I've got a huge problem. I use Thunderbird on my Linux desktop. Made a backup copy of the profile folder before wiping the partition and reinstalling Linux the other day. Imported the backup profile into the new installation. All of the IMAP folders worked fine, but my POP folders are broken. The messages appear to be there in the folders, but they're blank when I open them (except the sent folder: that is missing entirely). This includes my entire inbox of personal email containing thousands of messages, many of which are very important, and some of which are absolutely vital. Tbird has a "repair folder" option but all that did was erase everything include the message list (got it back by reimporting the profile folder again). Here is someone else who had the same problem, but no solution is listed: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1024340 .... can anyone help? (Please don't tell me that I "should" have made another kind of backup, or that I should switch all folders to IMAP going forward, etc. ..... that will NOT help solve the immediate problem and will just make more stressed/angry.) Any tbird whizzes out there who can save all these messages???? This is urgent.
Not a total solution, just a shot in the dark. Is your Thunderbird configured to delete mail from your E-Mail provider on each update? If not, perhaps your provider still has them stored, but Thunderbird sees them as "old" and won't download them again. On Tue, Mar 27, 2018 at 3:27 PM, Evan Koblentz via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic@lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote:
I've got a huge problem. I use Thunderbird on my Linux desktop. Made a backup copy of the profile folder before wiping the partition and reinstalling Linux the other day. Imported the backup profile into the new installation. All of the IMAP folders worked fine, but my POP folders are broken. The messages appear to be there in the folders, but they're blank when I open them (except the sent folder: that is missing entirely). This includes my entire inbox of personal email containing thousands of messages, many of which are very important, and some of which are absolutely vital. Tbird has a "repair folder" option but all that did was erase everything include the message list (got it back by reimporting the profile folder again). Here is someone else who had the same problem, but no solution is listed: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1024340 .... can anyone help? (Please don't tell me that I "should" have made another kind of backup, or that I should switch all folders to IMAP going forward, etc. ..... that will NOT help solve the immediate problem and will just make more stressed/angry.) Any tbird whizzes out there who can save all these messages???? This is urgent.
Not a total solution, just a shot in the dark. Is your Thunderbird configured to delete mail from your E-Mail provider on each update?
Yes.
perhaps your provider still has them stored, but Thunderbird sees them as "old" and won't download them again.
No, the problem is some kind of corruption and/or syncing locally between the profile and the application. I don't * think * the messages are actually gone, because I copied the whole profile -- I've done that before and it was never a problem. if they are truly gone then it's a major disaster for me. 10+ years and thousands of messages. Obviously most of them are probably just background noise, but some of them are vital to my life.
Evan, The Thunderbird message files are usually one file per folder. So if the profile you have copied are there some files with the names of the folders you are missing. There are usually some MSF files in the same folder that contain settings, but the mail is in the files with no extensions. Check their content with Notepad++. Can you find the missing folder files in your backup? Do they have the missing content? Dave
-----Original Message----- From: vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic- bounces@lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> On Behalf Of Evan Koblentz via vcf-midatlantic Sent: 27 March 2018 21:09 To: jsalzman@gmail.com; vcf-midatlantic <vcf- midatlantic@lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> Cc: Evan Koblentz <evan@vcfed.org> Subject: Re: [vcf-midatlantic] OT -- URGENT -- Thunderbird help needed
Not a total solution, just a shot in the dark. Is your Thunderbird configured to delete mail from your E-Mail provider on each update?
Yes.
perhaps your provider still has them stored, but Thunderbird sees them as "old" and won't download them again.
No, the problem is some kind of corruption and/or syncing locally between the profile and the application.
I don't * think * the messages are actually gone, because I copied the whole profile -- I've done that before and it was never a problem.
if they are truly gone then it's a major disaster for me. 10+ years and thousands of messages. Obviously most of them are probably just background noise, but some of them are vital to my life.
The Thunderbird message files are usually one file per folder. So if the profile you have copied are there some files with the names of the folders you are missing. ... but the mail is in the files with no extensions. Check their content
Oh, I understand now. Yes -- I was able to open some of the inbox files with a text editor and see contents. Didn't realize that Jeff S. was saying the same thing. However it looks like only a small amount of the contents vs. all the messages. I don't understand that, because I copied the whole profile. So how do I make Thunderbird understand that at least some contents ARE there?
