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Filters there but all email gone - Opera 10.51
Hi, A client started their XP Pro PC last week and opened Opera but they found no saved messages. They could download new messages and their filters were fine. They were promped by Opera to upgrade so they did and now have Opera 10.51.I looked at the system and the settings look correct. The email folder setting in opera.ini is pointing to the correct location on the server where they still seem to be stored as there are 70meg of files there. After searching online when I returned home, I asked the staff to select show messages from / All Accounts, as was directed in one forum post but did not help.
I have had an issue once where the link to the server has been reset and all filters and mail stopped showing but all I had to do was change the path in the opera.ini file to point to the server and all was fine.
Thre was no computer crash or anything strange happened and the only thing I can think that may not be a 'normal' usage situation, is another user XP account on the same machine has their opera.ini file pointing to the same network folder. Both users share the email.
I have also searched online to find ways to just import the messages into another email app but even though I thought Opera was using an open format I can find another one. Natually, I can't export any messages in opera as there are none showing.
Does someone have any idea?
Cheers
Dennis
9. April 2010, 10:04:10 (edited)
Welcome to the My Opera community!
You should check this again. If upgrading from some older versions of Opera (like 9.x), the mail folder would be in "C:\Documents and Settings\User\Application Data\Opera\Opera\Mail", where as Opera 10+ looks for the mail folder in "C:\Documents and Settings\User\Local Settings\Application Data\Opera\Opera\Mail".
To me, it sounds like Opera's using the wrong mail folder.
In you can determine that this is the case, it'd be best to close down Opera, back up the Mail folder in Local Settings to somewhere safe, move the other Mail folder to where the Local Settings one was at and edit accounts.ini to fix the paths.
Also, edit operaprefs.ini in the preferences folder (user\Application Data\Opera...) to make sure there's no "Mail Root Directory" line in the file. That way, Opera will default to the Local Settings mail folder.
If it is a mail folder location problem and you do the above, that should restore all the old mails and filters etc. But, it won't restore the newly-received messages in the other mail folder you backed up. You'd have to import them manually back in.
The upgrade process is suppose to transfer the mail folder I believe. However, I think it fails if you were upgrading from an older version of Opera. Not sure though.
Another case where things might go wrong is if the older Opera was set to use a single profile for all uses and Opera was upgraded, but installed where it was set to use a separate profile for all users.
Originally posted by Impactweb:
The email folder setting in opera.ini is pointing to the correct location on the server where they still seem to be stored as there are 70meg of files there.
You should check this again. If upgrading from some older versions of Opera (like 9.x), the mail folder would be in "C:\Documents and Settings\User\Application Data\Opera\Opera\Mail", where as Opera 10+ looks for the mail folder in "C:\Documents and Settings\User\Local Settings\Application Data\Opera\Opera\Mail".
To me, it sounds like Opera's using the wrong mail folder.
In you can determine that this is the case, it'd be best to close down Opera, back up the Mail folder in Local Settings to somewhere safe, move the other Mail folder to where the Local Settings one was at and edit accounts.ini to fix the paths.
Also, edit operaprefs.ini in the preferences folder (user\Application Data\Opera...) to make sure there's no "Mail Root Directory" line in the file. That way, Opera will default to the Local Settings mail folder.
If it is a mail folder location problem and you do the above, that should restore all the old mails and filters etc. But, it won't restore the newly-received messages in the other mail folder you backed up. You'd have to import them manually back in.
The upgrade process is suppose to transfer the mail folder I believe. However, I think it fails if you were upgrading from an older version of Opera. Not sure though.
Another case where things might go wrong is if the older Opera was set to use a single profile for all uses and Opera was upgraded, but installed where it was set to use a separate profile for all users.
Here's an example:
If you have Opera 9.27 Final for example and notice that Opera 10.52 final is out. You *might* want to upgrade 9.27 final to 9.50 final, then 9.51 final, then 9.52 final, then 9.60 final, then 9.62 final, then 9.63 final, then 10.0 final, then 10.01 final, then 10.10 final, then 10.50 final and then 10.51 final before upgrading to 10.52 final.
