901839 - Can't create new sub folders. And rename gets error that the folder already exists

Status: RESOLVED INVALID

(MailNews Core :: Backend, defect)

Description

[Michelle]

User Agent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 6.1; WOW64; rv:22.0) Gecko/20100101 Firefox/22.0 (Beta/Release)
Build ID: 20130618035212

Steps to reproduce:

Got a new computer, copied the profile from the old HD to the new computer's TB.

I can't find the page I used to follow instructions. I've looked everywhere & can't find it.

This is similar (I think he copied it from the other guy), but it's not exact.

http://techxan.wordpress.com/2011/01/04/manually-move-thunderbird-emailprofile-from-pc-to-pc/


Actual results:

So I've been having major problems with TB for a while.

Strange characters have been showing up at the end of the folder's name & sometimes TB creates 2 of the same folder & they can NOT be deleted, no matter what the geek tries using different types of software.

TB has also been deleting mail from within folders. I don't noticed until months or years later b/c I don't go into every folder I have on a constant basis.

Anyway, after I got my new computer 3 weeks ago & transferred the old TB profile to the new TB, I had even more folder issues with characters in them, but this time a NEW symptom occurred that is really stressing me out.

On some of the folders where I delete the characters & retype the folder name, TB won't let me saying the folder already exists even though I can't see it.

Then once or twice I couldn't even create a new sub folder, as I'd either get the same message or TB just wouldn't do anything. It would just sit there & not allow me to create any folder. The only option was to just hit "cancel"

THEN since I was looking for geeks everywhere who know TB to help me b/c I CAN'T work & I don't know how to solve this problem, I started going to Just Answers & one geek said he could fix the problem.

I'm not going to go into all the details (you can read the LONG drama of how he violated me & my computer on my blog), but this guy highjacked my computer, did NOT tell me what he was going to do, wouldn't let me talk or ask him what he was going to do. He worked so fast I've never seen anyone work THAT fast before & I've had a lot of geeks on my computer in the last several months.

All I think he did was AGAIN, copy the old profile (he shouldn't have done that since the new profile is newer, but he didn't listen to a word I said) & NOW the situation is even worse.

Folders I KNOW I created are missing & I can't re-create them. TB won't let me.

I even deleted one of the corrupt folders & created a new one with a slightly different folder name & when I went to add sub folders, it wouldn't let me. I tested it by also trying to create sub folders on the other folders in that tree & one would let me, the other wouldn't.

Also there's times when I can't even change the folder name by adding a dash or a number at the end. TB STILL says the folder already exists.

PLEASE HELP ME. I can't work & I don't know what to do. : (

P.S. One thing that was asked of me is whether the version on the old HD was the same as the new computer's TB version & I checked & within the 3 weeks I had no desktop & was using a laptop, TB did upgrade one version.


Expected results:

Should be able to create sub folders, & not see tons of folders with characters. Shouldn't be deleting mail or creating duplicate folders.

Comment 1

[:aceman]

Ok, can you say what your "Local Directory" of that account is? You can find that field in Tools->Account settings->Account name->server settings.

Comment 2

[Michelle]

Hi,

Thank you for responding to my issues.

Well before I had it always pointing to E drive where I kept all my TB folders. I would create a new one for every different e-mail account.

I've had it this way for years & then this IDIOT went into the guts of TB. I'm not sure what he did, but I could see that he was somewhere I've never been before.

When I first copied the old desktop's HD to my new computer I had issues too. I would see C:/E:/ in the directory path. My friend who was helping me at the time figured out the error I was having was b/c of that & I proceeded to manually point them all back to E.

That solved the problem.

Well this guy had the SAME problem & I told him so. He was soooo cocky, saying that whoever did the copy of the profile before had done it the wrong way, YET he got the same results I did.

Instead of going into each account like I did & pointing it o E, he went into the guts & I "think" he was trying to do a find & replace via Notepad.

He was unable to get that to work b/c I kept hearing the error ding go off every 2 seconds. This lasted an hour & when he was FINALLY done, I was SHOCKED to see that he had pointed EVERYTHING to a path on C.

C:\Users\Michelle\Thunderbird\Thunderbird-E-mail\Cocoon Affiliate (this is just one example)

Anyway, I was very upset & asked him why he did that. He couldn't tell me why other than to say whoever had did the profile before hadn't done it properly. 

He said was that now if I did anything on C in that directory, it would also show up in the E area. So I said then WHY can't you just point it to E???? Why even do what you did if it's going to show up on E anyway.

