Importing mail into thunderbird
October 11, 2007 8:58 AM Subscribe
How can I import mail from 1 thunderbird to another?
So my monitor or graphics card went splat this afternoon, I ordered a new computer nearly 2 months ago (not arrived yet but thats another story) so I don't want to waste any more money on my old one. So, I've taken the hard drive out and hooked it up to my laptop, so I have all my files and folders and apart from the lack of ability to game, all is fine and well - except, I need my emails.
I have emails on both my PC and my laptop, I want to import the emails from thunderbird on my PC's hard drive to thunderbird on my laptop, however, when I go to 'import', it lists a bunch of other mail clients but not thunderbird. So how is it done? On windows fwiw.
So my monitor or graphics card went splat this afternoon, I ordered a new computer nearly 2 months ago (not arrived yet but thats another story) so I don't want to waste any more money on my old one. So, I've taken the hard drive out and hooked it up to my laptop, so I have all my files and folders and apart from the lack of ability to game, all is fine and well - except, I need my emails.
I have emails on both my PC and my laptop, I want to import the emails from thunderbird on my PC's hard drive to thunderbird on my laptop, however, when I go to 'import', it lists a bunch of other mail clients but not thunderbird. So how is it done? On windows fwiw.
Response by poster: Surely that will overwrite my laptop's emails?
posted by missmagenta at 9:29 AM on October 11, 2007
posted by missmagenta at 9:29 AM on October 11, 2007
Best answer: That is true, I didn't quite catch that you needed to keep e-mail on the laptop also.
In that case, you will need to rename the MBOX files. i.e rename "Inbox" to "InboxPC", etc.
Additionally, I think the ImportExportTools extension will allow you to import the MBOX files without the need for renaming them.
posted by doomtop at 9:41 AM on October 11, 2007
In that case, you will need to rename the MBOX files. i.e rename "Inbox" to "InboxPC", etc.
Additionally, I think the ImportExportTools extension will allow you to import the MBOX files without the need for renaming them.
posted by doomtop at 9:41 AM on October 11, 2007
Also, if you do need the e-mail currently on your laptop, please back it all up before attempting any of these things.
posted by doomtop at 9:42 AM on October 11, 2007
posted by doomtop at 9:42 AM on October 11, 2007
Response by poster: ImportExportTools did the trick, thanks
posted by missmagenta at 10:13 AM on October 11, 2007
posted by missmagenta at 10:13 AM on October 11, 2007
This thread is closed to new comments.
You will need to locate the Thunderbird profile on the PC's hard drive, which should be in C:\Documents and Settings\[User Name]\Application Data\Thunderbird\Profiles\ (but replace C:\ with the drive letter assigned to the PC's hard drive when connected to your laptop.
There should be a directory within your profile directory called Mail and in there a directory called Local Folders. This is where the actual files that contain your e-mails reside.
Copy these files to the corresponding profile folder on your laptop's working installation of Thunderbird to access them.
posted by doomtop at 9:17 AM on October 11, 2007