New installation but need my email files

[Kanunu]

Because of a repeated need to reset SMC on my 2015 MacBook Air, I agreed with the genius bar to have them do a clean new install of 10.10.5 which is my preferred OS. I have a full bootable USB backup using Carbon Copy Cloner and can boot my 2002 MacBook to that drive.

I actually looked forward to the clean install as I had a lot of unused software. Except for a few apps that include an uninstall package, OSX does not do a good job of getting rid of background files if you simply delete the app.

I can restore individual apps that I do want using CCC but my problem is I can't locate the files I need to fully restore my email. I assume they are in library files and perhaps in application support but I see no folders called Mail. In fact most of the installation keys that I will need to open paid software are in stored emails in the old system. Of course, I have things like family email there as well.

Can anyone tell me:

1) What files do I need to copy back to restore my mail configuration and saved email folder structure?

2) What library files will restore my preferences and favorites including Speed Dial in Firefox?

3) What do I need for the same in Chrome?

Thanks in advance.

3) What files will

 

[BrianBaughn]

Just to be sure why you're asking #1...are the emails under a POP account? Are they in a folder that is under "On My Mac?

 

[Kanunu]

Just to be sure why you're asking #1...are the emails under a POP account? Are they in a folder that is under "On My Mac?

It is an IMAP account with Google. I need the files that are "On My Mac".

 

[BrianBaughn]

I'm pretty sure you're going to have difficulty getting the Mail structure and preferences back without a standard account migration. Moving Library>Mail files from one install into another isn't a magic solution. There are databases involved and I don't expect it will work well if at all.

If you expand all of the "On My Mac" folders, select them all and do an "Export" you can get all of your mail and structure back with an MBOX import but I believe each folder will have an "mbox" subfolder containing the mail for that folder.

A clean install is used, among other things, to eliminate problems that can exist due to corrupt system files and prefs. So...probably not a good idea to start dragging them over from a troublesome account.

As far as Chrome and Firefox are concerned I believe they both offer account syncing. If you log in and turn that on subsequent installs and logins will be synced settings/extensions/bookmarks wise.

 

[Kanunu]

If you expand all of the "On My Mac" folders, select them all and do an "Export" you can get all of your mail and structure back with an MBOX import but I believe each folder will have an "mbox" subfolder containing the mail for that folder.
................As far as Chrome and Firefox are concerned I believe they both offer account syncing. If you log in and turn that on subsequent installs and logins will be synced settings/extensions/bookmarks wise.

Thanks for the reply which was both quick and understandable to a layman like me. I admit that I once used the mailbox export function but had completely forgotten about it. I essentially have two machines now on different external disks: the old and the new and can boot to either one. I can do the file export and move the email folders to the new. I can also set up to sync Firefox and Chrome and I should be good. If all works, I will copy the new drive back to internal drive in the machine.

I won't tag this as resolved yet but I think I am 90% there now.