Thunderbird – Migrate and update v52.9.1 from Win7 to Win10

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[opti1]

Currently I am running Thunderbird 52.9.1 on Win7, without add-ons, extensions, or Lightning.

I’m setting up a new Win10 PC. It’s time to update Thunderbird as well.

Is there any reason to prefer the 32-bit version over the 64-bit version or vice-versa?

Should I update to the most current version of Thunderbird or are there reasons to stop at an earlier version?

Should I update Thunderbird on the Win7 PC and then migrate the fully updated profile over to the new Win10 PC?

Or should I install v52.9.1 on the new Win10 PC, migrate over the profile, and then update Thunderbird there?

I assume that if things go south at any point while I am updating from v52 to the target version I can:

– uninstall whatever version of Thunderbird I have updated to,
– reinstall v52.9.1,
– make sure v52.9.1 points to my backed up v52.9.1 profile,
– and I will be back to where I was before I started updating.

Is this correct?

Any advice, tips, suggestions, comments, etc., are welcome.

Thanks!

• This topic was modified 3 years, 8 months ago by opti1.

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As TB is now at V78, I would upgrade the old version – after a backup – then migrate the profile to the new machine with V78.

I always install 64bit software if available. It can use more memory etc and matches the machine and Windows.

cheers, Paul

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opti1

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Thunderbird in on version 91.

https://www.thunderbird.net/en-US/thunderbird/91.0/releasenotes/

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Alex5723 wrote:

Thunderbird in on version 91

Only if you downloaded and installed manually. If you let it upgrade automatically you get 78.13.0.

cheers, Paul

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“@PaulT

As TB is now at V78, I would upgrade the old version – after a backup – then migrate the profile to the new machine with V78.

I always install 64bit software if available. It can use more memory etc and matches the machine and Windows.”

Thanks Paul. That confirms what I was planning to do.

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Alex5723 wrote:

Thunderbird in on version 91.

https://www.thunderbird.net/en-US/thunderbird/91.0/releasenotes/

Right. I’m not thrilled about the timing. I’d rather jump from v52 to a mature v78 than to the initial v91 release. Looks like v91 is a manual update for now. I’ll try to see if I can update to v78.12 (.13?) and then turn off auto-update before they send me v91.

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I’m with Paul_T: go with 64-bit. Also, 32/64 is totally irrelevant to the data files.
And the instructions below assume that you are working with POP accounts.

For comparisons, have both computers ‘live’, that is, operational concurrently.
AND, if possible, have both computers on the same network and Workgroup.
If inter-computer communication is not possible, then use a USB thumb drive as the ‘cache’ location mentioned below.

Leave Win 7 / TB 52 as-is. ‘But first’, [File > Compact folders] to clear deleted emails.
– This old system undoubtedly has accumulated detritus and obsolete files through the years. I am not a fan of Profile copying when there is a significant Version change or chronological jump.
– It is best to do a fresh start.
Install TB (now 91, or 78.13 if you prefer) on the new Win10.
Define the/a Profile. Initially, OFFLINE, go through all the [Tools > Options] to set them as you want them (hint: they’ve changed the UI).
If you are comfortable with your fully defining the server definitions,
— Still Offline, define [“Configure manually”] the email accounts.
And set up the Server Settings as you wish. (Suggest checking [Leave messages on server] while testing).
Go Online: File > Offline > uncheck Work Offline
Test sending and receiving. During each of these the first time is when you’ll be entering the passwords.

When through testing, delete all emails. (And on 7/52, purge the testing emails. Compact.)

Migration –
Recommendation – for Address Book and Mail Folder copyings, define in [Win 7 > Users > Public] a target ‘caching/transfer’ (Export) folder which will be used as the Source folder for Importing into Win 10. (Or use a USB thumb drive.)

On 52: Address Book > Tools > Export. Note which folder they have gone to.
CAUTION: If you Export while pointing to ‘All Address Books’, you aren’t initially asked to specify the target folder. First, Export just one Address Book, and you can set the target location – the Public folder that you defined.
On 91: Address Book > Tools > Import — from the cache folder on Win 7.

For the Mail folders, on both machines, navigate to
==> AppData > Roaming > Thunderbird > Profiles > [profile-name] > Mail
‘Mail’ contains one ‘real mail’ folder for each account, plus the Local Folders account.
On both computers, verify that these account names are identical on both TBs.
On TB 52, Copy the entire Mail folder to the (Public\cache) that you defined.
On TB 91, Copy the entire Mail folder from the (TB 52:Public\cache) folder into the TB 91 Profile. This will replace the existing Mail folder (which has no emails in it, right?).

If the above is all correct, you have not corrupted anything and there is no fallback needed. After you are satisfied that Win 10 / TB91 is alive and well, you may go back and upgrade Win 7.

