SYMPTOMS:

•    Lost Mail
•    Lost Mail Folders
•    Profile has disappeared from the Profile Manager
•    All Netscape settings are lost
•    Messages vanished from my Inbox
•    Where has my Mail Account gone
•    The Folders in the left pane of the Mail window have disappeared

You've opened Netscape Mail & Newsgroups, and are prompted to set up a new Mail Account,
as if this is a new install.

SOLUTION:

If you have a backup of your prefs.js file, then:
Close Netscape / Mozilla, and Quick Launch
Open Windows Explorer
Navigate to your salted (*.slt) Folder
See: Profiles Folder Location

Rename the existing prefs.js file to BADprefs.js
Copy the backup copy to the salted (*.slt) folder
This should resolve the problem.

If you don't have a backup copy of the prefs.js file,try this:

Go ahead and set up a new Mail Account at the Mail Wizard prompt
Next: Close Netscape / Mozilla, and Quick Launch
Open Windows Explorer and navigate to your Mail Account Folder
Your Mail Accounts will be similar to:
pop.accountname.net
pop.accountname-1.net, etc.

Open the Inbox in each of these accounts in order to determine
which of the accounts contain your mail.

Netscape 7.0 - 7.1
Copy the path to the mail account folder containing your mail
E.G., < path >/Application Data/Mozilla/Profiles/username/*.slt/Mail/pop.accountname.net
To avoid a typo, with the Mail Account folder opens
(the folder which contains your mail)
copy the "Address" field at the top of the Windows Explorer Window, as shown below.

Open Netscape / Mozilla Mail
Click on: Edit | Mail & Newsgroups Account Settings | Server Settings
In the right panel, scroll to the bottom of the page.
In the "Local directory" field, paste the path to the mail account folder containing your mail, which you just copied.
See this Screen Shot

Netscape 7.2, and Mozilla 1.7 - 1.7.3
Click on the "Browse" button to the right of the Local directory field, and navigate to the correct path for the mail account which contains your mail. Once you have highlighted the correct mail account folder, click "OK". The correct path will now be shown in the Local directory field.

Close Netscape, then reopen
Your Mail should be intact.

I would also suggest disabling Quick Launch, as many users report
that disabling the feature stopped the Lost Mail issue. This may or may not work for your system.

If none of the above solve your problem, then Create a new Profile

Credits:
ChrisI, and DougG
netscape.public.newsgroup

If you continue to have problems, then post your questions on the
WindowsBBS Netscape and Mozilla Forum
I'm a Moderator on this Forum, and along with the other informed Netscape and Mozilla members, and Moderators,
will be happy to provide you with any further assistance you might require.

---
Ramona

Updated 10/27/04

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