He had no answer. I argued that I wanted it to be PUT BACK to E, but at this point he started to do things that caused me even greater frustration & alarm, & shortly thereafter he did more damage, stopped me from copying the conversation & took off, so now I'm stuck with this cloaning. 

I asked him if it was cloaning & he said, "no."

I did go to test it & he was right, if I add or delete a folder, it shows up on both sides.

I'm still having major problems.

I was just able to add a sub folder to a folder I use for work & when I went to go rename it, again I got the error that the folder already exists.

Thanks


Michelle

Comment 3

[:aceman]

Hi, I don't think you answered my comment 1.
Anyway, paths starting with C:/E:/ surely look bad.
You can set the Local Directory for each account to be on E: (a subfolder there) or it can be in 
"C:\Users\Michelle\Thunderbird\Thunderbird-E-mail\<account>".

I don't know how he did the live "cloning" of "C:\Users\Michelle\Thunderbird\Thunderbird-E-mail\Cocoon Affiliate" to "E:". We would need to know that to determine if it causes the problem.

Maybe you could attach your prefs.js file (in TB profile folder) here (see if it does not contain any private info).
Also you could attach a screenshot of your hard disks (the My Computer window in the Details view) so we see if E: actually exists or what type it is.

Comment 4

[Michelle]

Hi,

Yes I did answer your question. I said it used to be on E & now it's pointing to C.

I have no idea how he did what he did, but the problems were there before he touched my computer, they just got MUCH worse after he touched it.

It all started on the old computer with characters in some of the folders & a few duplicate folders, so suddenly one folder would duplicate itself & I couldn't get rid of it no matter what removal software we used.

Then TB deleted the mail from within the folder.

It was ONLY in regards to these corrupt folders that I couldn't recreate them, but now I can't create sub folders even though the folder can't be seen, nor is there any obvious corruption.

Umm, yes of course E exists :  ) I do know my own computer. :  )

http://snag.gy/DFDxi.jpg

I also wanted to show you this too b/c whatever he did, TB is no longer a folder, it has that arrow thingy on it now.

http://snag.gy/e9Vsf.jpg

http://snag.gy/Pjleb.jpg - the properties of that folder or whatever it is now.

I don't know what the prefs.js contains & doesn't contain, but I'm attaching it anyway.

Ok, I guess I'm not LOL, where's t"he attach" button?

I have to go to bed in a minutes.

Thanks a ton


Michelle

Comment 5

[:aceman]

There is an "Add an attachment" link on the top of this page.

Comment 6

[:aceman]

Unfortunately I can't see the images on snag.gy (my corporate filter is blocking it).

But the hint with the arrow icon is good, it looks like it is a symbolic link now.

Wayne, can you please check the images and attach them here?
This looks like a support request for now.

Comment 7

[Michelle]

Attachment: prefs.js

I'll attach more as I see more there.

Comment 8

[Michelle]

Attachment: prefs-1.js

Comment 9

[Michelle]

Attachment: prefs.bk0

Comment 10

[:aceman]

Cool, you seem to be a real poweruser ;) Ton of accounts and addons to manage them. Must have been an effort to migrate them all.

I'll try to retrieve the screenshots and then tell you what to do next.

Comment 11

[Michelle]

Hi there,

Yes, I admit I'm a heavy user :  )

That's why I'm so upset, I thought TB could handle my load. I left Outlook for TB b/c I was told it could handle all my accounts. Mind you I didn't have as many back then as I do now.

Did you end up being able to see everything?

Thanks


Michelle

Comment 12

[WADA:World Anti-bad-Duping Agency]

(In reply to Michelle from comment #7)
> Created attachment 790112 [details]
> prefs.js

Who broke mail.server.serverN.directory-rel in prefs.js?
> user_pref("mail.server.server1.directory", "\\Users\\Michelle\\Thunderbird\\Thunderbird-E-mail\\Local Folders");
> user_pref("mail.server.server1.directory-rel", "[ProfD]../../../../../../..//Users/Michelle/Thunderbird/Thunderbird-E-mail/Local Folders");
Tb never does such change of directory-rel.

