Comments on: How to Transfer Thunderbird Profile from Windows to Ubuntu 8.04

By: Mukko

Mukko — Sat, 28 May 2011 02:42:25 +0000

Just used this method to migrate from Windows 7 to Ubuntu 10.10 with a couple of slight modifications.

Being the overly cautious type I did not overwrite the old *.default file on the Ubuntu partition. I just changed the extension from “default” to “defold”.

Everything worked like a champ except my calendar (Lightning) extension. I had installed that extension through the Synaptic Package Manager when I installed Thunderbird. When I opened Thunderbird after transferring my profile as above my three mail accounts worked fine, but my calendar came up with blank squares for the days (not even a date, let alone the listing of a recorded event). Also the “New Event” and “New Task” commands were grayed out in the ‘Events and Tasks” menu item.

I figured I wouldn’t lose much if I tried an uninstall and re-install. In Thunderbird, I went to Tools>Add-ons>Extensions and clicked the “Uninstall” command button in the Lightning section. I said OK to a message that this would screw up things for Google Calendar something or other. I closed and restarted Thunderbird and, blow me down, not only was Lightning still there (I didn’t have to do a re-install), but it was working and filled with my existing events, preferences, etc. Checking the Synaptic Package Manager I see that the Lighting Extension is still listed as installed. Not sure what I did “uninstall” (maybe a duplicate that was overlaying the version dragged over from Windows 7), but now when I check Tools>Add-ons>Extensions the “Uninstall” command button in the Lightning section is grayed out.

Hope this little wrinkle helps any other convert folks.

By: demook

demook — Sat, 13 Nov 2010 16:17:41 +0000

This is a great way to go from windows to ubuntu, thank you.

If been checking the internet for 3 days but this is the best way.

By: Sazquatch

Sazquatch — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 22:02:47 +0000

Ubuntu 10.10 from Vista Ultimate 64 worked like a charm. Many thanks for a simple solution,
Make it a good day!

By: Sherm

Sherm — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 21:17:10 +0000

This worked perfectly for me, transferring my files from a Windows XP machine to a laptop with Ubuntu 10.04 LTS – the Lucid Lynx.

Thank you for sharing.

By: Mauritius

Mauritius — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 09:29:46 +0000

Trying to setup a work environment in linux ubuntu. Its not a simple copy and paste issue like you do in windows. It does require time and research. Your small piece of advice above helped save hours of trying to make it work! Greetings from the tropics.

By: pascal

pascal — Sat, 15 May 2010 14:31:02 +0000

Unbuntu 10.04 worked perfectly first time thanks for help

By: Simon Speed

Simon Speed — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 00:53:17 +0000

Ubuntu 9.10 karmic – worked perfectly first time.

By: at

at — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 14:31:12 +0000

Great, clear instructions for a Ubuntu noob. I copied my profiles from the windows partition (10GB) and had an error “T’bird already running,..” Checked your instructions again, and I had copied the whole direcetory up one level of the tree, so when I followed what you said EXACTLY, it worked like magic. so long as the oooooo.default dir was at the same level as the .ini file.

By: Jimmy

Jimmy — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 02:47:33 +0000

Hi, thanks for this tutorial. It saved me a LOT of hassle!! Just started Thunderbird in Linux and it has my everything I need right there in place. Awesome.

By: Simone T.

Simone T. — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 12:09:11 +0000

Thank you very much for your post!