The reason you *might* want to do this is that if Opera changes some things, certain builds my have a conversion process when upgrading that builds newer than that might not have (because it's assumed that the latest, previous version wouldn't need to be converted).
The reason you might not want to do that is because it's a pain and you might introduce yourself to other types of upgrade bugs. Just upgrading to the latest and fixing settings yourself might be easier.
Each new version of Opera that comes out might handle upgrading from any older version of Opera with no problem. But, that might be a big assumption. Best thing to do is always keep Opera up-to-date to the latest, *truly stable* version to ensure smooth upgrading.
If you have Opera 9.27 Final for example and notice that Opera 10.52 final is out. You *might* want to upgrade 9.27 final to 9.50 final, then 9.51 final, then 9.52 final, then 9.60 final, then 9.62 final, then 9.63 final, then 10.0 final, then 10.01 final, then 10.10 final, then 10.50 final and then 10.51 final before upgrading to 10.52 final.
The reason you *might* want to do this is that if Opera changes some things, certain builds my have a conversion process when upgrading that builds newer than that might not have (because it's assumed that the latest, previous version wouldn't need to be converted).
The reason you might not want to do that is because it's a pain and you might introduce yourself to other types of upgrade bugs. Just upgrading to the latest and fixing settings yourself might be easier.
Each new version of Opera that comes out might handle upgrading from any older version of Opera with no problem. But, that might be a big assumption. Best thing to do is always keep Opera up-to-date to the latest, *truly stable* version to ensure smooth upgrading.
I updated my Opera browser from 9.27 to 10.51 and I lost all my emails too. I was told to restore my Opera files from backup and use a different version's installer. Now I'm struggling with my online backup provider to get the files back. (Warning: don't use Mozy. It is nearly impossible to restore files.) Once I get the files back I'll report how well I did.
- Rob
- Rob
Thanks guys for your help. I'll have another look at the mail directory but it looked ok before. I'll aso check the opraprefs.ini. It sounds like a serious issue to loose all email just due to an upgrade. I'm not sure what the older version was as the office staff just did what Opera prompted them to do so, therefore I asume it was quite a newer version. I tried instaling an alder version 9.x but when I went to import mail it told me it can't import from a new version (I think something to do with the version on the ini files).
I'm quite concerned that the mail could be lost like this. I chose Opera for my clients as it is a free solution for their office, is based on an open mail format and has versions for Linux and Windows. I may have to reasess this situation now and will have some trouble from them if the office mail can't be restored. We keep online backups of mail but only going back for a few months or up to 100meg and is not filtered. So even if we restored from backups, there is a lot of sorting to do.
I'll post a reply again if I can resolve this.
I'm quite concerned that the mail could be lost like this. I chose Opera for my clients as it is a free solution for their office, is based on an open mail format and has versions for Linux and Windows. I may have to reasess this situation now and will have some trouble from them if the office mail can't be restored. We keep online backups of mail but only going back for a few months or up to 100meg and is not filtered. So even if we restored from backups, there is a lot of sorting to do.
I'll post a reply again if I can resolve this.
Hmm, this is all very strange. I am at the office now and I have copied all the mail folders from the server to the local machine and edited the operaprefs.ini (this was what I customised not opera.ini as I had first said).
However, when I deleted the reference 'Mail Root Directory=' in the ini file that pointing to the server then loaded opera and checked help|about it showed that the mail directory path was ...\opera\mail and it didn't show any mail or filters. I checked the folders in the mail directory and the folder 'mail' wasn't even there. Instead there was a directory called 'store'. Inside that directory was others called accounts1, accounts2 and even another folder called store. Within these folders were other named 2009 and 2010 and the more sub directories with what looks like months and dates and then the actual mbs files.
I realise that the problem then must lie with the accounts.ini file as it lists all the accounts that have the sub folders in the 'store' directory but when I look through the accounts.ini file I can' find where the path is to edit to point to the correct directories. Does anyone know???