FYI.
prefs-1.js
(still correct for using E:\\Thunderbird-E-mail\\Local Folders as Mail directory)
> user_pref("mail.server.server1.directory", "E:\\Thunderbird-E-mail\\Local Folders");
> user_pref("mail.server.server1.directory-rel", "[ProfD]../../../../../../../E:/Thunderbird-E-mail/Local Folders");
prefs.bk0
(correct for using E:\\Thunderbird-E-mail\\Local Folders as Mail directory)
> user_pref("mail.server.server1.directory", "E:\\Thunderbird-E-mail\\Local Folders");
> user_pref("mail.server.server1.directory-rel", "[ProfD]../../../../../../../E:/Thunderbird-E-mail/Local Folders");


Is "\\Users\Michelle\Thunderbird\Thunderbird-E-mail\Local Folders" UNC path? (File server's directory, without network drive letter assignment)
Do you set UNC path of Tb's profile directory in profiles.ini? 


Assume your profile directory == X:\Users\Michelle\Thunderbird\Thunderbird-E-mail on your MS Win 7.
(1) At Server Setting, Local Directory: field of "Local Folders", choose X:\Users\Michelle\Thunderbird\Thunderbird-E-mail/Local Folders via folder picker.
(2) Terminate Tb, and restart Tb (Termination/restart is mandatory)
(3) Open some mail folders o "Local Folders", and terminate Tb.
(4) Check prefs.js content.
What is set in mail.server.server1.directory-rel?

Comment 13

[Michelle]

Please read my original post & all of my responses to get your answers.

As for what you posted, I have no idea what you are saying/asking. I'm not a geek.

Thanks

Comment 14

[:aceman]

(In reply to WADA from comment #12)
> Who broke mail.server.serverN.directory-rel in prefs.js?
> > user_pref("mail.server.server1.directory", "\\Users\\Michelle\\Thunderbird\\Thunderbird-E-mail\\Local Folders");
> > user_pref("mail.server.server1.directory-rel", "[ProfD]../../../../../../..//Users/Michelle/Thunderbird/Thunderbird-E-mail/Local Folders");
> Tb never does such change of directory-rel.
Some people did manual changes to the directories to migrate TB to a new PC. Don't worry about that :)

Comment 15

[Michelle]

I already figured that out, but I need to fix the TB as I can't work with it.

Can you help please or can someone else help me please.

Comment 16

[:aceman]

I already said I need to find a machine where your http://snag.gy/ links are not blocked. So either you can wait until then, or somebody (including you) can download those images from snag.gy and attach them here as you have attached the prefs.js files.

Comment 17

[WADA:World Anti-bad-Duping Agency]

(In reply to :aceman from comment #14)
> Don't worry about that :)

If so, which is actual problem(Tb's flaw in code) of this bug?
- When directory-rel is broken by manual change of prefs.js by user,
  Tb is not torelant with such manual corrution of prefs.js.
  - Tb should be torelant with manual corruption of prefs.js?
  - Tb should automatically correct manual corruption of prefs.js?
Or help reqquest for correction of manually broken prefs.js?
Or other?

As seen in mail.server.server1.directry, server1.directory is set as follows from manually broken server1.directory-rel.
  [ProfD]../../ ... ../../               => C:
  [ProfD]../../ ... ../../../            => null
  [ProfD]../../ ... ../../..//Users/ ... => \Users\ ...
If current directory(Working Directory) is  C:\... on Win, "Mail directory == \Users\ ... \Local Folders" is better treated as "C:\Users\ ... \Local Folders". But Tb currently assumes "serverN.directory obtaind from serverN.directory-rel" == "Full path including drive letter". It can be called "design".

What is wrong in Tb? User's fault, isn't it?

Or when user set server1.directory as follows with deleting server1.directory-rel,
> user_pref("mail.server.server1.directory", "\\Users\\Michelle\\Thunderbird\\Thunderbird-E-mail\\Local Folders");
Tb wrongly generated following broken server1.directory-rel?
> user_pref("mail.server.server1.directory-rel", "[ProfD]../../../../../../..//Users/Michelle/Thunderbird/Thunderbird-E-mail/Local Folders");

Comment 18

[:aceman]

(In reply to WADA from comment #17)
> What is wrong in Tb? User's fault, isn't it?
Nothing identified yet. I said in comment 6 this looks like support request for now.

But there is a potential problem being analyzed. I need to get to the screenshots to see if there are some symlinks in the folders the user is trying to use. And if those links are then causing the problems described (can't create new folders)

Comment 19

[:aceman]

OK, does anybody have a Win7 machine and can reproduce this "Mounted volume" type for Thunderbird folder under which the message data is stored? How is it done on Windows? So it was not a symlink (.lnk) file, but this other type "Mounted volume" (as seen on the screenshot).

Michelle, so you can see all your folders on the E: disk ? Are they at "E:/Thunderbird-E-mail/<Account name>" or directly at "E:/<Account name>" ?