Are you sure the profile is actually supposed to contain the whole messages? Maybe it does for IMAP and not for POP. It's possible those messages were actually stored elsewhere. When was the last time you backed up your entire hard drive? On Tue, Mar 27, 2018 at 4:42 PM, Evan Koblentz via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic@lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote:
The Thunderbird message files are usually one file per folder. So if the
profile you have copied are there some files with the names of the folders you are missing. ... but the mail is in the files with no extensions. Check their content
Oh, I understand now. Yes -- I was able to open some of the inbox files with a text editor and see contents. Didn't realize that Jeff S. was saying the same thing. However it looks like only a small amount of the contents vs. all the messages. I don't understand that, because I copied the whole profile.
So how do I make Thunderbird understand that at least some contents ARE there?
Are you sure the profile is actually supposed to contain the whole messages? Maybe it does for IMAP and not for POP. It's possible those messages were actually stored elsewhere.
Pretty sure that's not the case.
When was the last time you backed up your entire hard drive?
Too long ago.
On 3/27/18 15:27, Evan Koblentz via vcf-midatlantic wrote:
I've got a huge problem. I use Thunderbird on my Linux desktop. Made a backup copy of the profile folder before wiping the partition and reinstalling Linux the other day. Imported the backup profile into the new installation. All of the IMAP folders worked fine, but my POP folders are broken. The messages appear to be there in the folders, but they're blank when I open them (except the sent folder: that is missing entirely). This includes my entire inbox of personal email containing thousands of messages, many of which are very important, and some of which are absolutely vital. Tbird has a "repair folder" option but all that did was erase everything include the message list (got it back by reimporting the profile folder again). Here is someone else who had the same problem, but no solution is listed: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1024340 .... can anyone help? (Please don't tell me that I "should" have made another kind of backup, or that I should switch all folders to IMAP going forward, etc. ..... that will NOT help solve the immediate problem and will just make more stressed/angry.) Any tbird whizzes out there who can save all these messages???? This is urgent.
Did you rebuild the indexes? When my POP accounts have corrupted folders in TB (usually displays as empty folder), I force a rebuild of the indexes by first doing a "Search Messages" on the root folder (usually "Local Folders") with "Search subfolders" checked. Doesn't matter the criteria, it is just to force every subfolder to be searched. Then select File, then Compact Folders from the main menu. I stumbled onto this when I was using TB under OS/2 but it still works under TB on OSX. I assume the same would work on Linux. Mark
I force a rebuild of the indexes by first doing a "Search Messages" on the root folder (usually "Local Folders") with "Search subfolders" checked.
Where/how do I do that? On Tue, Mar 27, 2018, 11:55 PM madodel <madodel@mac.com> wrote:
On 3/27/18 15:27, Evan Koblentz via vcf-midatlantic wrote:
I've got a huge problem. I use Thunderbird on my Linux desktop. Made a backup copy of the profile folder before wiping the partition and reinstalling Linux the other day. Imported the backup profile into the new installation. All of the IMAP folders worked fine, but my POP folders are broken. The messages appear to be there in the folders, but they're blank when I open them (except the sent folder: that is missing entirely). This includes my entire inbox of personal email containing thousands of messages, many of which are very important, and some of which are absolutely vital. Tbird has a "repair folder" option but all that did was erase everything include the message list (got it back by reimporting the profile folder again). Here is someone else who had the same problem, but no solution is listed: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1024340 .... can anyone help? (Please don't tell me that I "should" have made another kind of backup, or that I should switch all folders to IMAP going forward, etc. ..... that will NOT help solve the immediate problem and will just make more stressed/angry.) Any tbird whizzes out there who can save all these messages???? This is urgent.
Did you rebuild the indexes? When my POP accounts have corrupted folders in TB (usually displays as empty folder), I force a rebuild of the indexes by first doing a "Search Messages" on the root folder (usually "Local Folders") with "Search subfolders" checked. Doesn't matter the criteria, it is just to force every subfolder to be searched. Then select File, then Compact Folders from the main menu.
I stumbled onto this when I was using TB under OS/2 but it still works under TB on OSX. I assume the same would work on Linux.
Mark
On 3/28/18 00:29, Evan Koblentz wrote:
I force a rebuild of the indexes by first doing a "Search Messages" on the root folder (usually "Local Folders") with "Search subfolders" checked.
Where/how do I do that?