I thought, ok, well maybe I can just import the messages or mbs files individually to restore the email but even though I could export the mbs I can't import one! Opera only allows me to import messages using an accounts.ini file! What the?! So I can't seem to import mail except using the broken file that doesn't work anyway. What am I missing here???
I have no idea what to do expept find an app that uses mbs files for email storage. I'm very dissapointed.
Can anyone help?
However, when I deleted the reference 'Mail Root Directory=' in the ini file that pointing to the server then loaded opera and checked help|about it showed that the mail directory path was ...\opera\mail and it didn't show any mail or filters. I checked the folders in the mail directory and the folder 'mail' wasn't even there. Instead there was a directory called 'store'. Inside that directory was others called accounts1, accounts2 and even another folder called store. Within these folders were other named 2009 and 2010 and the more sub directories with what looks like months and dates and then the actual mbs files.
I realise that the problem then must lie with the accounts.ini file as it lists all the accounts that have the sub folders in the 'store' directory but when I look through the accounts.ini file I can' find where the path is to edit to point to the correct directories. Does anyone know???
I thought, ok, well maybe I can just import the messages or mbs files individually to restore the email but even though I could export the mbs I can't import one! Opera only allows me to import messages using an accounts.ini file! What the?! So I can't seem to import mail except using the broken file that doesn't work anyway. What am I missing here???
I have no idea what to do expept find an app that uses mbs files for email storage. I'm very dissapointed.
Can anyone help?
11. April 2010, 09:25:35 (edited)
The upgrading from 9.27 to 10.5x part is definitely a bug and is now known (DSK-293628). We'll have to wait to see what can be done. And, maybe we might get some official repair steps.
I'll make my own version of the repair steps soon.
For now, there are basically only 2 things you have to edit:
1. The location of the mail directory: opera:config#Mail%20Root%20Directory (or via manually editing of operaprefs.ini when Opera is closed).
When operaprefs doesn't contain an actual setting, Opera uses the default Local Profile location. When you set the setting yourself, Opera should use the path. But, there may be a bug with the setting where Opera always uses the Local Profile location no matter what you set the setting to.
So, if Opera isn't finding your mail folder (and therefore keeps creating a half-blank one in the default location that Opera insists on using), you'll need to move the good mail folder to the location that makes Opera find the folder.
2. In the mail folder, you have to edit any paths (if any, like for the signature file) in accounts.ini. You want to make sure that any paths in the file point to files that are in the same mail folder (or subfolder) that accounts.ini is in. You do not need to worry about the st ore folders etc. If Opera finds the mail folder, it should automatically find the store folder.
If Opera starts using the correct mail folder but you don't see your messages, it may be a database issue. (9.27 and 10.5x seem to use a different database file and format, so something might go wrong there.)
That's basically it.
Then, if you have another mail folder that has messages in it that are not yet in your good mail folder, you can import the messages by pointing the Opera 7/8/9/10 import wizard to the accounts.ini in that other folder. Or, you can export a view to an mbs file and import it via the Generic Mbox importer and choose to import it into the existing account.
Here's what a good 10.5x install should look like:
"C:\Documents And Settings\User\Application Data\Opera\Opera\operaprefs.ini"
Remove that line while Opera is closed. Or, change it to "C:\Documents And Settings\User\Local Settings\Application Data\Opera\Opera\Mail".
No mail folder at "C:\Documents And Settings\User\Application Data\Opera\Opera\Mail"
Mail folder at: "C:\Documents And Settings\User\Local Settings\Application Data\Opera\Opera\Mail"
"C:\Documents And Settings\User\Local Settings\Application Data\Opera\Opera\Mail\accounts.ini"
Paths in accounts.ini look like: "C:\Documents And Settings\User\Local Settings\Application Data\Opera\Opera\Mail\filename.ext"
database file should be at:
"C:\Documents And Settings\User\Local Settings\Application Data\Opera\Opera\Mail\omailbase.dat"
A good 9.27 install would have mail and paths based on "C:\Documents And Settings\User\Application Data\Opera\Opera\Mail" and would have a database named mailbase.dat. (And, Opera main prefs file would be in a profile folder next to the mail folder)
Given this info, you should be able to tell Opera to use mail in whatever folder you want.