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opti1

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PaulK wrote:

I’m with Paul_T: go with 64-bit. Also, 32/64 is totally irrelevant to the data files. And the instructions below assume that you are working with POP accounts.

Thanks, PaulK.

And thanks for that very detailed alternate option for migrating Thunderbird. I actually would feel more comfortable having my current Win7/Thunderbird v52 left alone in its current state while I bring the Win10 PC up to speed. There’s a lot to digest so I’ll take my time to go through it to make sure I understand exactly what is involved.

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I would clearly label Profile backups along the upgrade path. IE 52TBProfile. 60TBProfile …
That way if you get to a version you can’t live with you can uninstall and reinstall the previous version and re-institute the previous profile. This is important as profiles formats are changing enough that returning to a previous TB install with a higher version profile can become unstable (from what I have read). Some versions will not accept a newer version profile (but this can be forced i you are in a bind). One reason you may not want a newer version is older extensions and themes are being prohibited.

🍻

Just because you don't know where you are going doesn't mean any road will get you there.

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opti1

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[Bob99]

@opti1 –

Currently I am running Thunderbird 52.9.1 on Win7, without…Lightning.

In the time since you’ve installed T’Bird 52.9.1, Lightning has been incorporated as a regular part of Thunderbird and is no longer listed as an extension or add-on.

Is this a big issue for you?

Also, as you’ve noticed in the posts above, T’Bird was updated this week. The latest version that’s installable as of this writing by way of the built-in installer is version 78.13. As noted on the release notes page for version 91, version 91 is only available via a stand-alone installer for now.

One detail that I don’t remember as far as upgrading goes is just how far you can take your version 52.9.1 using its built-in updater. For now, I’d say let it take your T’Bird installation on Windows 7 as far as it can (until it says that “Thunderbird is up to date” in the About Thunderbird box of the “Help” option or Help menu choice).

When I made the jump from Windows 7 to Windows 10, I got T’Bird fully up to date on my Windows 7 machine, and then copied the entire contents of the \Users\(my user name on the computer)\AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird\Profiles\(my profile’s name ending in “.default, like #lllllll.default where # represents a number and llll… represents random letters in lower case) folder to a thumb drive. That ensured that my profile was as updated as it could be.

Once I got my Windows 10 computer, I proceeded to install the 64 bit version of the latest version of Thunderbird on it, but I did not launch Thunderbird from within the installer at the end of the installation. Instead, I exited the installer and waited a few moments. After waiting, I then double clicked on the Thunderbird shortcut that I placed on my Windows 10 desktop, and it immediately opened with a box in the middle of the screen asking me to set up an email account. I clicked the “Cancel” button at the bottom of that box and then closed T’Bird by clicking the usual red “X” in the upper right corner of the window.

I then navigated my way to the same location in Windows 10 that existed in Windows 7, but with one key difference: The name of the profile folder now ends with “…default-release” in Windows 10. After I double clicked on the “…default-release” folder, I then deleted the entire contents of it and replaced them with the entire contents of the profile folder on the thumb drive that I’d copied over from Windows 7.

I then relaunched T’Bird, and was up and running without missing a single beat or email. One key piece of info about my migration, though: I was able to get the versions of T’Bird on Windows 7 and Windows 10 to be the same version number before performing the migration.

• This reply was modified 3 years, 8 months ago by Bob99.
• This reply was modified 3 years, 8 months ago by Bob99. Reason: Added description of my 7-10 migration with T'Bird
• This reply was modified 3 years, 8 months ago by Bob99.
• This reply was modified 3 years, 8 months ago by Bob99.

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opti1

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[Bob99]

@opti1 –

Well, it appears that T’Bird 78.13 is no longer available from the “normal” download sources within the download.mozilla.org domain. Only version 91 is offered, editing the url to reflect 78.13 gets you a 404 error message.

With that in mind, if you can’t get the built-in updater to get your installation from 52.9.1 to 78.13, here is a link to the Mozilla ftp site that has download links for the 64 bit installers of the full version of 78.13. If you’d prefer the 32 bit installer, simply substitute “win32” for “win64” in the url and you’ll be presented with the 32 bit installers. Either the .msi or the .exe installer will work, your choice. The 32 bit installer is about 47 megs in size, the 64 bit installer is about 49 megs in size.

https://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/thunderbird/releases/78.13.0/win64/en-US/

• This reply was modified 3 years, 8 months ago by Bob99.

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opti1, wavy

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wavy wrote:

I would clearly label Profile backups along the upgrade path. IE 52TBProfile. 60TBProfile …

Thanks wavy. Yes, I plan to make multiple backups of everything at each step of the way, all appropriately named (I hope).

And I don’t use any extensions nor themes so that incompatibility with earlier versions shouldn’t affect me. 🙂

Thanks!

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Bob99 wrote:

In the time since you’ve installed T’Bird 52.9.1, Lightning has been incorporated as a regular part of Thunderbird and is no longer listed as an extension or add-on. Is this a big issue for you?