Comment 20

[Suyash Agarwal (:sshagarwal)]

Attachment: DFDxi.jpg

Comment 21

[Suyash Agarwal (:sshagarwal)]

Attachment: e9Vsf.jpg

Comment 22

[Suyash Agarwal (:sshagarwal)]

Attachment: Pjleb.jpg

Comment 23

[Michelle]

Sorry Aceman, I didn't see your question.

Yes, they are on "E:/Thunderbird-E-mail/<Account name>

But remember he has them pointing in TB to C.

I had to create some new accounts the other day & I just said screw it, & am pointing it to E like it should be.

If you know of anyone who can help me, I will pay them (I don't have a lot to pay), but I will. I really  need this fixed & finding a TB expert is like finding a needle in a hay stack :  (

Thank you, I really appreciate it.

What are those 3 jps that Suyash posted?

Comment 24

[:aceman]

So you can do this:
1. Close Thunderbird.
2. Open the prefs.js file in Windows Notepad (or other program that edits plain text (NOT Word))
3. Find all lines of this pattern: user_pref("mail.server.server*.directory"
user_pref("mail.server.server*.directory-rel"
where * is any number. Like this:
user_pref("mail.server.server2.directory", "\\Users\\Michelle\\Thunderbird\\Thunderbird-E-mail\\Michelle");
user_pref("mail.server.server2.directory-rel", "[ProfD]../../../../../../..//Users/Michelle/Thunderbird/Thunderbird-E-mail/Michelle");
You should always find both lines for each server number.
Then for each pair do this:
1. Change the mail.server.server*.directory line to:
user_pref("mail.server.server*.directory", "E:\\Thunderbird-E-mail\\<account name>");
e.g. for server2: user_pref("mail.server.server2.directory", "E:\\Thunderbird-E-mail\\Michelle");
2. delete the whole line starting user_pref("mail.server.server*.directory-rel"

Try this on one of your accounts first and start TB to see if it works. If yes, close TB and do it on all accounts.

Comment 25

[Wayne Mery (:wsmwk)]

(In reply to Michelle from comment #23)
> What are those 3 jps that Suyash posted?

These are the pictures you provided, but Suyash has attached them to the bug report.

Comment 26

[Michelle]

Oh thank you soooooo much :  )

I think this worked. I had my website coder help me b/c I was too afraid I would damage it even more. He doesn't know TB at all, but at least he's a coder.

So can you please explain why TB keeps inserting characters into folders & is also sometimes duplicating folders & deleting the mail in some of the folders?

This was happening long before I got the new computer, so I know it has nothing to do with that issue of copying the profile over.

Also can you send me clear instructions on how to copy a profile over correctly in case I ever need to do it again?

I may have to do that for my new laptop that is arriving shortly.

Thank you once again & have a wonderful wknd. :  )


Michelle
Hugs

Comment 27

[Michelle]

Oh I spoke too soon  :  (

I was able to create one folder, then the next one I couldn't, told me again it's already there when it's not. 

I tried again & it showed it was there, but then I couldn't drag or move mail into it. I had to reboot & when I did, it was missing. Again can't create it :  (



Michelle

Comment 28

[:aceman]

Can you attach the current prefs.js file?
Also do you have full permissions to write/create files on the E: drive?

Comment 29

[Michelle]

Attachment: TB Pref File

Comment 30

[Michelle]

Ok,that's done.

Now should I delete the one that says pref-1? I believe I mentioned that one b4 in this thread.

If you mean do I have admin permissions for this OS, the answer is yes.

This is my computer. :  )

Thanks & I hope you are having a good day/night.

Comment 31

[Michelle]

I forgot to mention something else that has been happening to TB that never happened before.

I go to move (I think it's move & not delete, but I can't be 100% sure) mail into folder & then TB just hangs. 

Either:

1. I click on the next e-mail I want to see & it doesn't move to that mail & is still showing the previous e-mail that isn't even in that inbox anymore, or

2. It does the same thing I've had happen in search windows, where the mail gets deleted, but the window doesn't refresh so the deletes are gone, instead I see grey lines where the e-mails used to be.

With the search window I can at least click on "search" again & it will refresh the search & get rid of those grey lines, but in this case I have no choice but to close TB & restart it.

This has happened to me around 4-5 times now.

Thanks


Michelle

Comment 32

[Wayne Mery (:wsmwk)]

xref http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?f=39&t=2764391&p=13214549#p13214549

Comment 33

[Wayne Mery (:wsmwk)]

Given the prefs was perhaps hacked, is there anything actionable on our end?