I'll make my own version of the repair steps soon.
For now, there are basically only 2 things you have to edit:
1. The location of the mail directory: opera:config#Mail%20Root%20Directory (or via manually editing of operaprefs.ini when Opera is closed).
When operaprefs doesn't contain an actual setting, Opera uses the default Local Profile location. When you set the setting yourself, Opera should use the path. But, there may be a bug with the setting where Opera always uses the Local Profile location no matter what you set the setting to.
So, if Opera isn't finding your mail folder (and therefore keeps creating a half-blank one in the default location that Opera insists on using), you'll need to move the good mail folder to the location that makes Opera find the folder.
2. In the mail folder, you have to edit any paths (if any, like for the signature file) in accounts.ini. You want to make sure that any paths in the file point to files that are in the same mail folder (or subfolder) that accounts.ini is in. You do not need to worry about the st ore folders etc. If Opera finds the mail folder, it should automatically find the store folder.
If Opera starts using the correct mail folder but you don't see your messages, it may be a database issue. (9.27 and 10.5x seem to use a different database file and format, so something might go wrong there.)
That's basically it.
Then, if you have another mail folder that has messages in it that are not yet in your good mail folder, you can import the messages by pointing the Opera 7/8/9/10 import wizard to the accounts.ini in that other folder. Or, you can export a view to an mbs file and import it via the Generic Mbox importer and choose to import it into the existing account.
Here's what a good 10.5x install should look like:
"C:\Documents And Settings\User\Application Data\Opera\Opera\operaprefs.ini"
Mail Root Directory=C:\Documents And Settings\User\Application Data\Opera\Opera\Mail
Remove that line while Opera is closed. Or, change it to "C:\Documents And Settings\User\Local Settings\Application Data\Opera\Opera\Mail".
No mail folder at "C:\Documents And Settings\User\Application Data\Opera\Opera\Mail"
Mail folder at: "C:\Documents And Settings\User\Local Settings\Application Data\Opera\Opera\Mail"
"C:\Documents And Settings\User\Local Settings\Application Data\Opera\Opera\Mail\accounts.ini"
Paths in accounts.ini look like: "C:\Documents And Settings\User\Local Settings\Application Data\Opera\Opera\Mail\filename.ext"
database file should be at:
"C:\Documents And Settings\User\Local Settings\Application Data\Opera\Opera\Mail\omailbase.dat"
A good 9.27 install would have mail and paths based on "C:\Documents And Settings\User\Application Data\Opera\Opera\Mail" and would have a database named mailbase.dat. (And, Opera main prefs file would be in a profile folder next to the mail folder)
Given this info, you should be able to tell Opera to use mail in whatever folder you want.
The bug DSK-293628 bit me quite hard. Actually the bug itself wasn't so difficult to deal with. In my case the difficult part was getting my files back from my online backup provider. (Hint: don't use Mozy. I had 114,000 emails using 1.6 GB, and it took me nine days to get everything back.)
First I got everything back to the way it was before, by uninstalling Opera version 10.51, installing Opera version 9.27, and restoring the "mail" folder from the backup.
I paid my $29 for Premium Support, and they recommended I use the version 10.5 "classic" installer. That didn't work; the emails vanished again. So I uninstalled Opera, installed version 9.27 again, and then restored the files from my backup.
Next I wrote a batch file using 7-zip to give me an easy way to make a local backup archive file of all my Opera files and settings. (I'll post the batch file in a different thread if anyone wants to use it.)
Next I upgraded Opera to version 9.63. Version 9.63 does an excellent job of updating the email database to the current format. Horror of horrors, we had a power failure here in the middle of the email database conversion. I was very pleased to discover that when I restarted Opera version 9.63, the email database conversion started again, right where it had stopped. So the email database conversion succeeded. I used my batch file to make a local backup of my emails and all the other Opera settings.
