Mozilla Thunderbird on two computers

[JBR]

I now have Thunderbird (same e-mail account) on two computers; how can I ensure they both receive new mail?

I have found that new messages are received by whichever computer happens to have Thunderbird open, or is opened first, whilst the other one doesn't receive the new message. Ideally, I'd like new messages to be received by both computers, whether Thunderbird is open or not. Is this possible, please?

Both are running Windows 7 and are connected on Homegroup.

Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[AlanE]

Not sure with Thunderbird but in Outlook there is an advanced setting in each account where you click a box 'Leave copy on server'. Would expect same in Thunderbird.

If you use that setting you need to ensure server mail box is emptied regularly or check if there is a setting to delete after so many days.

Or you could have a second email account and automatically have a copy sent from main account to the copy. Now set each computer to download from its own email account.

 

[OwainDIYer]

1. If you're collecting your mail using POP3, select the leave messages on server option. All your incoming messages will be stored on the server. if you have mailbox quotas you may need to delete them from the server periodically or your server mailbox may fill up

http://www.gn.apc.org/support/how-setup-thunderbird-leave-messages-server

2. if your ISP supports it, change your email settings to use IMAP instead of POP3. All your messages will be stored on the server and synchronise between different computers

http://askleo.com/how_do_i_deal_with_one_email_account_on_two_machines/

3. Use a single Thunderbird mailbox file (profile) on one computer and share it to Thunderbirds on other computers.

However, due to the way Thunderbird works there are problems having multiple users access the same folder at the same time.

http://kb.mozillazine.org/Sharing_profiles_-_mail

 

[JBR]

Not sure with Thunderbird but in Outlook there is an advanced setting in each account where you click a box 'Leave copy on server'. Would expect same in Thunderbird.

If you use that setting you need to ensure server mail box is emptied regularly or check if there is a setting to delete after so many days.

Or you could have a second email account and automatically have a copy sent from main account to the copy. Now set each computer to download from its own email account.

Thanks.
I had (and still have) 'Leave messages on server... Until I delete them' on my first computer. The second one was '...For at most 14 days', but I have now changed that to '...Until I delete them'.
My provider (Virgin) doesn't seem to set any storage limit, so I'll see how that goes for now.

 

[JBR]

1. If you're collecting your mail using POP3, select the leave messages on server option. All your incoming messages will be stored on the server. if you have mailbox quotas you may need to delete them from the server periodically or your server mailbox may fill up

http://www.gn.apc.org/support/how-setup-thunderbird-leave-messages-server

2. if your ISP supports it, change your email settings to use IMAP instead of POP3. All your messages will be stored on the server and synchronise between different computers

http://askleo.com/how_do_i_deal_with_one_email_account_on_two_machines/

3. Use a single Thunderbird mailbox file (profile) on one computer and share it to Thunderbirds on other computers.

However, due to the way Thunderbird works there are problems having multiple users access the same folder at the same time.

http://kb.mozillazine.org/Sharing_profiles_-_mail[/QUOTE]

Thank you. Some very explicit links there, but a lot to take in at once so I'll give it some thought.
One interesting option is to open an IMAP account and close my POP account. I'll have to consider that carefully first, though, and perhaps ask my provider (Virgin) if that is possible.
As I said in my last reply above, I have 'Leave messages on server' already set on one computer, and have now done the same on the other.
Another option is to use my Google e-mail account (which I assume is web-based), which I haven't really used at all yet. I set that up when I bought a smart phone (Google Nexus 5) at Christmas. The only drawback I can see would be to inform everyone to change my e-mail address, but that shouldn't be too much of a problem.

Thank you both for your very prompt and helpful responses.

 

[kbdiy]

Virgin does support IMAP and the changeover is easy - just a change of settings in the email client.

Using a Google email account is in some ways preferable as it isn't ISP dependent so if you move from Virgin you won't have the hassle of address change. If you start to do it now then if you do ever ditch Virgin there shouldn't be too much pain

 

[OwainDIYer]

Another option is to use my Google e-mail account (which I assume is web-based), which I haven't really used at all yet. I set that up when I bought a smart phone (Google Nexus 5) at Christmas. The only drawback I can see would be to inform everyone to change my e-mail address, but that shouldn't be too much of a problem.

You can set up Gmail to collect incoming mail from your Virgin account using POP3

http://email.about.com/od/gmailtips/qt/et_collect_pop.htm

You can set up Gmail as an IMAP server, set up an IMAP account in Thunderbird which will mirror the Gmail folders, then copy all your locally stored messages to the IMAP account in T'bird, and they will be uploaded to the Gmail server - first section on this page

http://email.about.com/od/gmailtips/qt/How_to_Import_Mail_from_Mozilla_Thunderbird_in_Gmail.htm

 

[JBR]

Lots to think about there. I'm beginning to lean towards the IMAP option.

Thank you both for your help.

 

[Dave54]

Just to say I've been using Gmail IMAP for several years now, I've got it set to collect mail from two other accounts as well as my GMail account. Easy to set up, seamless and no real problems so far.

 

[JBR]

I have set up an IMAP account on my (new) computer and am pleased to see that it seems to work. The existing POP account remains.

The only drawback is that it is downloading ALL my old messages to my IMAP inbox, including those - perhaps the majority - which I earlier moved to my Junk folder!

Not an enormous problem, but I'd really like to ditch all the junk if at all possible.

 

[Dave54]

It's a slightly different way of doing things, and it does keep lots of old stuff on the server. There are various settings under "Tools / Account settings" in T Bird.
You can limit the number of messages in IMAP folders, in GMails own settings. Most of the time I just let it do it's own thing though.

As an aside, I find Gmail spam sorting is very good.

 

[OwainDIYer]

The free program IMAPsize lets you manipulate IMAP folders including deleting messages and moving them between folders, at the IMAP level rather than in GMail or T'bird.