Windows 10 headache??

[DD716TED]

It seems as though I turn to this RV based forum whenever I have a computer question that no one else can answer...and I always get the information needed... THANKs so here I go again... I have a desktop that is running Windows 10 and using the Thunderbird email program. Now I have a new laptop that has Windows 10 installed... I want to copy all of the email profiles / contacts from the Desktop to the Laptop for use in the RV when traveling BUT windows 10 has no "Easy Transfer" accessory installed and the INET has little or no info on how to do this.. Any ideas on how to get all of the data from one WIN 10 / Thunderbird computer to another WIN 10 / Thunderbird computer??

[AsheGuy]

Ed_Gee wrote:

joebedford wrote:
I use gmail WITH a PC client. I also use hotmail with an email client. Did I mention I use Yahoo with an email client? I have some business accounts that I use with an email client.

Why anyone would use webmail instead of a real client is beyond me.

I concur!

???

Email clients, whether PC-based or web-based (what I think Ed_Gee is referring to as webmail) perform the same function, i.e accessing email from an email account on its email server and facilitating sending email from the same email account. So, I don't understand what his last sentence means.

Both types of email clients can access email from one or more email accounts (and thus servers).

I think what he must be saying is that he doesn't understand why anyone would use an Internet-based email client instead of a PC-based email client. But the terminology is little tangled up.

If that is the question, the main reason for using an Internet-based email client is to avoid the limiting factor of having your email downloaded to a PC.

If you use a single PC for email access, then a PC client is not a limiting factor except for backup.

If you use multiple PCs and/or smart phones and/or tablets for email access, then a web-based email client is clearly a better choice.

The term Gmail can be a little confusing. The term Gmail refers to the email domain name (gmail.com) and its corresponding email server. The term Gmail also refers to the Internet-based email client that can access email from a user's gmail account and any other email accounts (personal or business) that they own. This is the exact same function that a PC-based email client performs.

[Ed_Gee]

joebedford wrote:
I use gmail WITH a PC client. I also use hotmail with an email client. Did I mention I use Yahoo with an email client? I have some business accounts that I use with an email client.

Why anyone would use webmail instead of a real client is beyond me.

I concur!

[joebedford]

I use gmail WITH a PC client. I also use hotmail with an email client. Did I mention I use Yahoo with an email client? I have some business accounts that I use with an email client.

Why anyone would use webmail instead of a real client is beyond me.

[AsheGuy]

2oldman wrote:
Consider switching to g-mail. You'll never have to transfer anything.

GMail (or Microsoft's cloud based Gmail competitor, Outlook) is so much simpler than all the solutions suggested so far.

Gmail allows one to get all their emails from whatever email address(s) they now have and have one email solution for any and all devices they have or ever get on. Emails, address book, favorites/bookmarks, etc synced to all their devices. And emails/contacts are accessible on any system they might use in any other location. Backup is automatic, a cloud system feature.

There are always those that question the security of the cloud, or "big brother" watching, whatever.

But once you start using an email system like Gmail, you will never go back to a PC based email client. Even if you only have one device (like a PC), the backup alone is worth the move away from a PC based email client. I have had to tell a lot of people with crashed hard drives that their email and contacts were lost.

[az99]

Mozback is very simple to use and it works on Win 10. I just used it to restore my backups for Thunderbird and FF on a new Win 10 laptop.

[wa8yxm]

This does not work for Usenet but for Mail, with most mail services, there is a method that works very well, and has a bunch of advantages as well.

WEB MAIL

That is instead of download the mail, including the malware that is in the spams (And occasionally the "Trusted" mails) you let Yahoo or Google or Microsoft deal with the malware and leave the mail on the host site.

Then using any computer.. your desktop, laptop, IOS, Android, Phone/tablet, A computer at the local library.. Even (in one case) a computer at Enterprise (I needed a copy of a utility bill.. Logged in and grabbed a phone bill) .....

You have full access to your E-mail

Accidently drop and run over the computer.. NOTHING IS LOST.

And what's more.. The malware.. Well it stays on the HOST (Yahoo/G-mail/Microsoft) is caught by THEIR virus scanners and never delivered. If you try to download it (I did once, just to see what would happen)( they throw up so many ARE YOU SURE YOU WANT TO DO THIS messages that if you are like me you will give up.. I did.. and delted the thing un-downloaded.

[ReadyToGo]

Besides the above post, there is also Dropbox, ICloud, Amazon Cloud, and many other Clouds to use.

