Bob414, That's it, now for the export. I see there isn't an "export" function/tool, one has to find the mail folders and simply copy them somewhere else, e.g., into the mail folders of another email client, or into another email client via its Import function/tool. Thunderbird does a "good job" of hiding the mail folders. To find the path go again to "account settings" (another way of getting there is to right click your mail folder directory, then click properties ) When at "account settings" highlight "local folders", this will give you a path to local folders in the right hand side of the account settings dialog box. There click "browse" that will open a file manager style window. There you'll see both local folders and something else that holds the folders created for In, Out, Sent, Trash, and all the other personal folders you created there. In my case it is a folder titled: "postoffice.worldnet..." Clicking on that you should see the names of all your folders. If you want to move this elsewhere I suggest you right click "postoffice..." and say copy to wherever you want it. In my case (typical I think) the path is: My Computer/C/ Documents and Settings/My Name/application data/thunderbird/profiles/mail/ here are two folders "Local" and "Postoffice.." Hope this help. Jerry

Have you made any progress?

Thanks, I really depend on the excellent help I get here, it is appreciated. That said, I hope someone else using AT&T for an ISP and is happy pitches in. I am keeping for now to retain my email address, one I've used for at least 15+ years. Unfortunately, it appears AT&T is working on getting out of the ISP business (what, just wireless now?). They shut down the brand Worldnet, yet my 2.0 versions of Thunderbird address the "postoffice" and "mailhost" with "worldnet" as part of the address. But, it isn't working on my Thunderbird 3.0 version. I will try to figure something out tonight. My quick look last night at the AT&T help on the web said "pop and smtp with att.jahoo.com" was the magic. But that may be only if you use their DSL... not sure, seems strange. I have DSL form my local phone company, and it offers all the services Worldnet used to offer, I just am reluctant to change may address and lose contact with many I don't communicate with often... but AT&T is pushing me that way. I have all my personal email on Thunderbird, I use Outlook for business email. I suppose I can move the business email on to Thunderbird too (not as versatile as Outlook) but have not checked on how that is done. It appears one can't have two instances of Thunderbird on one computer. Maybe one can have one Thunderbird with multiple "accounts". I know Outlook provides for multiple accounts in one instance of Outlook, but I don't recall ever seeing anything like that in Thunderbird. Outlook is clearly the "industrial strength" email client... maybe Outlook Express has some of the same capabilities... I have never used it.

Steve J I don't understand why Comcast, or any ISP, would prefer IMAP. It requires much more server-side storage space since all content is always kept there. I run into that problem with the small web hosting service I run. The leased server doesn't provide unlimited storage. A particular client's office employees want to access mail from multiple devices -- their office computers, their phones, a couple also use iPads. Those using IMAP via all devices are constantly maxing-out their storage allowance and have to be diligent with housekeeping (moving message out of server storage to local folders in their Outlook). I personally do not care for the idea of keeping mail content on a server vs. my own computer. IMO a server is much more likely to get compromised than is my computer. I want my e-mail permanently stored on my computer under my control, not on the ISP's server which is subject to their whims.