Requirements and locations of files
To migrate a Courier mailbox to Thunderbird (on Windows XP) you need Courier installed, Thunderbird installed and a program called Courex (get the latest copy here Courexor see the attachments for this page).
See table below to details about migration
What? |
Will migration work? |
---|---|
emails |
yes |
folders and subfolders |
yes |
attachments |
yes |
mailing lists |
no |
address book |
yes |
signatures |
yes, text is there but Thunderbird doesn't use internal signatures. Can be exported and used. |
mail templates |
Yes |
Courier email box (if in standard location): C:\Program Files\Courier Email\Mailbox
Thunderbird : C:\Documents and Settings\....(1)\Application Data\Thunderbird
The Locale folders: C:\Documents and Settings\....(1)\Application Data\Thunderbird\Profiles\qvu1n3nv.default(2)\Mail\Local Folders\
After the migration find a folder called Courex in C:\Program Files\Courier Email\Mailbox which contains the address box, the mailbox data (all settings inclusive passwords!) and log files.
After the migration find a folder called Courex in C:\Documents and Settings\....(1)\Application Data\Thunderbird\Profiles\qvu1n3nv.default(2)\Mail\Local Folders\ . In this folder all main and sub-folders, emails and attachments are stored.
# (1) here is the name of your user
# (2) this entry is similar but never the same
Step 1
Before you can migrate you have to start Thunderbird at least once and if possible create the mailbox you want to migrate. Enter the pop and smtp-settings and finish the wizard. Running the account wizard make sure you you disable the Global Inbox check mark if you want to use multiple email accounts and for each account a separate inbox.
It it useful not to download the mails right away. If the window comes up disable the checkmark.
Go to Account Settings/Server Settings and check the option 'Leave messages on server'. If you forget this all mails will be deleted on the server. There is no 2nd chance!
Step 2 - Using Courex
For more detail about this program refer to the help file that comes with the program. Close Courier and Thunderbird. Start Courex and enter in the Courier Box file and Export Destination Folder. Courex is good at guessing it. Otherwise see above.
Then press start and you are done.
Migrating the address book
The address book won't be automatically transferred. You find the address book in C:\Program Files\Courier Email\Mailbox\Courex
To import it open Thunderbird, go to address book/tools/import. Choose the text file option in the next window. In the 'select address book file' window change the 'Files of type' to 'All Files'. Then choose 'Address.csv' .