How:export email/addresses from Thunderbird to Outlook Expre

[Rahula]

Can you show me how to export email from Thunderbird in one computer to Outlook Express in another computer? I've check many hours on the internet and couldn't find the method. Some users talked about buying some third party software to do it, but I would like to avoid buying.

Also, how can you create a backup folder for the Thunderbird email and addresses, so that if the HDD fouled up and the Windows OS needs to be re-installed then I can use the backup email in Thunderbird, or alternatively, in Outlook Express/Outlook?

Any views and instructions will be appreciated.

Thanks.

[dvorak]

Can you show me how to export email from Thunderbird in one computer to Outlook Express in another computer? I've check many hours on the internet and couldn't find the method. Some users talked about buying some third party software to do it, but I would like to avoid buying.

Also, how can you create a backup folder for the Thunderbird email and addresses, so that if the HDD fouled up and the Windows OS needs to be re-installed then I can use the backup email in Thunderbird, or alternatively, in Outlook Express/Outlook?

Any views and instructions will be appreciated.

Thanks.

Oh my, why on earth would you want to export anything to OE? :) I think it'll be a bigger hassle backing up your OE files than Thunderbird.

Backing up Thunderbird is very simple:
Make a copy of this folder:
C:\Documents and Settings\User\Application Data\Thunderbird

That's it, "User" of course being your username for your Windows.
Want to move to another computer? Easy, just copy/move the folder to the Application Data folder and run TB, or if needed, just copy the profile folder under /Profiles/ if you've got more than one profile.

[Rahula]

It works!!! Thank you very much, dvorak. I even managed to transplant the

profile into my Portable Thunderbird, with two extra clicks to reach the

sub-folders in the USB thumbdrive.

The advantage in Thunderbird is that in one Profile folder, you can transplant all

3 major components: email/address/account settings. In Outlook Express, you have

to backup these 3 components separately. One advantage that OE has, is that it

allows you to pick and choose which email folder you want to import, whereas with

TB, you must import the entire package of email folders, or have I missed

something?

Also, in OE I can delete many email folders with one click instantaneously, but in

TB it takes many delete clicks and about 30 minutes to delete what takes OE one

second. Not that this point is important, just wondering why so time consuming.

Anyone cares to comment on this?

[jdhurst]

The only comment I would make is use what you like (keep it securely patched), and for the others who don't like what we like and use, just accept it. Thanks, ... JD Hurst

[dvorak]

If you wish to just import a single folder, I'm sure that's also possible, but I can't give step by step instructions because I haven't tried it and don't have the time to try it myself now either. Perhaps there are some extensions that do that. There's one that imports MBX files, the same or some other allows you to import .eml files and so on.

Google will sure help you (eg. thunderbird extenions)
http://www.google.com/search?q=thunderbird+extensions

I'm not quite sure what you mean by having hard time deleting e-mails, but if you have hundreds of folders with tens of thousands of e-mails, TB and OE probably both are not what you should be using. For those needs you should try Microsoft Outlook 2003.

But regarding OE vs TB, I'd definitely recommend Thunderbird, the built in spam filter already helps alot, not to mention the customizability with extensions.
Some you should install to make your stay more enjoyable:

• No new window on double click - http://www.chuonthis.com/extensions/
  Folderpane Tools - http://www.chuonthis.com/extensions/
  Delete Junk Context Menu - http://www.chuonthis.com/extensions/
  Contacts Sidebar - http://jpeters.no-ip.com/extensions/?page=tb_cs
  Get All Mail Button - http://www.supportware.net/mozilla/

Just to name a few.