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Migrating away from AOL

timbim_2
timbim_2 Posts: 1,292 Forumite
1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
in Broadband & internet access
I'm trying to migrate someone off their reliance on the AOL service, and get them using thunderbird for email. The hurdles I have encountered are that the emails that they have saved onto their PC in AOL cannot be restored into an online folder that can then be downloaded into thunderbird, and I cannot seem to find the file AOL keeps the emails in. Is there any way of recovering them without just forwarding them back to the account so that I can then just download them and archive in thunderbird? Sorry if that was a bit confusing, but I'm totally stumped!
Ubuntu is an ancient African word, meaning: 'I can't configure Debian'.

Comments

  • mjmal51
    mjmal51 Posts: 596 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    I presume you know that if the person moves from AOL that they can keep their e mail address and all its history? It was a concern for me when I changed ISP but turned out fine.
  • timbim_2
    timbim_2 Posts: 1,292 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Ah no, I want to get them out of the AOL browser "expereience" for good. It's terrible!
    Ubuntu is an ancient African word, meaning: 'I can't configure Debian'.
  • ormus
    ormus Posts: 42,714 Forumite
    aol calls them pfc files. you can get a free prog/s that will extract the files and save them to anywhere you like.
    eg:
    http://mark0.net/soft-pfcex-e.html
    Get some gorm.
  • spud17
    spud17 Posts: 4,441 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    I also had this AOL problem on someones PC and set them up with Thunderbird.

    The thing is that AOL uses imap as opposed to POP, this means in simple terms that the mail stays on the server.

    Thunderbird can be set to imap with the settings from AOL, they hide them, but try HERE and down a little.
    Move along, nothing to see.
  • timbim_2
    timbim_2 Posts: 1,292 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    I can get that set up, I already have, I just want to transfer the old, archived emails as well.
    Ubuntu is an ancient African word, meaning: 'I can't configure Debian'.
  • timbim_2
    timbim_2 Posts: 1,292 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    For a large number of emails that need to be sorted and refered to by date it might not work. Certainly not ideal.
    Ubuntu is an ancient African word, meaning: 'I can't configure Debian'.
  • mjmal51
    mjmal51 Posts: 596 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    timbim wrote: »
    Ah no, I want to get them out of the AOL browser "expereience" for good. It's terrible!

    I realise that but they will be accessing their e mails from IE or Firefox, or whatever, not the AOL browser.
  • timbim_2
    timbim_2 Posts: 1,292 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    No, Thunderbird.
    Ubuntu is an ancient African word, meaning: 'I can't configure Debian'.
  • spud17
    spud17 Posts: 4,441 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    timbim wrote: »
    For a large number of emails that need to be sorted and refered to by date it might not work. Certainly not ideal.

    PITA I realise, but since these are not downloaded to the PC (imap), then suggest you open email, then use, right click and "save as".
    Move along, nothing to see.
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