How to Import Mail from Mozilla Thunderbird in Gmail

With Gmail offering so much space, so useful a search engine and so universal access, why use all this potential on new mail you receive at your Gmail address only? Wouldn't it be handy if the mail you already have in Mozilla Thunderbird were integrated, archived, accessible and searchable as well?
Sure, you can forward the messages, but elegant and fully functional this is not. The messages will lose their original senders, and mail you sent will not appear to be sent by you. Gmail will not be able to do its very useful "conversation" work, putting together emails that belong together.
Fortunately, Gmail offers IMAP access, which turns importing mail into a drag-and-drop affair.

Import Mail from Mozilla Thunderbird in Gmail Using IMAP

To copy your messages from Mozilla Thunderbird to Gmail:

• Set up Gmail as an IMAP account in Mozilla Thunderbird.
• Open the folder containing the emails you want to import.
• Highlight the messages you want to import.
  • Press Ctrl-A or Command-A to highlight all messages.
• Select Message | Copy from the menu, followed by the target Gmail folder:
  • for messages you have received: [Gmail]/All Mail
  • for sent mail: [Gmail]/Sent Mail
  • for emails you want to appear in the Gmail inbox: Inbox
  • for messages you want to show up in a label: the folder named like the Gmail label

Import Mail from Mozilla Thunderbird in Gmail Using Gmail Loader

A little tool (some would say "hack") called Google Gmail Loader also can take your Mozilla Thunderbird mail and move it to Gmail in a clean and seamless way.
To copy your messages from Mozilla Thunderbird to Gmail:

• ›› Step by Step Screenshot Walkthrough

• Make sure you have compacted all folders in Mozilla Thunderbird.
• Download and extract Gmail Loader.
• Double-click gmlw.exe to launch Gmail Loader.
• Click Find under Configure Your Email File.
• Locate the file pertaining to the Mozilla Thunderbird folder you want to import into Gmail.
  • You can find the files corresponding to your Mozilla Thunderbird folders under your Mozilla Thunderbird message store folder.
  • You probably have to make Windows display hidden files and folders to see the Application Data folder.
  • Use the files that do not have a file extension (not the .msf files).
• Click Open.
• Make sure mBox (Netscape, Mozilla, Thunderbird) is selected under File Type: in Gmail Loader.
• If you are migrating sent messages, choose Mail I Sent (Goes to Sent Mail) under Message Type:, otherwise select Mail I Received (Goes to Inbox).
• Type your full Gmail address under Enter your GMail Address.
• Click Send to GMail.

Sending Trouble?

If you run into problems moving mail to Gmail using Gmail Loader, try changing the SMTP server. Try using "gmail-smtp-in.l.google.com", "gsmtp183.google.com" or "gsmtp163.google.com" with authentication not enabled, or enter the SMTP server details given to you by your ISP.

Free Online File Backup Synchronization Services : A Quick Roundup

Dropbox

Dropbox is a storage application and service operated by Evenflow, Inc. The service enables users to store and sync files online and between computers. Dropbox has a cross-platform client (Windows, Mac and Linux) that enables users to drop any file into a Dropbox folder that is then synced to the web and the users' other computers with the Dropbox client. Files in the Dropbox folder may then be shared with other Dropbox users or accessed from the web. Users may also upload files manually through a web browser. A free Dropbox account offers 2 GB of storage. Users may upgrade to 50 GB or 100 GB by paying a monthly or yearly fee. The total amount of storage space of both the free and fee-based accounts may be increased by up to an extra 3 GB for free accounts and 6 GB for fee-based accounts by referring others to the service.

While Dropbox functions as a storage service, its focus is on synchronization and sharing. Dropbox synchronization uses SSL transfers with AES-256 encryption, and it supports revision history, so files deleted from the Dropbox folder may be recovered from any of the synced computers. Dropbox's version control also helps users know the history of a file they may be currently working on, enabling more than one person to edit and re-post files without complications of losing its previous form. There is no limit to file size for files added via the Dropbox application, but files transferred through the web interface are capped at 350 MB. Dropbox uses Amazon's S3 storage system to store the files.

