554329 - Thunderbird deletes the files/folders in the local folder directory

Status: RESOLVED INCOMPLETE

(Thunderbird :: General, defect)

Description

[Don Gray]

User-Agent:       Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 6.1; en-US; rv:1.9.2) Gecko/20100115 Firefox/3.6
Build Identifier: 3.0.3

when I point Thunderbird to my saved local folder (used with Vista, now moved to Window 7), the folders are deleted while using the program. Not sure what triggers it but there are also a bunch of other folders (double junk and trash)., so Iv'e been trying to get things organized but it is futile.

Reproducible: Sometimes

Steps to Reproduce:
1.point Thunderbird to local folder
2.something triggers the deletion of the majority of the folders saved over the past ten years.
3. rebuild local folders from back, repeat.
Actual Results:  
folder deletion

Expected Results:  
folder should not be deleted.

Comment 1

[Ludovic Hirlimann [:Usul]]

can you expand on 1.point Thunderbird to local folder ? I don't understand what to do to reproduce for step 1.


 Have you tried safe mode? (see https://support.mozillamessaging.com/en-US/kb/Safe+Mode for more information)

Comment 3

[Wayne Mery (:wsmwk)]

Don?  ...

(In reply to comment #1)
> can you expand on 1.point Thunderbird to local folder ? I don't understand what
> to do to reproduce for step 1.
> 
> 
>  Have you tried safe mode? (see
> https://support.mozillamessaging.com/en-US/kb/Safe+Mode for more information)

Comment 4

[Don Gray]

Go to Tools/Account Settings/Local Folders/Browse.

Comment 5

[Wayne Mery (:wsmwk)]

Sounds like antivirus software, or some external program trashing you folders.
Is your AV software set to *exclude* scanning of your mail folders?

Comment 6

[Don Gray]

This happened when I first upgraded to Thunderbird (deleted my email folder including all my emails and folders n Thunderbird) and I had to go to a backup folder which, unfortunately was several months old so some emails in their Thunderbird folders were lost.
No, I have not told my antivirus to exclude scanning my email folder and would not think of doing so.
However, this issue is entirely due to Thunderbird and not the antivirus,
the antivirus caused no issues for the years I have used it but immediately when I a)upgraded to Thunderbird 3, b) set the email folder in Thunderbird to my email backup folder c) the folder was deleted.
Thunderbird, alone to blame. If there had not been a valid email folder it would have erased the contents, this was a valid email folder.
This was a one time event.

Comment 7

[Wayne Mery (:wsmwk)]

(In reply to comment #6)
> This happened when I first upgraded to Thunderbird (deleted my email folder
> including all my emails and folders n Thunderbird) and I had to go to a backup
> folder which, unfortunately was several months old so some emails in their
> Thunderbird folders were lost.
> No, I have not told my antivirus to exclude scanning my email folder and would
> not think of doing so.
> However, this issue is entirely due to Thunderbird and not the antivirus,
> the antivirus caused no issues for the years I have used it but immediately
> when I a)upgraded to Thunderbird 3, b) set the email folder in Thunderbird to
> my email backup folder c) the folder was deleted.
> Thunderbird, alone to blame. If there had not been a valid email folder it
> would have erased the contents, this was a valid email folder.
> This was a one time event.

Your concern is understandable, and it's a common opinion that because the antivirus worked OK before that the new Thunderbird is definitely at fault. However, in practice, we find that antivirus is typically at fault. Please read http://kb.mozillazine.org/Thunderbird_:_FAQs_:_Anti-virus_Software#Keeping_your_antivirus_software_from_deleting_your_Inbox and consider whether you want to be continually dealing with lost folders.

Comment 8

[Joshua Cranmer [:jcranmer]]

RESOLVED INCOMPLETE due to lack of response to previous question. If you feel this change was made in error, please respond to this bug with your reasons why.