From MozillaZine Knowledge Base

Information needed before starting

http://mozilla.gunnars.net/thunderbird_mail_setup.html describes the information needed before installing the Thunderbird program. It would be wise to also read about profiles in Keep it working - Thunderbird.

Installing thunderbird

After you initially download a version of Thunderbird you then must "install" it. This occurs by executing Thunderbird Setup x.x.x.x.exe. Do this in Administrator Mode. The initial entry to Thunderbird asks lots of questions - see the previous section. Upon the initial Thunderbird entry in User Mode you have to provide the same information again. Do not attempt to utilize a single profile in both modes by using the same profile name in order to simplify mail manipulation between modes - Thunderbird stores user information in a profile folder and uses a separate profile folder for each mode. Note that after once having installed any version of Thunderbird, a reinstall of Thunderbird of any version will not ask you those questions again - it retains the earlier set of data.

Compacting folders

Using the Inbox to store received messages can lead to difficult to repair problems. See Compacting folders for amplification. However, the method of deleting messages from the folders differs in version 2 from previous versions. When it becomes desirable to delete a message(s) from a folder other than the Trash folder from your computer perform the following three steps:

 1. Select the message(s) then click on the big red Delete icon in the Menu bar.
 2. Right-click on the folder, then click on Compact.
 3. Issue "File -> Empty Trash".

(Note that "Edit -> Select All" still exists.)

Step 1 will apparently delete the file(s) from the folder and move it to the trash folder. In actuality, it is still in the files folder in your computer and also in the trash folder in your computer. Steps 2 and 3 will delete the message from both mentioned folders.

Trying to understand thunderbird interaction better

A new user should not need details about the inner workings of Thunderbird other than already mentioned. However, if he is curious, the Thunderbird system user folders/files of various kinds in several areas:

   Program (Installation) Directory
   Profile folder for the Thunderbird application code
   Profile folder
   Local Folders
   Profiles.ini file

Mail Concepts tries to relate the above in a hierarchical way but doesn't give enough detail for a neophyte to thunderbird.

The Program Directory is where the application code is placed. The Profile folder named "profile" for thunderbird code contains data used by the Thunderbird application code. It is entirely separate from the Profile folder that is continually discussed (6). The Profile folder stores all of the users data such as messages, address books and settings (1 and 6). It is emphasized that it is stored outside the Program Directory area and is not deleted if the user uninstalls Thunderbird (6). The Profile folder can be placed in a location chosen by the user. If he does not so specify, Thunderbird chooses a default location. Local Folders is stored in your Profile folder as a subfolder of the "Mail" folder (3). Profiles.ini file is used by the application code to find the Profile Folder (1 and 5). Reference (6) says it is "...located in the parent of the 'Profiles' folder. Reference (5) says "...it is located inside the Thunderbird folder in the profile folder Path for Thunderbird." These statments are just two different ways of saying the same thing. References 4, 5 and 6 say that if you delete the Thunderbird profiles.ini file, a new default profile folder will be created when Thunderbird next starts and a new profiles.ini file will be generated that references the new profile.

Article references:

  1.  Profile Backup
  2.  Profile Folder
  3.  Local folders
  4.  Profile in use
  5.  Profiles.ini file
  6.  Profile folder--Thunderbird
  7.  Recovering a profile that suddenly disappeared

Category: Thunderbird