Finally I upgraded from version 9.63 to 10.51 without any trouble.
So there you have the solution for how to upgrade from version 9.27 to 10.51: upgrade to version 9.63 first. I hope I have helped someone else -- I probably lost a good week dealing with this problem!!!
- Rob
First I got everything back to the way it was before, by uninstalling Opera version 10.51, installing Opera version 9.27, and restoring the "mail" folder from the backup.
I paid my $29 for Premium Support, and they recommended I use the version 10.5 "classic" installer. That didn't work; the emails vanished again. So I uninstalled Opera, installed version 9.27 again, and then restored the files from my backup.
Next I wrote a batch file using 7-zip to give me an easy way to make a local backup archive file of all my Opera files and settings. (I'll post the batch file in a different thread if anyone wants to use it.)
Next I upgraded Opera to version 9.63. Version 9.63 does an excellent job of updating the email database to the current format. Horror of horrors, we had a power failure here in the middle of the email database conversion. I was very pleased to discover that when I restarted Opera version 9.63, the email database conversion started again, right where it had stopped. So the email database conversion succeeded. I used my batch file to make a local backup of my emails and all the other Opera settings.
Finally I upgraded from version 9.63 to 10.51 without any trouble.
So there you have the solution for how to upgrade from version 9.27 to 10.51: upgrade to version 9.63 first. I hope I have helped someone else -- I probably lost a good week dealing with this problem!!!
- Rob
Some more details: any Opera version from 9.50 to 10.10 can do the mail database upgrade from Opera 9.27 (and older) mail installations. So installing any of these versions first, before upgrading to 10.5x, will do the trick.
"The real issue is about design: designing things that have the power required for the job while maintaining understandability, the feeling of control, and the pleasure of accomplishment." Don Norman
Tweak blog
Tweak blog
Originally posted by Rijk:
Some more details: any Opera version from 9.50 to 10.10 can do the mail database upgrade from Opera 9.27 (and older) mail installations. So installing any of these versions first, before upgrading to 10.5x, will do the trick.
Thanks. Much appreciated.
Im having the same problem. Opera 10.51 can't see the email from my previous installation, Opera 9.27. I've tried all the suggestions so far, and nothing has worked. The emails are there, in the same mail folder as the old ones, but won't be accessed.
I have 2 databases, one named "mailbase.dat", the other "omailbase.dat". The second is 6 times the size of the first, and is probably the one with all the missing emails recorded. When I try to Import the .mbs files from the previous installation Opera tells me the database "omailbase.dat" is in use and can't be accessed.
Does anyone have any ideas as to how to put that database out of use, so I can access it?
I have 2 databases, one named "mailbase.dat", the other "omailbase.dat". The second is 6 times the size of the first, and is probably the one with all the missing emails recorded. When I try to Import the .mbs files from the previous installation Opera tells me the database "omailbase.dat" is in use and can't be accessed.
Does anyone have any ideas as to how to put that database out of use, so I can access it?
Originally posted by Irish Tom:
I've tried all the suggestions so far, and nothing has worked.
Including fixing your Mail folder location, installing Opera 10.10 over the top of your install and then upgrading to 10.5x?
@Irish Tom: Did you receive new messages in 10.5? That would complicate the matter.
If that is *not* the case, the best option right now is to install 10.10 in the same location, as I explained above. Check that the folder names that Opera expects (see Help > About Opera) is the right one.
Importing will not work from an Opera that is already running. Alternatively, you could move or copy the mail folder (rename the mail folder name for example, while Opera is not running) and and also rename the file 'omailbase.dat' to 'omailbase.dat.backup'. Then start Opera, and you can do the import because the mail folder is not in use.
If that is *not* the case, the best option right now is to install 10.10 in the same location, as I explained above. Check that the folder names that Opera expects (see Help > About Opera) is the right one.
Importing will not work from an Opera that is already running. Alternatively, you could move or copy the mail folder (rename the mail folder name for example, while Opera is not running) and and also rename the file 'omailbase.dat' to 'omailbase.dat.backup'. Then start Opera, and you can do the import because the mail folder is not in use.