In Thunderbird. I don't have Linux, but on the Mac: Click on the root folder for the POP account (in the left side Folder pane, main account is usually named "Local Folders" but may be your email address) to get the context menu. Select "Search Messages" Enter anything, make certain "Search subfolders" is enabled. Then click on Search. Wait until it is done searching all the subfolders, Then select File from the main menu then select Compact Folders under that. That should force a reindex. POP messages are stored in a sqlite database. Not sure about iMap. If you want to do it without using Thunderbird see the instructions here https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/rebuilding-global-database But make sure all your profile is backed up. I don't guarantee this is your problem, but it sounds like what I have experienced moving a TB profile in the past and also when I had too large a database. Mark
On Tue, Mar 27, 2018, 11:55 PM madodel <madodel@mac.com <mailto:madodel@mac.com>> wrote:
On 3/27/18 15:27, Evan Koblentz via vcf-midatlantic wrote: > I've got a huge problem. I use Thunderbird on my Linux desktop. Made a > backup copy of the profile folder before wiping the partition and > reinstalling Linux the other day. Imported the backup profile into the > new installation. All of the IMAP folders worked fine, but my POP folders > are broken. The messages appear to be there in the folders, but they're > blank when I open them (except the sent folder: that is missing > entirely). This includes my entire inbox of personal email containing > thousands of messages, many of which are very important, and some of > which are absolutely vital. Tbird has a "repair folder" option but all > that did was erase everything include the message list (got it back by > reimporting the profile folder again). Here is someone else who had the > same problem, but no solution is listed: > https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1024340 .... can anyone help? > (Please don't tell me that I "should" have made another kind of backup, > or that I should switch all folders to IMAP going forward, etc. ..... > that will NOT help solve the immediate problem and will just make more > stressed/angry.) Any tbird whizzes out there who can save all these > messages???? This is urgent.
Did you rebuild the indexes? When my POP accounts have corrupted folders in TB (usually displays as empty folder), I force a rebuild of the indexes by first doing a "Search Messages" on the root folder (usually "Local Folders") with "Search subfolders" checked. Doesn't matter the criteria, it is just to force every subfolder to be searched. Then select File, then Compact Folders from the main menu.
I stumbled onto this when I was using TB under OS/2 but it still works under TB on OSX. I assume the same would work on Linux.
Mark
If you want to do it without using Thunderbird see the instructions here https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/rebuilding-global-database But make sure all your profile is backed up.
Cautious optimism! I made a backup copy of the database and followed the instructions in that link. Then turned on the activity manager as it suggests. It's definitely doing .... something! And taking a long time and showing me all kinds of progress bars and displaying encouraging-looking text.... this may just end well. On Wed, Mar 28, 2018, 12:51 AM madodel <madodel@mac.com> wrote:
On 3/28/18 00:29, Evan Koblentz wrote:
I force a rebuild of the indexes by first doing a "Search Messages" on the root folder (usually "Local Folders") with "Search subfolders" checked.
Where/how do I do that?
In Thunderbird. I don't have Linux, but on the Mac: Click on the root folder for the POP account (in the left side Folder pane, main account is usually named "Local Folders" but may be your email address) to get the context menu. Select "Search Messages" Enter anything, make certain "Search subfolders" is enabled. Then click on Search. Wait until it is done searching all the subfolders, Then select File from the main menu then select Compact Folders under that. That should force a reindex. POP messages are stored in a sqlite database. Not sure about iMap.
If you want to do it without using Thunderbird see the instructions here https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/rebuilding-global-database But make sure all your profile is backed up.
I don't guarantee this is your problem, but it sounds like what I have experienced moving a TB profile in the past and also when I had too large a database.
Mark
On Tue, Mar 27, 2018, 11:55 PM madodel <madodel@mac.com> wrote:
On 3/27/18 15:27, Evan Koblentz via vcf-midatlantic wrote:
I've got a huge problem. I use Thunderbird on my Linux desktop. Made a backup copy of the profile folder before wiping the partition and reinstalling Linux the other day. Imported the backup profile into the new installation. All of the IMAP folders worked fine, but my POP folders are broken. The messages appear to be there in the folders, but they're blank when I open them (except the sent folder: that is missing entirely). This includes my entire inbox of personal email containing thousands of messages, many of which are very important, and some of which are absolutely vital. Tbird has a "repair folder" option but all that did was erase everything include the message list (got it back by reimporting the profile folder again). Here is someone else who had the same problem, but no solution is listed: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1024340 .... can anyone help? (Please don't tell me that I "should" have made another kind of backup, or that I should switch all folders to IMAP going forward, etc. ..... that will NOT help solve the immediate problem and will just make more stressed/angry.) Any tbird whizzes out there who can save all these messages???? This is urgent.
