Thunderbird Backup advice

This topic has 13 replies, 7 voices, and was last updated 8 years, 10 months ago by D-Dan.

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May 20, 2017 at 1:33 pm #7567
oldtimer
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@oldtimer
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I have used TBird for a number of years and never found a way to backup my messages, mainly because I cannot find them. I know where the PROFILE is but I can find no sign of messages within it. Still, they must be there hiding behind another name. What I would really like is a back-up programme that would do the job for me simply cleanly efficiently and reliably.

I have found several offerings on the web, but they seem to come with a warning that they do not work properly and “should be used at the users own risk”

I guess I am not the only one to use TBird so hopefully some one can give advice.

Maybe even any alternative email progs. Again I have found one or three but they seem to require me to sell my soul to one or other of the data grabbing devils such as MSoft, Google etc

The big advantage of TBird is that I do not have to join anything.

Its easy when you know how
May 20, 2017 at 2:44 pm #7568
Dave Rice
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@ricedg
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Mozbackup http://mozbackup.jasnapaka.com/ I’ve used it a lot over the years to migrate TB from one PC to the next.
May 20, 2017 at 2:50 pm #7569
Ed P
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@edps
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PROFILE links to a hidden folder. I think you use Ubuntu or Mint and the mail folder for these is in:

(show hidden files)

your Home folder->.thunderbird->some weird folder e.g. xz7feqqz.default. (just look for a folder some name.default. You can open this folder and only copy Mail if you like but I do not recommend this approach)

you need this plus another file in

your Home folder->.thunderbird->profiles.ini

Copy both the folder and the profiles.ini file to a thumbdrive. When you want to restore just install TBird, run it once and fill out your mail details (important), then shutdown TBird and overwrite the .thunderbird files with the contents of your thumbdrive (you can ignore the crash reports stuff).

Simple quick warts and all backup – backup for Windows is similar but I cannot remember where ‘profiles.ini’ is kept.
May 20, 2017 at 3:01 pm #7571
JayCeeDee
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@jayceedee
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+1 to Dave’s advice. I use that programme to back up everything on T’Bird – I also used it for Firefox when that was my default browser ( now on Chrome ). I seem to remember some cautions/warnings expressed about no longer supported or up to date, but I used it successfully when I moved to a new W10 PC last year.
May 20, 2017 at 4:21 pm #7576
oldtimer
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@oldtimer
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Thanks all.

I will have a look at MOZBACKUP on the strength of that even if the website says “USE AT OWN RISK”. After all, you cannot all be wrong can you? :good:

Its easy when you know how
May 20, 2017 at 4:22 pm #7577
Dave Rice
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@ricedg
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I’ve used it on a W10 PC this year.
May 20, 2017 at 4:45 pm #7579
oldtimer
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@oldtimer
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Done. Downloaded and installed. Backup run. Now I have to wait for an emergency LOL

Its easy when you know how
May 20, 2017 at 4:45 pm #7580
Ed P
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@edps
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I must admit I thought the OP used Linux, but I see I was wrong. Mozbackup doesn’t work for Linux but is a good choice for his Win7
May 20, 2017 at 4:49 pm #7582
Dave Rice
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@ricedg
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You’re thinking of Old Les.
May 21, 2017 at 5:46 am #7611
The Duke
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@sgb101
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OT don’t you have a second pc to can try the back up on? Id have to test out.
May 21, 2017 at 7:48 am #7612
Dave Rice
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@ricedg
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You don’t need a second PC, just a different user.
May 21, 2017 at 12:13 pm #7622
Ed P
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@edps
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Not disagreeing with Dave – just wanted to tout the Portable Version. There are times when this can come in handy.

link
May 21, 2017 at 10:33 pm #7656
Tippon
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@tippon
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Ed P wrote:

Not disagreeing with Dave – just wanted to tout the Portable Version. There are times when this can come in handy. link

Seconded. I use the portable version as my main mail client, and copy it to my pen drive every so often too. On the off chance that my house burns down, I’ll still have a copy of the message from that lovely sounding Nigerian Prince 😉
May 22, 2017 at 6:04 am #7670
D-Dan
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@d-dan
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For completeness, on Linux your profile folder itself will have inside a Mail folder. Simply copy it somewhere secure, and job done.

Arch Linux, on a Ryzen 7 1800X, 32 GB, 5 (yes -5) HDs inc 5 SSDs, 4 RPi 3Bs + 1 RPi 4B - one as an NFS server with two more drives, PiHole (shut yours), Plex server, cloud server, and other random Pi stuff. Nice CoolerMaster case, 2 x NV GTX 1070 8GB, and a whopping 32" AOC 1440P monitor.
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