"The real issue is about design: designing things that have the power required for the job while maintaining understandability, the feeling of control, and the pleasure of accomplishment." Don Norman
Tweak blog
Tweak blog
Originally posted by Rijk:
@I
Importing will not work from an Opera that is already running. Alternatively, you could move or copy the mail folder (rename the mail folder name for example, while Opera is not running) and and also rename the file 'omailbase.dat' to 'omailbase.dat.backup'. Then start Opera, and you can do the import because the mail folder is not in use.
That worked! I've not only been able to recover the messages I thought were lost, but every message that anyone even thought of sending me over the last 10 years. I'm overwhelmed.
Thanks.
Hi all. It sounds like this problem has hit a few people hard. I understand the risks of free software but I think being able to safely import, export and retrieve emails is the most important factor of any email client. I know with other software even MS products the free versions are an attraction and do lead to the purchace of the commercial stuff (or services).
I have checked the older opera version and it is 9.64 so perhaps I am not facing the same upgrade issues. I have also been able to retrieve most of the missing emails so I hope the following might help someone:
1) In 10.51, I selected Settings|Import and Export|Import mail.
2) Then I chose 'Import generic mbox file' and after that the 'Add folder' option.
3) I pointed to the folders where I had seen the mbs files, selected the account I wanted them imported into and let it go for it.
After a while it imported all of the mail into Opera and added filters which had the same name as the mbox folder, ie "Accounts1". I did this for all the folders I could find. I deleted the new filters but all the email remained in the recieved folder. The staff here will have to sort the email into the correct filters again but at least they are mostly all there now! There are some messages, even one they got today, that don't have any message body which is strange, and some messages are doubled up but mostly they are ok.
I tried to find out if the import had actually moved all the messages into a physical folder but I can't find that reference. Does anyone know? It would be nice to have all the mail in only one directory so I can easily back it up.
What seems to be happening is the file omailbase.dat is just storing the email header and the references to the physical folder when the actual email is stored and therefore my export did not actually move any email messages and I can't tidy up all the mess of 100's of folders.
Any sugestions of how to tidy up all the email folders would be great and thank you for the people who helped and good luck to the people who are still trying. I am now looking at hMailServer to install on the server and then have a central area for the staff to manage the email via IMAP. At least then they can use whatever client they want, I won't be under the same pressure (until the IMAP server breaks), and it will be easier to create a backup of all mail.
Cheers
I have checked the older opera version and it is 9.64 so perhaps I am not facing the same upgrade issues. I have also been able to retrieve most of the missing emails so I hope the following might help someone:
1) In 10.51, I selected Settings|Import and Export|Import mail.
2) Then I chose 'Import generic mbox file' and after that the 'Add folder' option.
3) I pointed to the folders where I had seen the mbs files, selected the account I wanted them imported into and let it go for it.
After a while it imported all of the mail into Opera and added filters which had the same name as the mbox folder, ie "Accounts1". I did this for all the folders I could find. I deleted the new filters but all the email remained in the recieved folder. The staff here will have to sort the email into the correct filters again but at least they are mostly all there now! There are some messages, even one they got today, that don't have any message body which is strange, and some messages are doubled up but mostly they are ok.
I tried to find out if the import had actually moved all the messages into a physical folder but I can't find that reference. Does anyone know? It would be nice to have all the mail in only one directory so I can easily back it up.
What seems to be happening is the file omailbase.dat is just storing the email header and the references to the physical folder when the actual email is stored and therefore my export did not actually move any email messages and I can't tidy up all the mess of 100's of folders.
Any sugestions of how to tidy up all the email folders would be great and thank you for the people who helped and good luck to the people who are still trying. I am now looking at hMailServer to install on the server and then have a central area for the staff to manage the email via IMAP. At least then they can use whatever client they want, I won't be under the same pressure (until the IMAP server breaks), and it will be easier to create a backup of all mail.
Cheers
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