The Dropbox service is similar to companies such as Box.net, Mozy, Wuala and Humyo. The company received seed funding from Y Combinator and Sequoia Capital.

Humyo

humyo.com is an online file storage service which synchronizes files across multiple computers and a remote data store. Files stored in humyo can be shared with other users and published on web pages. The company owns a former Bank of England bullion vault in which it houses the servers used to store its users data.
humyo.com was founded in 2007 by Dan Conlon (MD) and Peter Dubens (Chairman) and initially offered 30GB of storage space for free.
The company closed its beta in March 2008 with 100,000 users and by August 2008 had 215,000.
In October 2008, the company reduced the amount of storage space offered free of charge to new users to 10GB.

SpiderOak

SpiderOak is an online backup tool for Windows, Mac and Linux users to back up, share, sync, access and store their data using an off-site server. SpiderOak uses encrypted cloud storage and client-side encryption key creation, so even employees of SpiderOak cannot access users' information. SpiderOak distinguishes itself from competition in provision of encryption, in provision for syncing files and folders across multiple devices, and in automatic de-duplication of data.
SpiderOak offers two account types, a free 2 GB version and a SpiderOak Plus+ subscription. The paid plan starts at $10.00/month/100 GB increment.

Other Similar Free Services:
Syncplicity
Live Mesh

Online Storage and Backup : A Quick Roundup

• http://www.getdropbox.com/

- 2.0GB of Free Storage

- Supports desktop (local disk) synchronization

• http://www.syncplicity.com/

- 2.0GB of Free Storage

- Supports desktop (local disk) synchronization

• http://www.filedropper.com/

- 5.0GB of Free Storage

• http://www.humyo.com/

- 10.0GB of Free Storage

- Supports desktop (local disk) synchronization

• http://www.orbitfiles.com/

- 6.0GB of Free Storage

• http://skydrive.live.com/

- 25.0GB of Free Storage

• http://www.orbitfiles.com/

- 6.0GB of Free Storage

• http://www.wuala.com/

- 1.0GB of Free Storage

- Potentially Unlimited Storage

• http://www.adrive.com/

- 50.0GB of Free Storage

DriverBackup! 2

Fast and user-friendly free tool for drivers's backup, restoration and removal with command line options, automatic restoration from CD\DVD and path formatting. DriverBackup! includes also an interactive command line builder.

5 Free Apps to Clone Your Hard Drive

Hard drive prices are so low now that it really makes sense to use an imaging program. That way you've got a perfectly cloned backup of your system exactly the way you have it configured in case of a crash, which is much more convenient than reinstalling Windows, activating, and loading all your applications all over again.

Here are four great apps to get the job done - without spending a dime!

DriveImage XML. Runtime Software has never placed too much importance on looks, and it's for a very good reason. Their software works really, really well. DriveImage was the first software I used to create images within Windows. Scheduled backups can be created with the Windows Task Scheduler and command line switches. DriveImage is free for private, home use only. Yes, Macrium Reflect does the same thing and looks nicer, but it's $39.99.

For a straight-up, drive-to-drive clone, you can use Runtime's Shadow Copy. Shadow copy is free for everyone, not just home users.

Like DriveImage, XXClone runs in Windows. It has an extremely simple interface, and gives you the option to copy volume ID to your destination and make it bootable. The interface also provides quick access to the Windows disk manager, in case you need to perform some quick drive tasks prior to cloning. XXClone is free for personal, private use.

Those who, like me, prefer imaging from the command prompt should try EaseUs Disk Copy. It's interface looks a bit like a Ghost/Partition Magic mashup. It's very easy to use, handles all types of internal and external drives, and will even work with dynamic disks. DiskCopy is free for everyone.

Linux buffs will urge you to try PING, which I mention in 5 Apps for a Painless Reformat. Ping can clone drives, create bootable recovery media, back up BIOS data, reset passwords, and clean your cat's litter box. Ok, not really, but it's got more tricks up its sleeve than any other free cloning solution.

Did I miss your imaging app of choice? Comment it!