move kmail to new computer

**tmillic** · 01-Apr-2011, 13:59

I've searched and found result after result that say to copy the
~/.kde4/share/apps/kmail folder to the new installation to keep all the
mail. However, I get errors with every message that I try to copy.A typical
error message would be: "Could not write to
/media/LACIE/kmail/mail/Abby/cur/126---.GmwqV:2,S."
I tried copying to the desktop first, then to the USB drive (Lacie), as well
as copying as root. I can neither copy the folders nor find an export option
in Kmail. Is there a way that I'm not finding? I'll admit it's problematic
when the first pages of results on Google are often forum posts from
previous decades and now irrelevant.
Details. I always forget these. I'm moving Kmail from a desktop PC with
Opensuse 11.2 and KDE 4 to a laptop with Opensuse 11.4 and KDE 4.
Thanks,
-tom millican

**robin_listas** · 01-Apr-2011, 14:33

On 2011-04-01 22:59, tom millican wrote:
> I've searched and found result after result that say to copy the
> ~/.kde4/share/apps/kmail folder to the new installation to keep all the
> mail. However, I get errors with every message that I try to copy.A typical
> error message would be: "Could not write to
> /media/LACIE/kmail/mail/Abby/cur/126---.GmwqV:2,S."

You are writing to a VFAT device. Use a drive with Linux format.

--
Cheers / Saludos,

Carlos E. R.
(from 11.2 x86_64 "Emerald" at Telcontar)

**nrickert** · 01-Apr-2011, 14:34

If the USB drive has a Windows file system, then perhaps there's some sort of incompatibility.

Personally, I would make a tar archive on the old system, then unpack that on the new.

On the old system

Code:

cd $HOME
tar zcf /media/LACIE/kmail.tgz .kde4/share/apps/kmail

On the new system:

Code:

cd $HOME
tar zxpf /media/LACIE/kmail.tgz

but check whether the USB mount name is correct in both cases.

**tmillic** · 01-Apr-2011, 20:44

You guys were right.
The tar method worked, and once the accounts were set up again, all was
good.
Thanks!

tom millican wrote:

> I've searched and found result after result that say to copy the
> ~/.kde4/share/apps/kmail folder to the new installation to keep all the
> mail. However, I get errors with every message that I try to copy.A
> typical error message would be: "Could not write to
> /media/LACIE/kmail/mail/Abby/cur/126---.GmwqV:2,S."
> I tried copying to the desktop first, then to the USB drive (Lacie), as
> well as copying as root. I can neither copy the folders nor find an export
> option in Kmail. Is there a way that I'm not finding? I'll admit it's
> problematic when the first pages of results on Google are often forum
> posts from previous decades and now irrelevant.
> Details. I always forget these. I'm moving Kmail from a desktop PC with
> Opensuse 11.2 and KDE 4 to a laptop with Opensuse 11.4 and KDE 4.
> Thanks,
> -tom millican