How to Set Up Your Thunderbird Email in Windows Vista

Install Mozilla Thunderbird email client on your Windows Vista system.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Internet enabled computer
• Email account
• Thunderbird installer file
• CSV copy of your old emails and address book

1. If you are using the built in Windows Mail in Vista you will not be able to use the built in importer in the Thunderbird install program. If you have been using Outlook, Outlook Express or another email program you should be able to import your emails and contacts manually. The built in importer should work if you are running any other email application but mine did not. I recommend you first export your address book and emails to a CSV file (Comma Separated Values) for importing after install.

2. Point your web browser to
   http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/thunderbird/
   and download the Thunderbird EXE file.
   
   Once the download finishes, click the EXE file to launch the installer.
   
   Choose a Standard install if you are a basic user.
   
   Choose a Custom install if you want to change the directory where the files are installed.
   
   Once your install is complete, launch Thunderbird.
   
   If your copy of Vista only uses Windows Mail you will not have the option to import anything. If you are using another program you will be given the choice to import from it. You can follow the prompts to attempt to import your emails and addresses from your other program. If it fails or you receive an error just proceed with the install and you can manually import after install.
   
   Importing works the same in Vista as it does in XP. Importing is a fairly simple process. If your email program is not listed, use the csv (comma separated values) option. Point Thunderbird to the file your created when prompted.

3. After the install is complete, Thunderbird will automatically launch the Account Wizard so you can configure Thunderbird to work with your Internet Service Provider email account or your webmail account if you choose. You will need to know your email address, password and your mail server names for your ISP account.
   
   On the first dialog box you will choose Email account, then click Next.
   
   On the next dialog box (Identity) you will enter the name you want to appear on your emails and then enter your email address. Click Next.
   
   On the next dialog box (Server information) you will use POP in almost all instances, if you are unsure leave it on POP. Enter your incoming and outgoing server names. This should be provided by your ISP and is often in the following format: mail.yourisp.com or pop.yourisp.com but it has to be exact so be sure to check it. This screen will allow you to create separate inboxes and sub folder for multiple email accounts. If you leave the box checked for Use Global Inbox your emails will go in the default inbox. If you uncheck it, a new set of mailbox folders will be created for the account. This is very useful if you have several email accounts and you want to manage them all via Thunderbird. You can even manage web based email accounts this way. Click Next.
   
   On the next dialog box (User Names) you should be able to leave the default setting, then click Next.
   
   On the next dialog box (Account Name) you can assign a unique name to this email account. Again this is helpful in instances where you have multiple email accounts.
   On the final dialog box you can review your settings and then download your emails by clicking Finish.

4. Now you are ready to manually import your emails and contacts if the Thunderbird import on install did not succeed.
   
   From within Thunderbird click the Tools menu and select Import. You have the option to import Address Books, Mail or Settings. Let’s do the Address Book. Click Next.
   
   Select the program you are importing from, or text file if you created a csv file. Click Next.
   
   Browse to your csv file and click Open.
   
   Now Thunderbird will ask you to match up the fields in your address book or remove fields you don’t want to import. Click Next to view the successive entries if you want to verify they are matched up. Click OK when you are finished editing. Importing will begin. Click Finish when prompted.
   
   To add additional accounts click Tools, Account Settings and at the bottom choose Add. Repeat the steps above for each account you wish to add.

Tips & Warnings

• Prepare a back up copy of your emails and address book before you begin in the CSV(comma separated values)format. This format is universally used by all programs.
• If you have been using the default email program in Vista, Windows Mail, you will not be able to import your emails and address book.

[Meri]

on 7/8/2008 Excellent, well written article. Thanks.