[wa8yxm]

When I need to do that I just connect both computers to the same Wi-Fi or wired router (I usually go wired for this) then navigate to the directory that contains the neeed files and copy them over using File Manager.. And yes, Windows 10 still has file manager.. Should be in the quick menu (Left end of task/status bar) Manilla colored file folder.

NOTE: you may have to turn on file sharing for that folder

or you can copy it to the PUBLIC folder and copy it over to the new computer from there (into the target folder).

[1492]

The OP has the right idea. In Mozilla Thunderbird(TB), an email client, all that is needed to transfer email account(s) server and password settings, contacts, locally stored emails, addon extensions and settings, to another computer is to copy the files of one profile folder. That's it! No need to do each step separately which would take a significant amount of time. Shouldn't take more than 5 minutes, and what I've done in Thunderbird since version 1.

As I mentioned, TB also allows you to place its profile folder on any drive. Allowing the option to secure it by encryption, Mozilla's own best security practices, which is what I do placing it in an encrypted container within My Documents. Mine is further backed up twice daily to another encrypted container on a separate drive. Which makes it possible to restore Thunderbird and Firefox profiles in minutes. No need to re-configure accounts settings, passwords, add-on extensions, etc. And also means that even if the laptop is stolen, and the Windows user account credentials is breached, the thief still cannot access any emails, passwords, personal contacts, or TB account settings as its profile folder has been hardened using strong encryption.

[rockylarson]

Just be sure you like the Windows 10 mail app befor you go to all the trouble. First look and DW said she did not want to change. No problem. Just put a link on the start menu to her comcast email and one for my gmail. Zero learning curve.

[cleo43]

1- For Contacts you can use the Export/Import function in the Address Book's Tools.
2- As for the mails themselves proceed as following:
* Get a new Gmail account.
* Set up this account as IMAP in the old TB, POP3 in the new TB.
* Move all mails to the Inbox of the new account in the old PC.
The mails will appear in the Inbox of the new account in the new PC. It will take a while if you have too many mails.

[1492]

I do this quite frequently with Thunderbird/Firefox on a new WIN notebook or tablet. Takes me about 5-6 min to do so manually.

Options #1: Manually

Basically, I'd suggest creating a Thunderbird(TB) profile folder in a location where you can easily find it on your PC/laptop. I keep mine in a folder called Mozilla in My Documents.

The procedure is to copy the files and folders within your existing TB profile you want to transfer to your laptop. You can use a USB Flash drive.

With TB not running on your laptop, open the current profile folder, and delete all the folders and files. Then copy and paste the TB folders and files from your USB Flash drive into the empty TB profile folder on your laptop. Re-start TB, and it should be identical to your PC.


Option #2: Using an Extension

Download and install the TB Extension: ImportExportTools.

Make sure to install the extension to both your PC and laptop. You will now have a new option in TB Menu > Tools > ImportExportTools.

On your PC, click Tools > ImportExportTools > Export profile and follow the prompts. You can save it to a USB Flash Drive.

Conversely, on your laptop, click Tools > ImportExportTools > Import profile and follow the prompts.


I've never actually used ImportExportTools extension for exporting/importing TB profile. But should do the trick to mirror your Thunderbird PC profile onto your laptop.

[Oldme]

DD716TED wrote:
It seems as though I turn to this RV based forum whenever I have a computer question that no one else can answer...and I always get the information needed... THANKs so here I go again... I have a desktop that is running Windows 10 and using the Thunderbird email program. Now I have a new laptop that has Windows 10 installed... I want to copy all of the email profiles / contacts from the Desktop to the Laptop for use in the RV when traveling BUT windows 10 has no "Easy Transfer" accessory installed and the INET has little or no info on how to do this.. Any ideas on how to get all of the data from one WIN 10 / Thunderbird computer to another WIN 10 / Thunderbird computer??

In your search bar on the left bottom...type in "Transfer".
You will see the options.
This may or may not help.

Also go to "Settings" the "Accounts" the "Sync your settings"
which is on the left.

The real issue may be with the e-mail program you are using.

[downtheroad]

DD716TED wrote:

downtheroad wrote:
Download this to your old computer. Use it to back up your mail and contacts and then move the back up file to your new computer..open the file and restore your mail to the new machine...

Mozback...HERE

It's free and will also transfer all your extensions and settings also.

Thanks but this program won't work in Windows 10

I'm running Windows 10 and just used it yesterday....worked fine.