Thanks Bob99.  I do not have and have never used Lightning. I assume that when it comes and installs in the update path I can just ignore it, correct?

Bob99 wrote:

One detail that I don’t remember as far as upgrading goes is just how far you can take your version 52.9.1 using its built-in updater. For now, I’d say let it take your T’Bird installation on Windows 7 as far as it can (until it says that “Thunderbird is up to date” in the About Thunderbird box of the “Help” option or Help menu choice).

From what I have read Help > About should step me through v52 to v68 where I should wait until I am prompted to update to v78. But that was before v91 dropped. Even though documentation says v91 is a manual update ‘for now’ who knows how long that will be? And does manual update include Help > About or just manually downloading via ftp?

I’m wondering, if I should stop Help > About when I get to v68 and just install v78.13 from the standalone installer which I have already downloaded to my PC. Then wait for the update to v91 prompt from Thunderbird?

I guess a lot depends on what the manual vs auto download and install status of v91 is when I actually perform the migration to Win10. That now looks like it might not be until after installing this month’s WinUpdates and maybe after updating Windows to 21H1.

Bob99 wrote:

I then navigated my way to the same location in Windows 10 that existed in Windows 7, but with one key difference: The name of the profile folder now ends with “…default-release” in Windows 10.

Thanks for that reminder.

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Even though documentation says v91 is a manual update ‘for now’ who knows how long that will be?

I guess a lot depends on what the manual vs auto download and install status of v91 is when I actually perform the migration to Win10.

I seem to recall seeing a post or a note either here or on Mozilla’s site somewhere that indicated that FF91 won’t become available for the built-in installer until some point in October, but don’t quote me on that.  😉

I do not have and have never used Lightning. I assume that when it comes and installs in the update path I can just ignore it, correct?

Almost completely correct. There will be some settings under Options>Calendar that you may wish to set. Having it as part and parcel of Thunderbird has helped me deal with emailed invitations sent my way in the past year and a half for things like Zoom meetings, as Lightning knows natively how to handle them.

From what I have read Help > About should step me through v52 to v68 where I should wait until I am prompted to update to v78.

I hope the built-in installer carries you all the way to 68.12.1, which was the last release, I believe, in the version 68 line of T’Bird. Once you get to that point, and you’re told that T’Bird is fully up to date by the updater, I would then use the full installer you have for version 78.13 to get to 78.13. However, make sure the installer is the same bittedness (32 or 64 bit) as your installation of 68.12.1. The installer should be able to tell that it is upgrading an existing installation and leave your profile intact. That’s what happened to me when I made the jump from 68 to 78 because the built-in updater wouldn’t do it at the time.

BTW, just as an FYI for those who are curious and following this thread, the latest edition of T’Bird that’s offered on the Mozilla ftp server is 91.0.2 as of this writing. Methinks I’ll wait until it’s offered up by the built-in installer to install 91.whatever or 92.whatever.  🙂

 

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opti1

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I am reviving this old thread after having to redirect myself to other priorities. Sorry for not posting any follow-up status updates.

I decided to go with @PaulK ‘s approach to migrate directly to version 78.14.0 as he outlined in his post #2383555 above.

I installed Thunderbird 78.14.0 (64-bit) on the Win10 PC and defined a profile. I’ve gone through Tools > Options and adjusted settings to the way I think I would like them (time will tell). I’ve manually defined the server settings and email accounts to match what I have in Thunderbird 52.9.1 on the Win7 PC and I’ve set up my passwords.

I’m currently testing sending and receiving messages and tweaking assorted General and Composition settings as I go. So far it has been going well.

I have not yet copied my Address Book nor Mail from the Win7 PC to the Win10 PC.

I’ve left my Profile on the Win10 PC at the standard location in C: Users > Username > AppData > Thunderbird and I have set Message Storage to put my messages in a folder on my D: drive. That all seems to be working fine so far.

I’m considering also moving my Profile to the D: drive to facilitate backing up. Thoughts on that?

I also need to update my Thunderbird 78.14.0 to a more recent version. Should I do that before or after I copy over my Address Book and Mail from the Win7 PC?

I know that there have been big changes with Thunderbird since I put a pause on this project. Any suggestions on how far up the chain I should go in updating versions?

Thanks!

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The Thunderbird team has changed the format of address books 2-3 times since version 52.x. To retain your address books, you’ll need to upgrade them through each major version of TB. Or you can export your address books from TB 52 and then import them into whatever version you land on.

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opti1

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Thanks for your response.

Yes, the plan is to export the address book from v52 on Win7 and then import it into v78 or whatever version I land on on Win10.

Thanks.

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I would backup/export all mail data and go straight to the latest TB (128). Then import everything. This will minimize the pain of multiple updates.

cheers, Paul

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opti1

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