Email backup method

[flogit]

Hi,I have just gone from windows live mail to Thunderbird email,It's very simmilar to outlook so thought that one would have a go.
Well all seems okay got all my info from the WLM okay.Just one item is puzzling me regarding backup of the emails in thunderbird,I did a google of it and found it very confusing,Is there a simple easy way of doing this task.
ps.Using windows 7.
Many thanks.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Yes.

The default location for email in Thunderbird is:

C:\users\your user name\appdata\roaming\Thunderbird

If you backup that folder, you are backing up your entire Thunderbird configuration, including emails and profile.

That folder is not to be confused with the Thunderbird program files per se, which are in C:\Program Files (x86).

The emails are actually buried in a subfolder of that Thunderbird folder, but it is good practice to back up the entire folder.

Confirm to your own satisfaction that your email is in fact somewhere in that folder and then just copy it somewhere--or have your backup application do it automatically.

 

[flogit]

Thanks for reply.
can you please tell me how to get to ''C:\users\your user name\appdata\roaming\Thunderbird''
I went to C drive and user -applications data there was no thunderbird folder there.Have I gone the wrong way around it.
Help please.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

The folder name is appdata.

Not applications data.

You will not be able to see it unless you enable viewing hidden files from Windows Explorer Tools/folder options/view menu.

 

[derekimo]

Thanks for reply.
can you please tell me how to get to ''C:\users\your user name\appdata\roaming\Thunderbird''
I went to C drive and user -applications data there was no thunderbird folder there.Have I gone the wrong way around it.
Help please.

The folder name is appdata.

Not applications data.

You will not be able to see it unless you enable viewing hidden files from Windows Explorer Tools/folder options/view menu.

This should help,

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/394-hidden-files-folders-show-hide.html

 

[flogit]

Thanks both,i did try the method still could not see the folder,Any way my pal just phoned me with this method:
Select Run > type %appdata% hit return key.Scroll down to thunderbird folder and select copy and paste to a selected desination for a backup.
Would that make sense to you.As I did find the folder that way.
Thanks.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

That should work.

Confirm it after you paste.

But the first thing I would want to know is why I can't find that same folder by choosing to view hidden files as explained earlier in this thread.

Viewing hidden files is a routine requirement in Windows 7.

 

[kado897]

If you are using IMAPS as the connection protocol rather than POP3 the emails should remain on your mail providers server which is effectively a backup for you.

 

[flogit]

Hi,I click the orb and entered thunderbird into search box and it came up as in 'program files (x86),That is the only other way I can find it.
Does that make any sense.I have also checked the hidden files & folders and thats okay.
Also when I right click om my computer then open C drive then open that and I get C folder and many other folders.Cant access thunderbird anywhere there.

Re last answer 'If you are using IMAPS as the connection protocol rather than POP3'How do I check up on that.Sorry to be a pain all this is new to me.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Hi,I click the orb and entered thunderbird into search box and it came up as in 'program files (x86),That is the only other way I can find it.
Does that make any sense.

The Thunderbird folder in program files (x86) is not the same folder and has nothing to do with backing up Thunderbird.

So, no. It doesn't make sense.

Also when I right click om my computer then open C drive then open that and I get C folder and many other folders.Cant access thunderbird anywhere there.

I'd bet a dollar that you have not correctly set Windows Explorer to show hidden files and folders.

The fact that you can find the folder by putting %appdata% in the search box implies that the Thunderbird folder is in its default location. I've never heard of a case where you couldn't simply navigate to it if hidden folders were set as viewable.

But I suppose there could be something screwy about your system.

 

[flogit]

Maybe,All is working fine.maybe I should have stayed with windows live mail,We would'nt have this discussion today.
Thanks.