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Using a spare 500 GB external hard drive, I want to do weekly backups of my Thunderbird email. How do I do this on a weekly basis?

Kenneth Wray
Kenneth Wray
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I have a spare 500 GB external hard drive that I had been using for Windows Backup I know that Windows Backup does not routinely include backing up my Thunderbird email. I use Gmail through Thunderbird for my email access, by the way. I know that all of my email is vulnerable to loss if my PC goes on the fritz. So I want to use my spare hard drive to begin backing up my email on my PC operating system, Windows 10. How do I do this? I know that my Thunderbird email is located somewhere in "Programs (x86)." But where exactly are the email files located? Exactly which files do I back up? And once I locate the files, do I simply copy and paste them onto my hard drive? Can I tell Windows Backup to choose only these needed files for my email backup? My new external 1 TB hard drive has its own built-in automatic backup software. So Windows Backup can be modified(?) to use for my email, I think. Am I correct? Thank you for your help. Kind regards, Kenneth (Ken) Wray

I have a spare 500 GB external hard drive that I had been using for Windows Backup I know that Windows Backup does not routinely include backing up my Thunderbird email. I use Gmail through Thunderbird for my email access, by the way. I know that all of my email is vulnerable to loss if my PC goes on the fritz. So I want to use my spare hard drive to begin backing up my email on my PC operating system, Windows 10. How do I do this? I know that my Thunderbird email is located somewhere in "Programs (x86)." But where exactly are the email files located? Exactly which files do I back up? And once I locate the files, do I simply copy and paste them onto my hard drive? Can I tell Windows Backup to choose only these needed files for my email backup? My new external 1 TB hard drive has its own built-in automatic backup software. So Windows Backup can be modified(?) to use for my email, I think. Am I correct? Thank you for your help. Kind regards, Kenneth (Ken) Wray

Chosen solution

Help|Troubleshooting Information in Thunderbird has a button that will take you to Thunderbird's profile. I'd go up one or two levels until you are in a folder where you can see a file named profiles.ini and then ensure your backup action includes this folder.

You may need to enable viewing of hidden files to see these items.

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All Replies (2)

Zenos
Zenos
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Chosen Solution

Help|Troubleshooting Information in Thunderbird has a button that will take you to Thunderbird's profile. I'd go up one or two levels until you are in a folder where you can see a file named profiles.ini and then ensure your backup action includes this folder.

You may need to enable viewing of hidden files to see these items.

Kenneth Wray
Kenneth Wray Question owner
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Thanks so much for the help! I just want to add a few things for others having my question to benefit. First, I suggest going to the mozillaZine forum for a lot more "good stuff." Just Google mozillaZine and that will get you to the right place for all kinds of helpful information. Query for "profiles.ini." You can use the instructions given to backup both your Firefox profile and backup your Thunderbird email files. I have chosen to do both for myself. As do most people, I use Windows Backup, in my case in Windows 10 . You can modify the Windows Backup settings to include these profile additions: First, go to "Backup and Restore," then "Back up and restore your files." Then click on "Change Settings." Then "Select the way you want to save your backup." Then click "next." Then click on "Let me choose." Then click "next." Then follow the file tree as you proceed to click on Local Disc (C): Then proceed down the file tree through users/user's name/APPData/local; then proceed down to click on, Mozilla/Firefox/updates. Then proceed to click on Thunderbird/profiles/ updates. Then review the Backup Summary to ensure that all of your added backup data is included. Lastly, click on "Save and exit."