one of the folders and trying to import from the zip file (which also brought in a folder but no emails) but even though the email files are clearly there under my profile, Thunderbird shows 0 messages in all my Local Folders. It's as though it is unaware the files exist, so I suspect it needs them to be formally imported somehow? I would hate to lose the emails, as they document important information and purchases etc over many years, along with archived emails for my charity work, social events, etc. As I said, I can see the files are there but simply copying the files to my profile has only worked to the extent the filing 'structure' is visible, Thunderbird doesn't display any of the emails. I have included two images...one of my Thunderbird Local Folders as they currently look, and the other showing the backed up files existing in my Profile, which I hope are helpful. Can anyone help please? I am running a desktop PC on Windows 11. Thanks, David.
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All Replies (2)

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I would back up the whole drive to at least one external drive and make incremental back-ups regularly. I rotate my back-ups off site too.

This way, you will have files in their native formats, not compressed in zip files that may not be reliable. And you will have all your data and documents, not just e-mail messages.

Before any service or big change or software update, make another back-up.

I do not use Windows, so I don’t know how to do this with Windows. But Windows comes with a back-up utility that should be able to do everything that you need.

Low-end approach if you don’t have big storage requirements: use File Explorer to copy everything important onto one or more flash drives. Repeat regularly.

Helpful?

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I copy all my Documents to external hard drives on a daily basis (it was set up to run automatically via Microsoft's SyncToy App) - however SyncToy doesn't work on Windows 11 so I need to find another solution.

However whilst that back-up process covered all my photos, videos, Microsoft office documents etc, it doesn't cover emails, as the Thunderbird profile is not stored in Documents but in C Users App Data.

I guess a lesson here is to include my live profile as part of the back-up routine (once I have found a replacement for SyncToy) but obviously it looks like my plan to export the email data has failed totally and I am devastated.

Helpful?

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