Did you rebuild the indexes? When my POP accounts have corrupted folders in TB (usually displays as empty folder), I force a rebuild of the indexes by first doing a "Search Messages" on the root folder (usually "Local Folders") with "Search subfolders" checked. Doesn't matter the criteria, it is just to force every subfolder to be searched. Then select File, then Compact Folders from the main menu.
I stumbled onto this when I was using TB under OS/2 but it still works under TB on OSX. I assume the same would work on Linux.
Mark
Didn't work. :( It took a very long time and reindexed all the IMAP folders plus the archive folders (some inbox subfolders that I decided a long time ago to keep just in case). But my personal email folders for inbox/sent are still displaying blank white windows when I open a message. On Wed, Mar 28, 2018, 1:39 AM Evan Koblentz <evan@vcfed.org> wrote:
If you want to do it without using Thunderbird see the instructions here https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/rebuilding-global-database But make sure all your profile is backed up.
Cautious optimism! I made a backup copy of the database and followed the instructions in that link. Then turned on the activity manager as it suggests. It's definitely doing .... something! And taking a long time and showing me all kinds of progress bars and displaying encouraging-looking text.... this may just end well.
On Wed, Mar 28, 2018, 12:51 AM madodel <madodel@mac.com> wrote:
On 3/28/18 00:29, Evan Koblentz wrote:
I force a rebuild of the indexes by first doing a "Search Messages" on the root folder (usually "Local Folders") with "Search subfolders" checked.
Where/how do I do that?
In Thunderbird. I don't have Linux, but on the Mac: Click on the root folder for the POP account (in the left side Folder pane, main account is usually named "Local Folders" but may be your email address) to get the context menu. Select "Search Messages" Enter anything, make certain "Search subfolders" is enabled. Then click on Search. Wait until it is done searching all the subfolders, Then select File from the main menu then select Compact Folders under that. That should force a reindex. POP messages are stored in a sqlite database. Not sure about iMap.
If you want to do it without using Thunderbird see the instructions here https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/rebuilding-global-database But make sure all your profile is backed up.
I don't guarantee this is your problem, but it sounds like what I have experienced moving a TB profile in the past and also when I had too large a database.
Mark
On Tue, Mar 27, 2018, 11:55 PM madodel <madodel@mac.com> wrote:
On 3/27/18 15:27, Evan Koblentz via vcf-midatlantic wrote:
I've got a huge problem. I use Thunderbird on my Linux desktop. Made a backup copy of the profile folder before wiping the partition and reinstalling Linux the other day. Imported the backup profile into the new installation. All of the IMAP folders worked fine, but my POP folders are broken. The messages appear to be there in the folders, but they're blank when I open them (except the sent folder: that is missing entirely). This includes my entire inbox of personal email containing thousands of messages, many of which are very important, and some of which are absolutely vital. Tbird has a "repair folder" option but all that did was erase everything include the message list (got it back by reimporting the profile folder again). Here is someone else who had the same problem, but no solution is listed: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1024340 .... can anyone help? (Please don't tell me that I "should" have made another kind of backup, or that I should switch all folders to IMAP going forward, etc. ..... that will NOT help solve the immediate problem and will just make more stressed/angry.) Any tbird whizzes out there who can save all these messages???? This is urgent.
Did you rebuild the indexes? When my POP accounts have corrupted folders in TB (usually displays as empty folder), I force a rebuild of the indexes by first doing a "Search Messages" on the root folder (usually "Local Folders") with "Search subfolders" checked. Doesn't matter the criteria, it is just to force every subfolder to be searched. Then select File, then Compact Folders from the main menu.
I stumbled onto this when I was using TB under OS/2 but it still works under TB on OSX. I assume the same would work on Linux.
Mark
On Wed, Mar 28, 2018 at 2:30 AM, Evan Koblentz via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic@lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote:
Didn't work. :(
It took a very long time and reindexed all the IMAP folders plus the archive folders (some inbox subfolders that I decided a long time ago to keep just in case). But my personal email folders for inbox/sent are still displaying blank white windows when I open a message.
just a thought, didn't you say you can see those emails from the inbox with a text editor maybe there's a Util to covert this into a generic text file, and then maybe TB can let you read this back in there as usual, make some more backup copies before attempting this experiment Dan -- _ ____ / \__/ Scotty, We Need More Power !! \_/ _\__ Aye, Cap'n, but we've only got 80 columns !!
participants (6)
-
Dan Roganti -
Dave Wade -
Drew Notarnicola -
Evan Koblentz -
jsalzman＠gmail.com -
madodel