By default, Ubuntu is using Evolution as a client for mails. I prefer Thunderbird, so I am going to install it, and to retrieve my e-mails from my previous computer.
Installing Thunderbird is quite easy: it is available as a package in Synaptic Package Manager, so this is where one can find it and start the installation.
Since I had a backup of my Thunderbird profile from my previous computer, I am going to install this profile in Thunderbird on my new computer. The Thunderbird profile (which contains all settings for emails accounts, the extensions that where installed, all the e-mails, …) is stored in a folder in:
/home/.mozilla-thunderbird/
and as for name a code (something like “fxt8zbe9.default”). This is this last folder that you must put on a USB key, or a burn on a CD.
Once Thunderbird has been installed, you can start it, and when it ask you if you want to import previous preferences, settings, …, you just select “Don’t import anything”.
Thunderbird will then launch the Account Wizard.
Again, you do not create any account, and you click on Cancel an then on Exit to confirm.
You can then close Thunderbird and copy your backup profile to the Thunderbird folder (/home/.mozilla-thunderbird). You can then delete the existing profile (the one that was installed by Thunderbird).
The last step is to edit the file called “profiles.ini” and, at the last line, to replace the name of the default profile folder by the name of your backup profile folder. After saving, you can start Thunderbird, and all your e-mails, preferences, add-ons, will be installed in Thunderbird.
Tags: Thunderbird, Ubuntu Gutsy
