Windows 11 not 10

Open the Thunderbird profile folder following indications in this article https://mzl.la/2cYKHaB When the profile folder is displayed in the file manager open the parent folder "Profiles" and make a screen shot of its contents. Then go to the parent folder which is named "Thunderbird". It contains a file named "profiles.ini". Open it in a text editor and make a screen shot of its contents

The problem is that when I launched Thunderbird from command prompt thunderbird -p and selecte the default-esr file it showed the location as c:\users etc \thunderbird\Profiles - but when I went to Explorer there was no Thunderbird folder in Roaming. I searched all over for the default-usr and couldn't find it anywhere. I then added a profile, New User and it gave me the same location - but again in Explorer it didn't exist - and I did make sure that show hidden folders was checked. I uninstalled and reinstalled Thunderbird, but that directory still did not exist. So I created it. The new profiles are there but the one I need is not.

I am sending the requested screen shots but I think I may have just messed everything up. It may be the case that I thought I was deleting one of the new profiles I created and I actually deleted the live one - and chose to delete the files as well.3

I think I have a backup in Carbonite - it says the profile was created on 12/04/24 - when I moved to a new computer - I don't know if it is the correct profile but it is 39 Gigs so it still has 90 minutes to go.

Actually - Carbonite finished. How should I proceed assuming this was the right backup to download.

Start again the Thunderbird profile manager. Select "Create profile...", in the "Create Profile wizard" window give it a name you like, then click on "Choose Folder....", navigate to folder "Profiles", select profile "p39moqi9.default-release", click "Open" > Finish and start Thunderbird https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/profile-manager-create-and-remove-thunderbird-profiles#w_creating-a-profile

It wants me to create a new profile - which I have done many times. it doesn't give me back my latest installation. I don't understand. I've created 3 or 4 new files - but I want my old files back.

I don't have the option to Open I can only select the Folder

I don't understand why you cannot create a new profile and then link it to a profile folder located in ....\AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird\Profiles\ .... Where are you blocked? Hereafter I'll show you some screen shots of the steps after creating a new profile and clicking on"Choose Folder...." (my pictures have been taken on my Mac but it must be similar on Windows!)

a) After clicking on Choose Folder in the "Create Profile Wizard" your system will open a "navigation" window in which you have to go the path to your desired profile folder in "Profiles", select it and then hit "Open" (first image) b) the click on Open will bring you back in the Create Profile Wizard with a conclusion for the creation of your new profile and the profile folder which it will be using (second image) Click on "Done" which will bring you back in the profile manager window c) in the profile manager window your new profile is automatically selected. Click on "Start Thunderbird" and Thunderbird will open in your new profile

I was able to create a new profile. I was hoping to recover the profile I accidentally deleted and although I have Carbonite I could not find the file in the backups. So I am up and running having lost several years of emails - and by the way, my original problem was that Windows 11 does not give me the choice to choose Thunderbird as my default email client. Therefore, no mailto: links work - Thunderbird does not open. I should have left it alone.

Also, strangely, although when I hovered over the profile (having brought up the program using thunderbird -p), it gave me the location of the profile. However, in Explorer, that location did not exist - even showing hidden files - that's why I couldn't make a copy of the profile - I couldn't find it. Probably also why Carbonite doesn't have it.

Thanks for your help. I've successfully set up all my email addresses - all 6 of them.