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I need to clean reinstal my OS. How can I backup and reinstall the POP accounts I use with Thunderbird?

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  • Last reply by lokuttara

lokuttara
lokuttara
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Hello,

I use thunderbird for 3 email accounts (POP server, no message left on the server), and I need to reinstalla my OS (win7). How can I backup and reinstall the 3 account without losing the folders 'inbox' and 'sent'?

Is it enough to copy the folders located in Thunderbird/Profiles/Default/Mail, reinstall the OS and Thunderbird, create the 3 mail accounts in Thunderbird and replace the folders newly created in the above path with the old Mail folders?

Thank you so much, l

Hello, I use thunderbird for 3 email accounts (POP server, no message left on the server), and I need to reinstalla my OS (win7). How can I backup and reinstall the 3 account without losing the folders 'inbox' and 'sent'? Is it enough to copy the folders located in Thunderbird/Profiles/Default/Mail, reinstall the OS and Thunderbird, create the 3 mail accounts in Thunderbird and replace the folders newly created in the above path with the old Mail folders? Thank you so much, l

Chosen solution

So basically I have to 1 backup the whole content of folder Thunderbird located in AppData/Roaming 2 reinstall OS and Thunderbird 3 replace folder Thunderbird above with the old one
Yes that is it!

<blockquotes> And what about the accounts?</blockquote> The profile you have is everything you need. It is "everything" just copy it back to the same location in your new setup.

Ohh and make sure Thunderbird is closed when you make your copy.

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All Replies (5)

Matt
Matt
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I would strongly suggest Thunderbird. go no lower.

that way when your restore your will have it exactly as it is not, not now account to activate, no add-ons to download.

Doing as you suggested will save the mail, but in a location the new profile will probably not recognize it. So then your left with manual folder by folder import. A royal PITA really.

Matt
Matt
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Rereading that. include everything under Thunderbird including the profiles.ini file and the profiles folder and sub folders.

lokuttara
lokuttara Question owner
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Matt said

Rereading that. include everything under Thunderbird including the profiles.ini file and the profiles folder and sub folders.

So basically I have to 1 backup the whole content of folder Thunderbird located in AppData/Roaming 2 reinstall OS and Thunderbird 3 replace folder Thunderbird above with the old one

And what about the accounts? Do I have to create them after installing the client, or they will be configured as soon as I fill the Thunderbird folder?

Matt
Matt
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Chosen Solution

So basically I have to 1 backup the whole content of folder Thunderbird located in AppData/Roaming 2 reinstall OS and Thunderbird 3 replace folder Thunderbird above with the old one
Yes that is it!

<blockquotes> And what about the accounts?</blockquote> The profile you have is everything you need. It is "everything" just copy it back to the same location in your new setup.

Ohh and make sure Thunderbird is closed when you make your copy.

lokuttara
lokuttara Question owner
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Matt said


<blockquotes> And what about the accounts?</blockquote> The profile you have is everything you need. It is "everything" just copy it back to the same location in your new setup.

Ohh and make sure Thunderbird is closed when you make your copy. </blockquote>

Thank you, Matt! Worked perfectly.